29167 (2025). Hon Jenny Salesa to the Minister of Customs

29167 (2025). Hon Jenny Salesa to the Minister of Customs: What steps, if any, has the New Zealand Customs Service taken since January 2024 to monitor, detect, or disrupt the importation of drugs ordered via social media platforms or messaging apps, as identified in the 2024 Drug Trends Survey?

Hon Casey Costello: I am advised that through the international mail stream, the New Zealand Customs Service (Customs) frequently intercepts and seizes smaller quantities of controlled drugs and other illicit goods ordered by users for personal use, or low scale distribution. Imports of this quantity of illicit drugs may have been ordered over social media platforms or messaging apps, as identified in my response to Written Parliamentary Question 29122 (2025). Many of these interceptions are referred to the New Zealand Police as part of an information disclosure agreement between Customs and the Police called ‘Mahi Tahi’, which allows Customs to provide the Police with information on border interception of illicit drugs and illegal firearms. I am also advised that Customs is currently developing an Online Information Framework in line with similar frameworks used by other domestic law enforcement partners. This Framework is expected to guide Customs officers on how to appropriately interact with social media platforms and identify border related drug offending. This will provide further drug targeting opportunities and avenues for investigative enquiry.