29948 (2025). Hon Jenny Salesa to the Minister of Customs

29948 (2025). Hon Jenny Salesa to the Minister of Customs: Was the container in which the cocaine was discovered at Carbine Road, Mt Wellington on 23 April 2025, subject to any risk profiling, x-ray screening, or physical inspection by New Zealand Customs; if not, why not?

Hon Casey Costello: As this matter is under active investigation, the New Zealand Customs Service is unable to provide any information regarding the investigation at this time. However, I can advise that all goods entering New Zealand are screened and risk assessed based on intelligence, including information shared by other agencies (both domestic and international). Partner agencies such as the Ministry for Primary Industries also undertake their own risk assessments of containers to detect biosecurity risks and will inform Customs of any potential threats. Imports identified as ‘high risk’ or selected randomly as part of Customs’ assurance programme are subject to further interaction, which can include x-ray or physical examination.