Three men have been arrested after border officers intercepted a shipping container full of nitrous oxide canisters, methamphetamine utensils and illicit tobacco at the Port of Auckland in March.
The men are alleged to have imported approximately 1600 three-litre canisters of nitrous oxide, 21,400 methamphetamine utensils and 219 kilograms of illicit tobacco from China.
Aged 35, 39 and 44, they appeared in the Manukau District Court last week on various charges relating to "the importation and possession of prohibited goods, and defrauding Customs revenue".
Customs investigators and police executed search warrants at the defendants' businesses in Botany, Massey, and Warkworth on Friday.
Acting chief customs officer fraud and prohibition Kylie Campbell hoped the arrests would send a clear message to anyone thinking of importing prohibited goods.
“Nitrous oxide is a harmful product when it is diverted for recreational use. Large-scale illegal importation poses real risks to communities, particularly young people, and can contribute to wider drug-related harm.
“Working closely with Police and other partners, our role is to stop prohibited and harmful goods before they enter New Zealand and to disrupt those seeking to profit from them.”
The government announced a crackdown on nitrous oxide last Wednesday.
Imports of nitrous oxide now required direct approval from the Director-General of Health, and cannisters containing more than 10g will automatically be classified as psychoactive substances.
"Last week’s changes to the law will further strengthen the controls on the importation of nitrous oxide, and Customs is already actively enforcing those requirements at the border," Campbell said.
Further charges and arrests have not been ruled out.
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