The woman appeared in Manukau District Court yesterday on one count of drug importation and has been remanded until April for a case review hearing. Customs officers allege they found 18kg of methamphetamine stuffed in the woman's checked luggage when she arrived in NZ from Singapore. Under the Misuse of Drugs Act, the woman, who is listed as having no fixed abode, could face life imprisonment if convicted. Anyone with suspicions about possible smuggling should contact Customs confidentially on 0800 WE PROTECT (0800 937 768) or Crime Stoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Lane Nichols is Auckland desk editor for the New Zealand Herald with more than 20 years’ experience in the industry.

Source: New Zealand Herald January 06, 2026 01:48 UTC