WELLINGTON, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- The New Zealand government introduced a bill to strengthen customs' ability to combat organized crime and growing border threats, a senior official said Wednesday.
The Customs and Excise (Border Security) Amendment Bill aims to update legislation to address changes in the border threat environment, including a "massive increase" in illicit drug seizures, Customs Minister Casey Costello said in a statement.
The volume of drug intercepts more than quadrupled from 1.5 tons in 2018 to 6.5 tons in 2024, while transnational, serious and organized crime groups are exploiting technology, legitimate trade and travel systems, and people with access to secure border areas such as baggage handlers, Costello said.
The bill would strengthen security requirements in customs-controlled areas and export storage facilities, increase penalties for serious offending, provide customs with additional operational powers, modernize information-sharing and digital border capabilities, and enhance officer safety, according to the statement.
Customs also needs improved powers to address the growing trade in child exploitation material, the minister said.
"When the original Customs and Excise Bill was passed in 1996, the main border issues involved individuals, offensive material in magazines and on videos and people trying to bring in extra cartons of duty-free cigarettes," she said, adding that customs is now dealing with criminal cartels involved in serious, high-value crimes backed by threats, intimidation and violence.
The bill recognizes customs' role in protecting national security and establishes a framework for information sharing with industry partners, Costello said. ■
