Customs have been successful in preventing illegal drugs worth a billion from entering New Zealand. 9.3 tonne pseudoephedrine and ephedrine along with 66kg methamphetamine were intercepted through sea cargo, International Mail Centre and air cargo.

Maurice Williamson, the Customs Minister, informed the Press that customs officials have been successful in preventing the illegal drugs from entering the country. Those drugs were estimated to have caused harm worth $410 million. Williamson was all praise for the customs officers for doing such a great job.

They have successfully disrupted supply chains operated by drug criminals as they set the target to focus on the operation activities. The Government has been instrumental in offending the manufacture, consumption and supply of the illegal drug methamphetamine. The drug has a prevalent presence in the illegal drug market, said the Minister.

An action plan to stop methamphetamine from entering the country was issued in 2009. The target was to reduce the amount of methamphetamine used in the market. It was also targeted to reduce the associated harm with the illegal drug. The plan has apparently been working well as the use of methamphetamine has dropped to 0.9% (late 2012) from 2.2% (2007/8).

Williamson signed one cooperation memorandum with China in 2010. China turns out to be the primary source of the illegal drug entering in the country. The Customs administrations have been working really hard on the sea and in air in identifying the import of the illegal drug from China. On the other hand, the drug import is also related with sharing sensitive information as well intelligence of the security of New Zealand.

Williamson talked to One News as he had the feeling that working closely with some other Customs officials helped them understand the supply of methamphetamine. It also gave an opportunity to disrupt the criminal chain that has been active in the drug supply through export.

Customs is not going to show any respite as it will continue to identify as well as dismantle the smuggling operations present in the country.