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Businessman arrested after allegedly trying to smuggle two million cigarettes into New Zealand

Posted on by L. Dreeye
Businessman arrested after allegedly trying to smuggle two million cigarettes into New Zealand

  • An Auckland businessman has been arrested on suspicion of trying to smuggle 2 million cigarettes into New Zealand.
  • Customs found about 1.5 million cigarettes in one container and 560 thousand in another.
  • The businessman faces six charges, including theft of customs revenue and import of prohibited goods.

An Auckland businessman has been arrested on suspicion of trying to smuggle 2 million cigarettes into New Zealand.

Earlier this week, Customs scanned two shipping containers believed to be containing undeclared cigarettes.

The examination found about 1.5 million cigarettes hidden in cardboard boxes among bags of cat litter and face towels. In the second container, about 560 thousand cigarettes were hidden among boxes of masks.

Customs assessed the value of the cargo at approximately $3 million due to possible tax evasion.