New Zealand: Baggage handlers and others to go to trial over alleged meth imports

Twelve people charged over alleged drug smuggling at New Zealand’s border will face a High Court trial. Back in November, 13 men and two women were charged after a police operation codenamed Operation Selena. The accused include six Air New Zealand baggage handlers and two King Cobras. The accused face an array of charges, including importing hundreds of kilograms of methamphetamine from Malaysia, participating in an organised criminal group, possessing the class A drug for supply, and selling the drug. They appeared at the High Court at Auckland on Friday where Justice Sally Fitzgerald set a six-week trial date and remanded them on bail and in custody to appear again in September. Police previously said the operation began after baggage handlers at Auckland International Airport drew suspicion. Police and New Zealand Customs estimated the baggage handlers received more than 250kg of drugs from overseas over the past 10 months. They said the group tried to smuggle 200kg of methamphetamine from Malaysia, but those packages were stopped at the border. Police carried out searches at 20 addresses and found more than $500,000 in cash and two guns. Detective Inspector Paul Newman previously said the arrests showed organised crime was resilient and resourceful.<br/>