11. JONATHAN YOUNG (National—New Plymouth) Link to this
to the Minister of Customs
What commitment has the Government made to improve productivity and security at the border?
Hon MAURICE WILLIAMSON (Minister of Customs) Link to this
Budget 2010 provides $75.9 million in capital expenditure over the next 4 years for a joint-venture border management system between the Customs Service and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. The new system will bring processes together, providing improved security and productivity at New Zealand’s borders. Modernising the ageing border management computer system will also deliver significant benefits for industry and travellers. Budget 2010 also provides $5.9 million of capital funding to the Customs Service over the next 2 years to fight the illicit drug trade through enhanced tracking and surveillance equipment.
Hon MAURICE WILLIAMSON Link to this
Last week customs discovered 8.175 kilograms of pure methamphetamine, worth at least $6 million on the street, in the luggage of a tour group arriving at Auckland Airport. The best coverage I have seen of this was in, as Paul Holmes would refer to it, the “Royal New Zealand Herald”, which covered it well. This is the single biggest—
Hon MAURICE WILLIAMSON Link to this
That is what Paul Holmes called it, so I will call it the “Royal New Zealand Herald”. This is the biggest single bust of pure methamphetamine at the border so far this year, and is one of the biggest ever made. As a result, seven Taiwanese people were arrested and have been charged with importing a class A controlled drug. This seizure is an outstanding example of the vigilance, expertise, and experience of our front-line customs officers.