28668 (2025). Hon Jenny Salesa to the Minister of Customs

Written Question

Published date: 17 Jun 2025

Metadata

Document type:	Written Question
Parliament number:	54
Question number:	28668 (2025)
Question asked:	03 Jun 2025
Member asking:	Hon Jenny Salesa
Portfolio:	Minister of Customs
Minister replying:	Hon Casey Costello
Answer received:	11 Jun 2025
Status:	Question Answered
Reply type:	Reply
Document ID:	WQ_28668_2025
Document guid:	b5d246aa-efbc-4934-9319-fb80345a875a

28668 (2025). Hon Jenny Salesa to the Minister of Customs: What capability, if any, does New Zealand Customs currently have to detect the use of cryptocurrencies in laundering organised crime proceeds, and how has this changed since 2022?

Hon Casey Costello: I am advised that the New Zealand Customs Service (Customs) has partnered with the New Zealand Police, Financial Markets Authority, Inland Revenue, Serious Fraud Office and the Department of Internal Affairs to form a Virtual Assets Investigation Resource Group. The group’s objective is to boost cross-government capability in the detection and investigation of virtual assets. I am also advised that Customs currently refers all cryptocurrencies, in which a link to criminal offending is detected, to the New Zealand Police Virtual Assets Team.