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A 69-year-old man has been sentenced to six and a half years in prison after trying to smuggle about 4.4kg of methamphetamine through Auckland Airport.

Customs officers seized the methamphetamine in September 2024 after it was found under the lining of the man’s hand luggage.

The 4.4kg located would have had a street value of up to $1.6 million.

The Dutch national was sentenced in the Manukau District Court on Tuesday and convicted of the importation of the Class A controlled drug.

Auckland Airport Customs manager Paul Williams said stopping this quantity of methamphetamine from entering the country prevented about $4.9m worth of social harm and cost to New Zealand.

The 4.4kg of methamphetamine found in the bag of a passenger at Auckland Airport would have had a street value of up to $1.6 million. Photo / New Zealand Customs Service

“Anyone committing such a serious crime will have to face the consequences,” he said.

“Drug couriers may be willing to take the risk of trying to smuggle illegal drugs, but they should understand that Customs’ training and access to intelligence means there is a good chance we will catch and arrest them.”

More than $10m worth of methamphetamine was seized in the first two days of 2025 after three people allegedly tried smuggling it through the border.

In one incident, meth had been soaked into clothing to conceal it.

Customs said two separate attempts at smuggling turned up about 27kg of meth in luggage at Auckland International Airport.

Two men, a 33-year-old and a 39-year-old, arrived in the country on a flight from Toronto, Canada, on New Year’s Day.

Customs officers questioned them and searched their bags, finding 20.44kg of meth in the 33-year-old’s suitcase. The bag tag was linked to the 39-year-old.

They were due in the Manukau District Court today charged with importing a Class A controlled drug. The 33-year-old faces a charge of possessing a Class A controlled drug for supply.

Customs said this drug seizure had an estimated value of $7.66m and avoided about $21.42m worth of harm to New Zealand’s communities and economy.