WELLINGTON, Nov. 13 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand customs officers seized nearly 2 kg of methamphetamine in the luggage of a 19-year-old Irish national on Saturday, who then appeared in the Manukau District Court on Monday.
The Irish national was charged with importing a Class A-controlled drug and possession of a Class A-controlled drug for supply, according to the court.
It is estimated that the 1.9 kg of methamphetamine could have created up to 95,500 individual doses, worth up to 669,000 NZ dollars (394,218 U.S. dollars), and have the potential to cause over 2 million NZ dollars (1.18 million dollars) in social harm, said the New Zealand Customs Service.
The traveler was questioned by customs officers upon arrival and a search of his luggage located approximately 1.9 kilograms of methamphetamine in the lining of five cardboard boxes, it said.
On Oct. 28, customs officers seized nearly 26 kg of methamphetamine found in a drug courier's luggage at Auckland Airport.
This was the largest quantity of drugs New Zealand customs has found in an air passenger's luggage, surpassing the 19 kilograms of methamphetamine that was seized in May 2020, said Customs Manager Auckland Airport Paul Williams. ■
