NZ Customs Release

A 19-year-old Kiwi-national has been arrested at Auckland International Airport after Customs officers found an estimated 15 kilograms of methamphetamine and cocaine in his luggage.

The man, who arrived off a flight from Los Angeles on Thursday 5 June 2025, was found with 15 vacuum-sealed packets hidden in his luggage – 13 of which contained methamphetamine, and the remaining two packets were found to contain cocaine.

Customs Auckland Airport Manager, Paul Williams, says criminal syndicates will prey on the young and vulnerable, but anyone caught up in this sort of crime faces the harshest penalties.

Suspicions about drug smuggling can be reported by calling 0800 WE PROTECT (0800 937 768) in confidence, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

A 45-year-old foreign national has been arrested after Customs officers located an estimated two kilograms of methamphetamine concealed inside a barbeque grill. 
 
The man arrived in Auckland on a flight from Kuala Lumpur on 7 June and was identified for a baggage search. Upon examination of the suitcase, a brown cardboard box was located, revealing a portable electric barbeque grill, found to contain two vacuum-sealed packets of methamphetamine concealed under the grill plate.  
 
Customs Auckland Airport Manager, Paul Williams, says every intercept by Customs helps stem the flow and availability of drugs within New Zealand communities. 
 
"The number of smuggling attempts and volumes we're blocking at the airport is unprecedented – and it couldn't be done without our team taking the necessary time to delve deep, with meticulous attention to detail that unearths finds such as this one."  

Approved exporters can now self-declare the New Zealand origin of their goods to claim preferential tariff treatment under selected Free Trade Agreements (FTAs).

These are the:

- Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)
- New Zealand - China Free Trade Agreement (NZ-China FTA)
-Second Protocol to the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area (AANZFTA)

Self-declaration can save businesses time and money, eliminating the need to go to an issuing body to obtain a Certificate of Origin.

Full details are available on Customs' website.

One of the commitments under the ACCTS is the elimination of import duties on a list of environmental goods. 

On 1 July 2025, the Working Tariff Document of New Zealand will be amended to reflect the elimination of these import duties.  

Visit Customs' website to see the summary of changes for the tariff amendment and the correlation list for the impacted tariff codes.

On 10 March 2025, as part of decisions on goods cost recovery, Cabinet agreed to update Customs' goods fee rates with effect from 1 July 2025.

Visit our website to see the rates that will apply from 1 July 2025.

Due to the Matariki public holiday falling on 20 June 2025, Customs will be postponing the payment due date for customers receiving the following statements from 20 June 2025 to 23 June 2025:

- Deferred payment statement
- Broker deferred payment statement
- Goods clearance fees statement
- Broker goods clearance fees statement

Accordingly, we will process direct debit payments on 23 June 2025 for those customers who usually pay by direct debit.

For any enquiries regarding this statement please email revenue@customs.govt.nz.

The annual adjustment to the excise and excise-equivalent duty rates on alcoholic beverages will take effect on 1 July 2025.

The annual adjustment is based on movements in the Consumer Price Index All Groups excluding credit services subgroup over the 12-month period ended 31 March 2025.

Changes to the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Alcohol Levy rates will be advised by the Ministry of Health when they are available.

Appearing in the Manukau District Court on Tuesday (10 June 2025), a 27-year-old foreign national was convicted of the importation and possession for supply of a Class A Controlled Drug and sentenced to 6 years and 3 months' imprisonment.

The man arrived at Auckland International Airport off a flight from Vancouver, Canada, on 26 August 2024. Customs officers questioned and searched him, which led to the discovery of seven black branded travel cubes, concealing an estimated 9.898 kilograms of methamphetamine.

The man was subsequently arrested and charged with importation and possession for supply of a Class A controlled drug and failure to provide a pin for his mobile phone. He was convicted and discharged on the charge failing to provide a mobile pin.

Customs Auckland Airport Manager, Paul Williams says, Customs takes immense pride in the work we do at the border, and we will continue to target those that intend to bring harm to New Zealand. 

A 29-year-old foreign national has been sentenced to six-and-a-half years' imprisonment after attempting to smuggle 2 kilograms of cocaine through Auckland International Airport last year.

On 27 July 2024, he arrived at Auckland International Airport off a flight from Santiago, Chile. Customs officers noticed inconsistencies during an x-ray of the man's luggage, leading to the discovery of approximately 2 kilograms of cocaine concealed within the lining of both cases. 

This amount of cocaine would be worth approximately NZ$900,000.00 and could have caused up to $599,340.00 worth of social harm in our communities. 

Anyone with suspicions about possible drug smuggling can contact Customs confidentially on 0800 WE PROTECT (0800 937 768) or Crime Stoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

The latest edition of the weekly global trade and economic update for New Zealand businesses has been published.