KEY POINTS:
A suspect package which caused a bomb scare at the Auckland international mail centre yesterday has been identified as a sex aid.
The package was first picked up as suspicious by an airport x-ray machine on Tuesday but staff decided to put it in an explosives safe overnight rather than contact emergency services immediately.
Once notified the following morning, emergency services evacuated the mail centre, near Auckland Airport.
The package was eventually identified as a harmless sex aid.
Customs northern ports manager Simon Williamson had not fully investigated what had happened but said procedures were not followed when the package was put in the safe.
"There were inquiries that were being made at that point in time, hence the reason why I understand it was put in the safe," he told Radio New Zealand.
"Needless to say we accept that the operating procedures that are there for good reason weren't followed in this case and we're making sure that that doesn't repeat itself in the future."
Mr Williamson said Customs officers were trained to be vigilant about suspicious packages.
"This thing had come across the world from China by air and had arrived at the international mail centre to be sorted for onward distribution to New Zealand."
