Czech man sentenced to 17 years for importing $20 million worth of meth in suitcases

Customs found the methamphetamine in false-bottomed suitcases.
NZ CUSTOMS
Customs found the methamphetamine in false-bottomed suitcases.

A 42-year-old Czech national has been sentenced to 17 years in prison for trying to smuggle 20 kilograms of methamphetamine through Auckland Airport.

Customs officials said the meth had a street value of up to $20 million, and was the largest ever seizure at a New Zealand airport.

Jiri Kupec arrived on a flight from Bangkok with his 69-year-old mother in May 2016, and was questioned and searched by Customs officers after being profiled as 'high-risk' by Customs intelligence.

A baggage search located the meth hidden under false linings.
NZ CUSTOMS
A baggage search located the meth hidden under false linings.

A baggage search located the meth hidden under false linings in their suitcases. 

READ MORE:
More than $2m of meth seized by Customs at Auckland
Methamphetamine seizures highest in ten years
Seven arrested after allegedly trying to import $100m worth of methamphetamine

Kupec's mother was also arrested but the charges were dropped, as the investigation did not show she had knowledge of the drugs. She was subsequently deported.

Customs officials said the amount of meth had a street value of up to $20 million.
NZ CUSTOMS
Customs officials said the amount of meth had a street value of up to $20 million.

Kupec was sentenced in the Manukau District Court on Tuesday.

Customs investigations manager Bruce Berry said the case highlighted the work Customs did daily to identify passengers who could be potential drug couriers.

"While the concealment was relatively straight forward, it's using intelligence approaches to identify risk passengers that allow our officers to do the good work that they do.

"In this case, the passenger tried to disguise himself as a legitimate traveller, but we saw through that."

Berry said transnational syndicates don't care about the harm the class-A drug causes communities, nor do they care about the drug couriers who end up facing the consequences.

"This man admitted he knew he was doing something illegal – and will now pay the price."