Meth worth $20m found in spatula shipment

11:58 am on 2 August 2016

Authorities have arrested a man in Auckland over a consignment of spatula sets that contained methamphetamine with an estimated street value of $20 million.

The pallet of spatula sets contained methamphetamine with an estimated street value of $20m, Customs said.

The pallet of spatula sets contained meth with an estimated street value of $20m, Customs said. Photo: Supplied / NZ Customs

Customs said the man, who is a Hong Kong national, appeared in the Auckland District Court this morning.

Officers recently intercepted an air cargo shipment from Hong Kong of 80 boxes of 24-piece spatula sets. Each had a 250g methamphetamine packet hidden under the box.

Customs investigators linked the shipment to a 23-year-old Hong Kong national, who had arrived into the country in May on a visitor's visa.

He was arrested at a residential address on the North Shore last night.

Each set came with a 250g methamphetamine packet hidden under the box, adding to about 20kg.

Each set came with a 250g packet of the drug hidden in the base of the box, adding to about 20kg. Photo: Supplied / NZ Customs

A close-up of one of the 250g packets of methamphetamine found in the boxes.

Photo: Supplied / NZ Customs

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