Life Coach Arrested at Auckland Airport for Allegedly Smuggling 20kg of Meth in Tea Bags

A 36-year-old man has been arrested at Auckland International Airport on suspicion of importing an estimated 20kg of methamphetamine into New Zealand. The accused, a foreign national, allegedly concealed the drug inside vacuum-sealed bags of green tea. He arrived from Denpasar, Bali, and was charged with importing a class-A controlled drug.

Customs officers identified the man during a routine baggage search. Upon inspection of the tea packets, a white crystalline substance was discovered, which tested positive for methamphetamine. This interception is believed to have prevented up to NZ$21 million in social harm and cost to New Zealand. If sold in retail quantities, the methamphetamine would be worth around NZ$6 million.

Auckland Airport has expressed full support for the efforts of police and Customs in preventing international drug trafficking. The airport emphasized the importance of collective vigilance in disrupting illicit activities at the New Zealand end of the global drug supply chain.

This incident marks the third drug interception at the airport in under a week. Just days before, a 25-year-old real estate broker was arrested for allegedly smuggling 4kg of cocaine concealed in suitcases. The woman was found to have hidden the drugs inside the panelling of her luggage after arriving from Santiago, Chile.

The latest arrest underscores the ongoing challenge of drug trafficking through international airports. Authorities continue to employ advanced screening methods to detect and prevent the entry of illicit substances into the country.

With the rise in drug smuggling attempts, officials are urging the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities. The fight against drug trafficking remains a top priority for law enforcement and customs agencies across the region.