The internal cylinder of a hydraulic jack packed with methamphetamine. Photo: NZ Police
An Auckland man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for attempting to smuggle 13 kilograms of methamphetamine.
Eleazar Tahuriorangi appeared in Manukau District Court today and was convicted of importing, exporting, possession and supply of methamphetamine.
An investigation led by the National Organised Crime Group (NOCG) found the 33-year-old man tried to smuggle more than 13kg of the class-A drug in hydraulic jacks.
Detective Inspector Paul Newman said the shipment could have been worth more than $4.5 million in street value.
"This investigation commenced after good detection at the border by Customs and was another good example of Police and Customs working together to disrupt and dismantle organised crime in New Zealand," he said in a statement.
Estimates indicate the smuggled shipment could have produced more than 650,000 individual doses of methamphetamine and caused $14.3m in social harm.
Customs Investigations Manager Cam Moore said that today's result came down to the fantastic work of all those involved.
"Credit goes to Customs officers who picked up discrepancies in the paperwork, and excellent work by the National Organised Crime Group who, together with Customs investigators, built the evidence to culminate in another successful prosecution."
