Customs Minister Casey Costello.
Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
The government says it is putting an extra $35 million over four years into keeping drugs and organised crime out of the country.
In a pre-Budget announcement, Customs Minister Casey Costello said Customs was already doing a good job stopping drugs at the border, but New Zealand was being increasingly targeted and there were growing challenges.
“Trans-national and serious organised crime threats are growing worldwide. These groups are increasingly targeting the Pacific and New Zealand, which has some of the world’s highest prices for illicit drugs like methamphetamine and cocaine.”
Costello said the extra funding would boost the number of staff, increase the technology that Customs had and create up to 60 additional roles over four years.
“The government is committed to ensuring law and order, so it is investing in the tools and capacity agencies need to meet growing challenges.”.
The funding will focus on three areas:
- targeting those involved in lower-quantity, high-frequency drug smuggling such as through international mail or airports
- improving supply chain security and targeting the “trusted insiders” who use these links to help smuggle drugs
- extending Customs’ presence overseas, with an additional officer to help with investigations and information sharing.
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