A Hong Kong tourist has been sentenced to 10 years and 5 months' imprisonment for importing 2kg of methamphetamine - with a street value of $2 million - disguised as chicken stock powder.
Tat Yan Chau appeared in the Auckland District court today for sentencing after earlier being found guilty of importing the illicit drug.
In July last year Customs officers at the International Mail Centre opened and inspected a package from China after an x-ray showed inconsistencies in 10 cans of chicken stock.
Hidden inside the tins were plastic bags containing methamphetamine.
Authorities linked the package to Chau who had come to New Zealand as part of a tour group in mid-June but didn't leave with the group.
Customs officers searched an Auckland property where Chau was staying and arrested him.
Customs investigations manager Bruce Berry said people will use different methods to try to trick the authority, but fail.
"The knowledge and skill of our frontline officers and the targeting tools that are in place means Customs is pretty good at identifying what looks suspicious, making the drug seizure, and connecting the package to those responsible."
