Steve Symon: Ministerial Advisory Group for Organised Crime Chair on the increase in drugs being intercepted at the border

Organised crime groups likely still dictate New Zealand's drug market despite huge increases in seized product. 

Border drug busts jumped from 1.5 to 6.5 tonnes between 2018 and 2024. 

In the first nine weeks of 2026, more than 12 tonnes of cocaine was stopped in the Pacific. 

Chair of Ministerial Advisory Group for Organised Crime Steve Symon told Mike Hosking groups are stockpiling.  

He says they're getting enough drugs in so they can still control prices, even when there are disruptions. 

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