Auckland Airport Drug-Smuggling Bust Expands: 27 Arrested in Major Meth and Coke Case

In a significant crackdown on organized drug smuggling, police and customs authorities have arrested nine more individuals, bringing the total number of arrests in the Auckland meth and cocaine case to 27. The operation, known as Operation Matata, has revealed a complex network of alleged baggage handlers and criminal syndicates conspiring to smuggle large quantities of illicit drugs into New Zealand through Auckland International Airport.

The latest arrests are part of a two-phase investigation that began with the initial seizure of 25kg of methamphetamine in March of this year. Authorities have now charged 27 people, with 15 of them being current or former baggage handlers employed by agencies operating at the airport. These individuals, it is alleged, played a key role in the smuggling operation by covertly removing unattended bags from arriving flights and transporting them airside.

Detective Inspector Tom Gollan, who led the investigation, stated that flights carrying the alleged drugs originated from cities such as Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Santiago, Honolulu, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and New York. These flights were allegedly used to transport drugs into New Zealand, where they were then removed by corrupt baggage handlers to evade airport security protocols.

During the course of the operation, New Zealand Customs Service has seized a staggering 631 kilograms of methamphetamine and 112 kilograms of cocaine. These quantities are said to be enough to supply six doses of methamphetamine for every New Zealander — a grim testament to the scale of the operation.

Police and customs teams executed 19 search warrants across Auckland as part of the second phase of the operation, during which $150,000 in cash was also discovered. The investigation has revealed that the criminal network was working in tandem with a “major transnational organized crime syndicate” that has been importing drugs through Auckland for some time.

According to Customs investigations manager Dominic Adams, the threat of criminal infiltration through legitimate trade and travel is a “very real” concern for New Zealand. He emphasized that agencies are working closely with international partners to protect communities from the harmful effects of these organized crime groups.

“These individuals are abusing their positions of trust to carry out crime, which not only affects New Zealand’s reputation as a safe place to do business but poses a dangerous threat to the wider community by bringing extremely harmful drugs into New Zealand,” said Gollan.

Authorities have also confirmed that the operation has led to the disruption of a major drug-smuggling network, with ongoing efforts to ensure that such criminal activities do not continue. The arrests are a clear message to potential offenders that law enforcement is taking a firm stance against those who seek to exploit the supply chain for personal gain.

The investigation is ongoing, and police are urging anyone with information to come forward. With the continued collaboration of airport operators, customs, and police, the hope is to further dismantle these criminal networks and prevent the influx of illicit drugs into New Zealand.