Woman arriving from Singapore detained at Auckland Airport with 18.45kg of methamphetamine

NEW ZEALAND: A woman travelling from Singapore to New Zealand has been detained after customs officers discovered about 18.45kg of methamphetamine concealed in her checked luggage at Auckland Airport.

According to a media release by the New Zealand Customs Service, the seizure was made after the woman arrived in Auckland on 4 January, 2026, on Singapore Airlines flight SQ285.

Customs said the amount of methamphetamine seized could produce up to 922,500 individual doses, with an estimated street value of NZ$5.53 million, equivalent to about US$3.18 million.

Court documents cited by local media reports identified the woman as a 33-year-old New Zealand national. She was described as being unemployed and having no fixed abode at the time of her arrest.

Customs officers became suspicious during a routine examination of her baggage after she arrived in Auckland from Singapore, a route that is regularly monitored for drug trafficking risks.

During the search, officers located 18 individually vacuum-sealed packages inside her checked luggage. Each package contained a white crystalline substance, according to customs officials.

Subsequent testing confirmed the substance to be methamphetamine, a class A controlled drug under New Zealand’s Misuse of Drugs Act.

The woman was charged with drug smuggling and appeared in court on 5 January, 2026. She has been remanded in custody until April for a case review hearing.

Under New Zealand law, importing class A narcotics, including methamphetamine, carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment if convicted.

Customs Auckland Airport Manager Paul Williams said the seizure underscored the risks faced by those attempting to smuggle drugs into the country.

He warned travellers that drug couriers should not expect leniency at the border, regardless of whether they claim knowledge of the contents of their bags.

“If you try to smuggle drugs into New Zealand, you might not just land here — you could land in prison,” Williams said in the media release issued by the New Zealand Customs Service.

Williams noted that the Christmas and New Year period is one of the busiest times at the border, with a significant increase in passenger volumes.

He said customs officers work long hours during peak travel seasons to ensure a smooth experience for travellers while maintaining strong border security controls.

“Our message to anyone considering carrying prohibited items is clear: regardless of whether you know what’s in your bag, if it contains illegal drugs, you will face arrest,” Williams said.

He added that customs authorities remain focused on preventing illicit drugs from entering New Zealand communities, citing the significant social harm associated with methamphetamine use.

“Customs remains committed to reducing the harm caused by illicit drugs in our communities. No financial gain is worth the serious consequences, which can include life imprisonment,” Williams said.

Methamphetamine, commonly known as meth, is regarded as one of the most harmful illicit drugs in New Zealand due to its highly addictive nature and its links to violent crime and organised drug networks.

The NZ authorities reiterated that international drug syndicates often target vulnerable individuals to act as couriers, sometimes offering large sums of money in exchange for transporting drugs across borders.