A Canadian woman was arrested after trying to smuggle more than 20 pounds of methamphetamine through a New Zealand airport, authorities said. The illegal drugs were disguised as Christmas presents, New Zealand Customs said on social media earlier this week.
The Canadian woman, who has not been publicly identified, arrived in Auckland on Sunday, December 8, on a flight from Vancouver, Canada. Customs officials questioned the woman after she disembarked, Customs officials said. Officers then searched her carry-on luggage and found the drugs, wrapped in festive wrapping paper.
The drugs are believed to have been worth NZ$3.8 million, or $2.2 million USD, customs said in a news release.
New Zealand Customs Service
The woman was arrested and charged with importation and possession of drugs, officials said. New Zealand public broadcaster RNZ reported that the woman appeared in Manukau court on Tuesday and was remanded in custody.
Auckland Airport Manager Paul Williams said international organized crime groups often try to take advantage of the busy travel season to smuggle illegal goods into the country.
“But a busy airport doesn’t mean customs isn’t focused or paying attention to anyone who may pose a drug risk,” Williams said in the news release. Williams said every passenger arriving in New Zealand is subject to a risk assessment before arriving in the country.
Williams said in the news release that he and his colleagues “know that drugs shipped from North America pose an increasing risk” and are prepared to find and seize such shipments, even if they are “smaller targets.”
New Zealand Customs Service
A Los Angeles man travels to New Zealand was arrested in late November after security officials at Los Angeles International Airport found methamphetamine-covered clothing in his luggage. In total, approximately one kilogram of meth was recovered from the clothing.
That same week, the international navel surgery “Orion” took place. resulted in the seizure of more than 1,400 tons of drugs, including cocaine and marijuana, along a Pacific trade route from South America to Australia.
The US authorities have one alleged international drug trafficking which smuggled methamphetamine abroad in February, including Australia and New Zealand. Those drugs are said to have been smuggled in a number of ships, including books and baby dolls.
