12409 (2026). Hon Jo Luxton to the Minister of Customs

Written Question

Published date: 17 Apr 2026

Metadata

Document type:	Written Question
Parliament number:	54
Question number:	12409 (2026)
Question asked:	01 Apr 2026
Member asking:	Hon Jo Luxton
Portfolio:	Minister of Customs
Minister replying:	Hon Casey Costello
Answer received:	13 Apr 2026
Status:	Question Answered
Reply type:	Reply
Document ID:	WQ_12409_2026
Document guid:	6fea4174-4b67-4de9-aefe-f316396e5599

12409 (2026). Hon Jo Luxton to the Minister of Customs: What is the average cost, if any, to Customs New Zealand for destroying and disposing of seized illegal drugs?

Hon Casey Costello: I am advised that, for the 2022/23, 2023/24, 2024/25, and 2025/26 (to date) financial years, the average cost to Customs for the destruction and disposal of seized goods was $234,947.75. Customs cannot provide separate expenditure figures for the destruction and disposal of illegal drugs. This is because disposal costs are recorded collectively for all seized goods and are not tracked separately by item type, such as illegal drugs.