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A multimillion dollar international scheme to import methamphetamine hidden in maple syrup has been upended by New Zealand, Australian and Canadian authorities.
A shipment of maple syrup from Canada to New Zealand was intercepted in January, New Zealand police revealed on Thursday.
Some 713kg of methamphetamine were found, the largest interception of methamphetamine in New Zealand, Police Commissioner Andrew Coster said.
It was part of a wider shipment of methamphetamine bound for the Australasian market, Coster said.
700kg ‘ice’ haul sparks fears of Japanese yakuza links with Chinese triads
“The international drug trade and organised crime groups are creating havoc and harm in communities around the globe, and our best opportunity to disrupt, intercept, and keep our communities safe, is to work collaboratively with other agencies, and other nations,” he said.
“This seizure of nearly three quarters of a tonne shows the effectiveness of working across borders.”
Police estimate the drugs would have caused close to NZ$800 million (US$486 million) worth of social harm, according to drug harm index figures.
Six men were arrested in New Zealand and would appear in court in Auckland in relation to the incident.

In Australia, a shipment from Canada destined for Melbourne that contained 18 pallets of canola was found to contain 3 tonnes of methamphetamine.
Australian Federal Police (AFP) Assistant Commissioner Hilda Sirec said the drug seizures and arrests highlighted the damage that law enforcement agencies could inflict on transnational drug trafficking networks by working together across borders.
“We are using our combined reach to disrupt drug supply chains and hold criminals to account, no matter where they are in the world.”


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New Zealand

New Zealand seizes 713kg of methamphetamine hidden in maple syrup

New Zealand police estimate the drugs would have caused about US$486 million worth of social harm. Photo: New Zealand Herald

A total of 713kg of methamphetamine was hidden in maple syrup bottles shipped from Canada to New Zealand. Photo: New Zealand Police 

Massive 700kg ‘ice’ haul spotlights Japanese yakuza links with Chinese gangsters

Japanese police have arrested seven Chinese nationals over a 700kg haul of crystal methamphetamine. Photo: Shutterstock

Yakuza gang members during the Sanja Matsuri Festival. Photo: Shutterstock

Australia seizes more than 800kg of cocaine worth US$210 million from cargo ship

Australia said cocaine shipments are being seized at the country’s borders at record levels. File photo: Shutterstock

Singapore triples jail time for drugs possession, makes sweeping changes to anti-narcotics laws

Singapore said offenders who possess large quantities of certain controlled drugs such as cannabis will face stiffer penalties from this month. File photo: EPA-EFE

News

Asia

Australasia

Police said the shipment from Canada was the largest interception of methamphetamine in New Zealand
Six men were arrested in relation to the drug haul that would have caused about US$486 million worth of social harm


Police said the shipment from Canada was the largest interception of methamphetamine in New Zealand.


Australia

Canada

Drugs

Crime