4826 (2024). Hon Jenny Salesa to the Minister of Customs

4826 (2024). Hon Jenny Salesa to the Minister of Customs: What issues, if any, is Customs is addressing at the maritime border and what capability and resourcing challenges, if any, do they present?

Hon Casey Costello: I am advised that the New Zealand Customs Service (Customs) Maritime Group was established by the Government to ensure a dedicated law enforcement response to identify, understand, and combat transnational organised crime and maritime supply chain infiltration, and to increase Customs capability in the maritime domain. Over the past 12 months, security breaches at ports across the country, particularly at the Port of Tauranga, have presented as a new threat in the maritime domain with approximately 20 instances of security breaches reported and investigated. These breaches are suspected to have occurred to facilitate drug importations. Customs teams are collaborating closely with the New Zealand Police and local Port Security teams to counter these threats. Additionally, Customs Maritime Group have recently identified drug concealments using other various methods including concealing illegal goods below the waterline of commercial cargo vessels or within container structures, and involving crew members attempting to smuggle drugs ashore. The Maritime Group has received both operating and capital funding from the Government and is expanding its capacity both on the water and across major New Zealand’s ports.