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| | | Customs and Navy stop transnational organised crime cocaine smuggling attempt | | | A recent joint operation between Customs and Royal New Zealand Navy saw the seizure of a seven-kilogram shipment of cocaine attached with a magnet to the side of a ship's hull.
Customs Manager Maritime, Robert Smith, said this operation used a range of technology, including remote controlled equipment, to gather information about the attached box to ensure the safe removal and examination, which led to the cocaine seizure. | | | | | | | | | | 
| | | Luck runs out for pair in cocaine operation | | | Operation Matrix, a joint Police and Customs investigation, has resulted in the arrest of two men in Onehunga and the seizure of $7.65 million worth of cocaine.
This successful seizure highlights that however much these criminal groups may try, Police and Customs will remain a step ahead. | | | | | | | | | | 
| | | Deferred payment account access gets easier | | | Businesses with deferred payment accounts will soon be able to access their financial information online, with the launch of MyCustoms Account.
MyCustoms Account is a new digital self-service tool that allows users to view their account balance, available credit, and transaction history. Monthly statements will also be available to download.
Setting up MyCustoms Account is free and easy – eligible businesses will be sent an email with a link to activate their MyCustoms Account. Access will be rolled out in stages, with the platform available to all businesses with deferred payment accounts from the end of June 2024. | | | | | | | | | 
| | | New excise duty rates and alcohol levy rates for alcohol on 1 July 2024 | | | The annual adjustment to the excise and excise-equivalent duty rates on alcoholic beverages will take effect on 1 July 2024. The annual adjustment is based on movements in the Consumer Price Index over the 12-month period ended 31 March 2024.
Changes to the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Alcohol Levy rates will also take effect on 1 July 2024.
Alcohol products removed from a licensed manufacturing area or imported after midnight on 30 June 2024 will be subject to the new rates. | | | | | | | | | | 
| | | Update on inflation adjustments to Customs' goods fees | | | In 2023 the Government agreed to two inflation adjustments to Customs goods fees. The first adjustment took effect on 1 October 2023 and the second adjustment will be taking effect on 1 July 2024. | | | | | | | | | | 
| | | Wellington event: Doing business in the European Union | | | The NZ-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) provides access to one of the world's biggest trading markets.
Hear from a panel of trade experts, including from Customs, about the ins and outs of the FTA, in the last of a series of free-to-attend events.
It takes place in Wellington on Thursday 20th June, at 4:30pm - 6:30pm. | | | | | | | | | | 
| | | Customs investigating scam involving fictitious cargo | | | Customs has been notified of a scam involving a suspect acting as a freight forwarder. The suspect has been emailing shipping documents to customs brokers that appear to be for an imminent goods import. | | | | | | | | | | 
| | | Are the magnets you are importing safe? | | | The Commerce Commission is highlighting a safety risk posed by high powered Hematite magnets. These products present a risk of serious injury or death if swallowed. To minimise this risk, they must not be supplied in a manner which breaches the Unsafe Goods (Small High Powered Magnets) Indefinite Prohibition Notice 2014. This notice applies when the magnets:
- are supplied, offered, or advertised in multiples of two or more as a toy, game,
puzzle, novelty, construction or modelling kit, or as jewellery (which may be
worn around the mouth or nose); and
- can fit into a small parts cylinder; and
- have a magnetic strength that breaches the limit set down in the notice.
Goods covered by an unsafe goods notice are absolutely prohibited imports,and cannot be legally imported. | | | | | | | | |