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| | | Steely joint operation lands half a tonne of methamphetamine | | | A joint Customs and New Zealand Police operation has swooped on New Zealand's second largest importation of methamphetamine, concealed in steel beams.
Customs located the concealment of 515 kilograms of methamphetamine within the hefty steel beams in early September, after being sent from the United States.
Under Operation Girder, Police's National Organised Crime Group (NOCG) have worked alongside Customs to identify the group responsible, with warrants being executed across Auckland and the Waikato over recent days.
All up five men have been arrested and are facing charges relating to the importation and supply of methamphetamine. | | | | | | | | | | 
| | | Changes to border processing levies for travellers from 1 December 2024 | | | Customs will be putting new levies for arriving and departing travellers in place on 1 December 2024.
The rate for arriving travellers on a cruise ship is increasing; the three other levy rates are decreasing.
More information can be found on the Customs website. | | | | | | | | | | 
| | | New inbox for alcohol permit, excise and licensing queries | | | Customs has a new email inbox for queries on alcohol permit, excise, and licensing matters for clients in all regions of New Zealand, except Wellington and Christchurch.
The new inbox address is Excise-Licensing-National@Customs.govt.nz.
The inboxes for Wellington and Christchurch-based clients remain the same. For Wellington, please use licensing-wlg@customs.govt.nz, and for Christchurch, use licencing-CHC@customs.govt.nz.
The team is currently experiencing a high volume of work and responses to your applications may take longer than usual. We will do our best to respond to your query as soon as possible. | | | | | | | | | 
| | | Sail into the cruise season with the New Zealand Traveller Declaration | | | The summer cruise season is upon us. Cruise travellers can make a digital declaration by downloading the NZTD app or completing the online form — declare what you need to before you start your journey to New Zealand.
You can start your declaration at a time that suits you and submit it 24 hours before departing the vessel's last international port, before you travel to New Zealand. | | | | | | | | |