A 29-year-old Canadian woman is facing charges in New Zealand after customs authorities said she was caught with 10.2 kilograms of methamphetamine inside her carry-on luggage at Auckland Airport, with the contraband wrapped as if it were under a Christmas tree.
Issued by New Zealand Customs Service Press release Tuesday She said the woman took a flight from Vancouver to Auckland, arriving in the North Island city on December 8.
The Customs Service said the person was questioned after landing in Auckland. Officers searched her bag and found drugs inside.
The woman was not identified by name in the statement issued by the Customs Department.
Customs said the woman faces “charges of importation and possession for the supply of controlled drugs of the first degree” and that she appeared in the Manukau District Court in Auckland on the same charges and has since been remanded in custody.
In a statement, Paul Williams, director of customs at Auckland Airport, told CBC News that no further information about the ongoing investigation will be released.
Global Affairs Canada said it was aware of the arrest of a Canadian in New Zealand. The ministry said it was closely monitoring the situation and providing consular assistance. She declined to comment further, citing privacy considerations.
Canadian Air Transport Security Authority – Crown Company Responsible for security screening at more than 80 Canadian airports, Including Vancouver International Airport She told CBC News in an email that she was “not aware” of the investigation in New Zealand and therefore had no information about it.
Recent arrests of Canadians
The New Zealand Customs Service has publicly reported at least two previous incidents this year involving Canadians traveling from Vancouver, landing in New Zealand, and then being arrested over allegations they were transporting methamphetamine into the island nation.
One case involved A 27-year-old man traveled abroad in AugustWhile another 27-year-old woman was injured Who flew to Auckland in late October. The Customs Service referred to these two individuals as alleged drug couriers.
Williams said New Zealand Customs was paying close attention to all these events.
“Customs recognizes the value of correlating all of these interceptions to build a picture of emerging border trends,” Williams said in the statement sent to CBC News.
“Further collaborative work is underway with our Canadian partners to disrupt criminal gangs and drug importation, including through passenger flow.”
Last year, authorities in Australia, Canada and New Zealand They worked together for the bust What is New Zealand Customs Service? Described as a “detailed scheme” Which sought to send large quantities of methamphetamine abroad – coming from Canada – via Hide them in maple syrup containers.
Long sentences for some drug-related convictions
There are cases Canadians are serving long sentences For drug-related crimes in New Zealand.
A A Canadian man in his thirties It was delivered Nine years and nine months In May after he was convicted of importing a Class A controlled drug. At the time of his arrest, the Customs Service had done so He stated that he is a Canadian citizen. He was arrested with approximately 26 kilograms of methamphetamine that police said was hidden inside the lining of his luggage.
Canadians have also allegedly been caught with methamphetamine inside their luggage in recent months. According to the Australian Federal Police. In separate cases in October, a 59-year-old man was arrested At an airport in Brisbane He was a 38-year-old man He was arrested in Sydney.
Police said they both had flown to Australia from Vancouver and both had several kilograms of methamphetamine hidden in their luggage.
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