An Auckland businessman's appeared in court in relation to the smuggling of around two-million cigarettes inside shipping containers
An Auckland businessman's appeared in court in relation to the smuggling of around two-million cigarettes inside shipping containers
1 November 2024
The tobacco was seized by Customs this week after being tipped off by international partners about two sea freight containers heading to the Port of Auckland.
An x-ray found 1.5-million cigarettes inside cardboard boxes placed among bags of cat litter and face towels in one container, and around 560-thousand among boxes of face masks in the second.
They equate to around three-million in revenue evasion.
The 41-year-old man is facing six charges including defrauding Customs revenue and knowingly importing prohibited goods.
© 2025 Newstalk ZB, NZCity
