A group of 10 Malaysians travelling as part of a tour group tried to smuggle about $10 million worth of methamphetamine in through Auckland International Airport in their shoes yesterday.
Each was hiding between 800g and 1kg of the drug with a street value of about $1 million per kilo, Customs said.
The 10 arrived on a flight from Malaysia about midday yesterday.
It was the biggest number of drug couriers ever caught in a single incident at the New Zealand border, said Customs drug investigations manager Mark Day.
Officers searched the bags of two of the group and then referred them for a personal search. In both cases methamphetamine was found in their shoes.
After the two were searched, the remainder of the group was found by Customs officers and then searched. They were also found to have the drug in their shoes.
Police drug squad detectives from Auckland Metropolitan Crime Operations Support arrested and charged them. They were appearing in Manukau District Court today.
The eight men and two women ranged in age from early 20s to late 60s.
Immigration officers had closely questioned two of them for immigration purposes, which slowed down the group's progress and contributed to Customs detecting them, Mr Day said.
"By embedding themselves in what appear to be legitimate tour groups, these criminals are trying to assume normal travel patterns so that they will not be targeted as high risk," he said.
"We had a similar attempt by a Taiwanese tour group last year, but they too were caught out by vigilant customs officers. It's work our officers can be very proud of."
Minister of Customs Maurice Williamson said it was a landmark interception.
"I'm very proud of the effort made by well trained officers at the border in stopping this much of such a vile drug getting into the community here," he said.
"Our diligent customs officers have again proved, if you bring drugs into our country, you will get caught."
