Twenty-seven people have been arrested following a joint police-customs investigation involving the importation of significant quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine into New Zealand through unattended baggage.
A major transnational organised crime syndicate was allegedly working with local gangs to smuggle the Class A drugs through unattended baggage on international flights — primarily through Auckland International Airport, Detective Inspector Tom Gollan said.
The first phase of Operation Matata led to the arrests of 18 people on serious criminal and drug charges on June 24.
It was followed by a second phase in which police and customs investigators searched 19 properties across the Auckland region yesterday, leading to nine arrests.
Fifteen current and former baggage handlers employed by airline baggage handling agencies at Auckland International Airport were among those arrested and charged, police said.
During the course of the investigation, customs — working alongside US authorities — seized 631 kilograms of methamphetamine and 112 kilograms of cocaine.
“Putting it into perspective, this seizure would have provided nearly every Kiwi roughly six doses of methamphetamine each.”
The latest interception involved a baggage handler who allegedly attempted to smuggle 50 kilograms of methamphetamine aboard a flight from Malaysia on June 18.
“It will be alleged one of the arrested individuals gained unauthorised airside access at Auckland International Airport and was observed piloting a baggage cart towards the aircraft,” he said.
“The man’s attempts were thwarted by a swift and coordinated response from police, Customs and other agencies.”
Gollan said the investigation “has exposed and disrupted a significant threat to New Zealand”.
“Police will allege the group’s operation involved placing unaccompanied bags on international flights, which were then covertly removed on arrival in Auckland by corrupt baggage handlers to avoid security protocols.”
‘A dangerous threat to the wider community’
Since the beginning of this year, the joint operation has disrupted and intercepted multiple drug shipments bound for New Zealand on flights originating from Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Santiago, Honolulu, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and New York.
Customs investigations manager Dominic Adams said New Zealand’s volume of legitimate trade and travel meant the risk of criminal infiltration was very real.
“In tandem with the police and our international partners and industry stakeholders, customs is continuing to protect communities from the organised criminal groups who are attempting to exploit our international supply chains,” he said.
“These individuals are abusing their positions of trust to carry out crime, which not only affects New Zealand’s reputation as a safe place to do business but poses a dangerous threat to the wider community by bringing extremely harmful drugs into New Zealand.
“These arrests send a clear message that Customs and our agency and industry partners are tackling this issue head on, and a potential criminal conviction awaits those who choose to subvert the supply chain for their own gains.”