39016 (2024). Hon Jenny Salesa to the Minister of Customs

39016 (2024). Hon Jenny Salesa to the Minister of Customs: What advice, if any, has she received on the subject of information sharing between Customs and other departments, ministries and agencies, including but not limited to information relating to drug smuggling, listed by title and date?

Hon Casey Costello: As the Minister of Customs, I am regularly briefed on matters related to information sharing by the New Zealand Customs Service (Customs) and other departments, ministries, and agencies. Information sharing, including information related to drug smuggling, is an integral part of Customs’ daily operations. To ensure I am fully informed, I receive verbal briefings on a range of matters during fortnightly meetings with senior Customs officials and through the Weekly Report to the Minister of Customs. These briefings cover a wide range of topics, including collaboration with other government agencies and international counterparts to combat drug smuggling and the efficient exchange of information to intercept illicit drugs. In addition to these briefings, I have also received formal written advice on information sharing. I refer the Member to the attached table which provides a breakdown of written advice received from Customs on information sharing between Customs and other departments, ministries, and agencies, including information related to drug smuggling for the period 24 November 2023 to 27 July 2024, broken down by title and date received.