Drug seizure nets $6m worth of methamphetamine

Police Minister Judith Collins looks at the evidence after six people were arrested for their alleged involvement in smuggling 6kg of methamphetamine, which was found at Auckland International Airport by customs. Photo / NZPA

The seizure of crystal methamphetamine with a street value of up to $6 million showed the seriousness of the P problem in New Zealand, Police Minister Judith Collins said today.

In the biggest methamphetamine bust in New Zealand this year, 6kg of the class A drug was intercepted at Auckland airport on Tuesday and Wednesday.

It was hidden in luggage brought in by four Japanese nationals, who were arrested.

Two New Zealanders of Iranian descent were also arrested after a controlled delivery of some of the drugs to a hotel room in Auckland.

All six have appeared in Auckland District Court charged with importing methamphetamine, which carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

Ms Collins congratulated police and customs officers for "a fantastic joint effort", but said the seizure wasn't an isolated incident.

"When we have a look at the amount that we are talking about, you see just how dangerous this is and the sophisticated methods taken by people to bring it into this country," she told a news conference.

"We cannot write this off as a one-off. It is clearly a very serious issue for this country and I would just like to say how proud I am of the police and customs effort."

Detective Inspector Stu Allsopp-Smith said two of the Japanese, a 31-year-old woman and a 39-year-old male, were stopped on arrival on Tuesday and found to have 2kg of methamphetamine in their luggage.

Investigations identified two further drug couriers, two men aged 41 and 50, who were intercepted the following day with 4kg of the drug.

All four had travelled from Malaysia via Sydney.

Mr Allsopp-Smith said police and customs believed they had identified a significant methamphetamine importing operation with links to Malaysia.

He said the seizures and arrests would have a major impact on the P supply in New Zealand.

Police were conducting further inquiries and had not ruled out the possibility of further arrests.

They would also liaise with overseas agencies to try to identify people based in Malaysia.

Comptroller of Customs Martyn Dunne said the interception came about as a result of good intelligence within his organisation and sound police work.

"We have shown we are up to it," he said, adding that the seizure was "one little battle in what is a considerable war against this pernicious drug".

The six arrested appeared in court yesterday.

They were Japanese nationals Takako Takiguchi, Kazuhiko Takiguchi, Yoshinori Tanakawa and Toshiyuka Toda, and New Zealanders Nader Ghaffari, 38, and Fardien Nourian, 42.

Ghaffari was released on bail, while the five others were remanded in custody to reappear early next month.

- NZPA