\n<\/p>\n
A 33-year-old woman faces drug smuggling charges in New Zealand after more than 18kg of methamphetamine was found in her luggage at Auckland Airport.<\/p>\n
The New Zealand national was arrested on Sunday (Jan 4) after she arrived on a flight from Singapore.<\/p>\n
During a search of her baggage, Customs officers found 18 vacuum-sealed packages containing a white crystalline substance.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cTesting confirmed that the substance was methamphetamine,\u201d said the New Zealand Customs Service.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It added that the meth seized is estimated to produce up to 922,500 doses, with a potential street value of NZ$5.53 million (US$3.2 million).<\/p>\n
New Zealand media reported that the woman landed in Auckland on a Singapore Airlines flight.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Singapore\u2019s Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) said the flight transited in Singapore.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe flight did not originate from Singapore,\u201d an agency spokesperson said in response to CNA\u2019s queries.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs the matter is being investigated by the New Zealand authorities, it is inappropriate for CNB to comment further.\u201d<\/p>\n
Methamphetamine is a Class A controlled drug. In New Zealand, those convicted of smuggling such narcotics may be sentenced to life imprisonment.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n