Media Release 27 April 2011

Ten “P” smugglers caught in single Customs hit at Auckland Airport

A group of ten Malaysian drug couriers, all in the same tour group and all carrying crystal methamphetamine (P) in their shoes, were caught by Customs officers at Auckland Airport yesterday.

Each was concealing between 800g and 1 kilo of the drug and they arrived on a flight from Malaysia about midday on Tuesday. The current street value of P is approximately $1 million per kilo.

Customs Drug Investigations Manager, Mark Day said this was the most drug couriers ever caught in a single incident at the New Zealand border.

The Minister of Customs, Maurice Williamson said it was a landmark interception. “I’m very proud of the effort made by well trained officers at the border in stopping this much of such a vile drug getting into the community here,” he said. "Our diligent Customs officers have again proved, if you bring drugs into our country, you will get caught."

Personal searches reveal P
Customs officers searching the bags of two of the group, had referred them for a personal search and in both cases, P was detected in their shoes.

After the two were searched, the remainder of the group was located by Customs officers, assisted by the airport Police – some still in the Customs hall and some having left. All were then searched and found to be carrying P in their shoes.

Police drug squad detectives from AMCOS* arrested and charged all ten and they will appear in the Manukau District Court today. The group consisted of eight males and two females and they ranged in age from early 20s to late 60s.

Mr Day said that the fact that Immigration officers had closely questioned two of the group for immigration purposes had slowed down the group’s progress and contributed to Customs work in detecting their criminal purpose.

“By embedding themselves in what appear to be legitimate tour groups, these criminals are trying to assume normal travel patterns so that they will not be targeted as high risk,” he said.

“We had a similar attempt by a Taiwanese tour group last year, but they too were caught out by vigilant Customs officers. It’s work our officers can be very proud of,” said Mr Day.

*Auckland Metropolitan Crime Operations Support

ENDS

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