28803 (2025). Hon Jenny Salesa to the Minister of Customs

28803 (2025). Hon Jenny Salesa to the Minister of Customs: What additional resourcing has been provided to the Customs Intelligence and Integrity Units to respond to the growing sophistication of drug syndicates, including drug cartels?

Hon Casey Costello: I am advised that the New Zealand Customs Service (Customs) has established two Maritime Senior Intelligence Analyst positions and one Customs Technical Specialist position in the Customs Intelligence Unit since I became Minister of Customs on 27 November 2023. These positions have contributed towards combating the increased drug importation threat in the maritime domain from drug syndicates, including drug cartels. Customs utilises a range of resources, including in house tools, to identify imports of interest which contribute to the identification of possible drug syndicates. There has been no additional resourcing provided to Customs Risk, Security and Assurance team, which manages integrity breaches, corruption risks and threats to Customs, since 27 November 2023. Budget 2025 will provide Customs with additional funding to increase Customs’ technological capability as well as the number of staff protecting our border, with funding for up to 60 additional roles over the next four years, including investigations and prosecutions, intelligence, and border operations