Eighteen people have been arrested — with 64kg of methamphetamine and 3.4kg of cocaine seized — following a police and Customs joint investigation into drug smuggling at Auckland Airport.
Ten of those arrested worked at Auckland Airport, including nine baggage handlers.
The investigation, dubbed Operation Matata, was launched after a man was arrested outside an East Tamaki address with 25kg of methamphetamine allegedly discovered in his vehicle.
Detectives from the National Organised Crime Group and counterparts at Customs then uncovered a wider group, organising and carrying out the smuggling of Class A drugs at Auckland Airport.
Police and Customs conducted nearly two dozen search warrants across the Auckland region on Wednesday.
Detective Inspector Tom Gollan said police would allege the group imported controlled drugs through the airport on six occasions.
“As a result, approximately 64 kilograms of methamphetamine and 3.4 kilograms of cocaine has been seized by Customs and police.”
The street value of the methamphetamine and cocaine were $22.5 million and $1.5 million respectively.
Police also located a significant amount of cash along with quantities of cocaine and a sawn-off shotgun during the search warrants.
Gollan said insider threats posed a threat to the country and that the drugs would have gone on to cause “significant harm” and cost to communities.
“We are pleased to continue to work with Auckland Airport authorities, Customs and overseas law enforcement agencies to stamp this out.”
Customs investigations manager Dominic Adams said the individuals were alleged to have abused their trusted positions as airport workers to smuggle “significant amounts” of harmful drugs into the country.
“There is zero tolerance for this type of behaviour and this operation signals the action that law enforcement, with the support of industry partners, has taken against those who thought they could operate outside of the law and profit from their criminal activities.”
Of the arrested, 17 were men, aged between 20 and 42, and one was a 19-year-old woman.
They were scheduled to appear in the Manukau District Court yesterday and today faced charges including importation, supply and possession for supply of the class A controlled drugs methamphetamine and cocaine.
