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Customs arrests Masterton man for methamphetamine sent through mail
| | | Customs has arrested a 43-year-old Masterton man for his role relating to methamphetamine smuggling, after multiple mailed packages were intercepted by frontline officers earlier this year.
In July 2025, Customs officers intercepted 10 separate packages, totalling an estimated 10 kilograms of methamphetamine, sent to various addresses across New Zealand by mail and airfreight. This included concealments of the drug in a painting, and in roller-skate knee pads. This amount of methamphetamine would have had an estimated street value of NZ$3 million.
Follow-up work linked the packages to the individual, and Customs investigators carried out two search warrants with the support of Masterton Police, resulting in the arrest and the seizure of NZ$7,000 cash, 100 grams of methamphetamine, methamphetamine utensils and 12 established cannabis plants. | | | | | | | | | | 
| | | 1.5 million cigarettes, half a million in cash, two arrested | | | Customs arrested two men in Auckland in relation to the possession of 1.5 million cigarettes and approximately NZ$500,000 in cash following an investigation.
Customs arrested the pair, following search warrants conducted with assistance from New Zealand Police at five storage facilities and private residences across the Auckland region. The searches uncovered cigarettes and a significant amount of cash. The 1.5 million cigarettes equal an estimated NZ$2.2 million in evaded taxes.
Both defendants appeared in the Manukau District Court on a range of illicit tobacco charges, including possession of uncustomed goods and defrauding Customs revenue. They have been remanded in custody until their next court appearance. | | | | | | | | | | 
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Goods fees - 2026 changes
| | | Fees and levies that New Zealand Customs Service (Customs) and Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) charge for goods management will be changing from 1 April 2026. These changes aim to ensure fairer cost recovery and better reflect the true cost of border management.
We have prepared several downloadable PDF info packs that relate to your industry. These will help you prepare for the changes. | | | | | | | | | | 
| | | Help for exporters available via business.govt.nz | | | If you're an exporter, or thinking of becoming an exporter, the New Zealand Export Credit (NZEC) can help you overcome some of the challenges you may face. Find out more about the NZEC.
If you're in the food and fibre sector and thinking about exporting, the Ministry for Primary Industries offers assistance via Exporter Help.
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Exploring New Markets – United Arab Emirates Stakeholder Webinar
| | | With the NZ-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) now in force opening up new opportunities for New Zealand exporters in the UAE market, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade invites you to join its webinar to hear from local exporters and business leaders with experience in the region. They will share their highlights, practical insights, and lessons learned doing business in the UAE. | | | | | | | | |