New Zealand Customs Service

New Zealand Customs Service - Latest News [Page 14]

Gun parts imported to build submachine gun

Friday, 10 May 2013, 4:37 pm | New Zealand Customs Service

A 55 year old unemployed Christchurch man, Christopher Robin Horgan, was today sentenced for importing firearms parts for a military-style submachine gun. He has been fined $1000 and the firearms parts will be destroyed. More >>

Close call for Customs officer; stun gun man fined

Thursday, 9 May 2013, 5:19 pm | New Zealand Customs Service

A Customs officer was almost stunned, literally, when an illegal stun gun disguised as a torch discharged during a baggage search. The traveller was prosecuted and has been fined $400. More >>

Man jailed for million dollar drugs hidden in chopsticks

Wednesday, 8 May 2013, 6:05 pm | New Zealand Customs Service

As a result of a Customs sting, a 20 year old Auckland man was sentenced in the Manukau District Court today to two years and one month’ imprisonment for importing over 3.4 kilograms of ContacNT concealed inside batteries and metal chopsticks. More >>

Taiwanese woman arrested for $900k worth of ‘P’

Tuesday, 23 April 2013, 5:51 pm | New Zealand Customs Service

A 47 year old Taiwanese woman was arrested and charged at Auckland International Airport last night after Customs officers found approximately 900 grams of crystal methamphetamine (‘P’) in her possession. The drugs have a street value of approximately ... More >>

Customs seizes cactus sports supplement

Tuesday, 23 April 2013, 5:45 pm | New Zealand Customs Service

There has been a sharp rise in Customs interceptions of a sports supplement which contains the endangered cactus, Hoodia Gordonii. Customs warns the public not to import this product. More >>

Store man sentenced for storing child sexual abuse stories

Friday, 12 April 2013, 9:37 am | New Zealand Customs Service

A 57 year old Auckland store man, who was sentenced yesterday for importing child objectionable material through online forums and websites, admitted he was relieved when Customs officers knocked on his door. More >>

Customs warns fake ecstasy importers and users

Thursday, 11 April 2013, 12:18 pm | New Zealand Customs Service

Customs says the sentencing of an unemployed Invercargill man yesterday to two years’ imprisonment for importing over $21,000 worth of the ecstasy mimic, bk-MDMA, sends a clear warning to all such importers that they will be caught and prosecuted. Justin ... More >>

China Customs to trial new import clearance procedures

Monday, 8 April 2013, 4:08 pm | New Zealand Customs Service

The General Administration of China Customs (China Customs) and the New Zealand Customs Service announced today a trial of new procedures that will allow for the clearing of New Zealand goods held in bonded storage (Special Customs Control Areas and Bonded ... More >>

International student sentenced for child sex abuse images

Thursday, 28 March 2013, 5:32 pm | New Zealand Customs Service

An international student was today sentenced at the Auckland District Court to nine months’ home detention for distributing and possessing child sexual abuse material. This marks the second successful Customs prosecution in two weeks. More >>

Customs arrest Hamilton locals for importing psychoactives

Thursday, 28 March 2013, 5:11 pm | New Zealand Customs Service

Three Hamilton locals were arrested yesterday as a result of Customs’ focus on psychoactive substances being intercepted through the mail. More >>

Customs voted most attractive public service employer again

Friday, 22 March 2013, 2:39 pm | New Zealand Customs Service

Customs has again been voted New Zealand’s Most Attractive Employer for the public sector in the Randstad awards. The organisation was also named the second most attractive organisation to work for in the overall awards category. More >>

Teen sentenced for trading child sexual abuse images

Wednesday, 13 March 2013, 11:16 am | New Zealand Customs Service

Customs is calling on parents and guardians to pay more attention to what their children are doing online, after a New Plymouth teenager was yesterday sentenced for the online trading of child sexual abuse images. More >>

Mouthwash Leaves Man With Bad Taste

Friday, 1 March 2013, 3:20 pm | New Zealand Customs Service

When Customs officers opened a package declared to contain contact lens solution, they found a mouthwash bottle filled with a clear liquid. As a result of an investigation, a Christchurch man was yesterday sentenced for importing the Class B controlled drug ... More >>

Five million faces

Monday, 25 February 2013, 2:08 pm | New Zealand Customs Service

SmartGate, Customs’ automated passenger processing system, reached a new milestone of over five million users today. Deputy Comptroller Robert Lake says SmartGate, which was introduced at airports in December 2009, has become increasingly popular, ... More >>

Mushrooms not so magic for Nelson retiree

Thursday, 21 February 2013, 1:52 pm | New Zealand Customs Service

People importing drugs for personal use have been put on notice following the sentencing of a Nelson retiree who received cannabis and magic mushrooms from a friend through the mail. More >>

Single electronic window for importers and exporters

Monday, 18 February 2013, 3:06 pm | New Zealand Customs Service

A single electronic window for goods to pass safely through New Zealand’s border will be introduced in stages from April by Customs and the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI). More >>

Jail sentence for drugs concealed in teddy and bike

Tuesday, 12 February 2013, 6:42 pm | New Zealand Customs Service

Customs today welcomed the sentencing of an Auckland man in the Manukau District Court to six years and seven months’ imprisonment for importing 16.5 kilograms of ContacNT, a cold medicine containing pseudoephedrine that can be used to manufacture ... More >>