Checkmate: Arrest after Customs uncovers meth stashed in chess set
A chess set, an e-bike battery, and air fryers are among the hiding places a Christchurch man used to import methamphetamine into the country, Customs has alleged.
Investigations linked a 26-year-old man to multiple border seizures of methamphetamine smuggled in international mail with packages delivered to Christchurch addresses between March 2024 and April 2025.
Customs acting investigations manager Matthew Green said the organisation had kept track of the smuggling effort since early 2024 when frontline officers at the International Mail Centre in Auckland began intercepting deliveries from the United States.
"Customs investigators executed a search warrant at the defendant’s address this morning where we arrested him and seized his mobile phone and laptop for further forensic examination," he said.
A chess board containing methamphetamine. (Source: Customs NZ)
He has been charged on four counts of importing methamphetamine.
The four interceptions totalled around 1.64 kilograms of methamphetamine.
Customs said that amount of drugs would have had a street value of an estimated NZ$494,000.
"These seizures have prevented an estimated NZ$1.73 million of harm and cost to New Zealand communities."
Metrhamphetamine was found inside air fryers. (Source: Customs)
Tidy attempt to bring 10kg of meth into NZ in travel cubes
A foreign national was yesterday sentenced to more than six years in prison for the failed but well-packed effort.
Crime and Justice
Wed, Jun 11
Around 25kg of meth found in unaccompanied bag at Akl Airport
The bag, which arrived on a flight from San Francisco on Saturday, was referred to Customs by border partners who observed inconsistencies in X-ray imaging.
Crime and Justice
Monday 7:26pm
Attempt to smuggle 2kg of meth in electric BBQ grill thwarted
A foreign national arrived in Auckland on a flight from Malaysia on Saturday when he was pulled aside for a baggage search.
Crime and Justice
Mon, Jun 9
Green said the mail system was a common method for drug smugglers to send "relatively small amounts" of illicit drugs in frequent consignments.
"Every seizure is carefully recorded, and it is only a matter of time before this leads to an arrest and prosecution."
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