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Police have laid nearly 200 criminal charges against gang associates allegedly involved in a sophisticated drug-smuggling syndicate operating through unattended baggage at Auckland Airport.
Twenty search warrants were carried out across the Auckland region yesterday by the National Organised Crime Group and Customs, with eight associates from the Brotherhood 28 MC arrested, including the gang’s president.
The enforcement action is the latest phase of Operation Matata, a joint Police–Customs investigation targeting a syndicate allegedly smuggling class A drugs aboard international flights using baggage-handling vulnerabilities.
Those arrested face 170 charges between them, including participating in an organised criminal group, importing methamphetamine and cocaine, conspiracy to import, possession for supply, supplying methamphetamine and cocaine, offering to supply cocaine, and money laundering.
Police also seized $50,000 in cash, ammunition, jewellery and electronic devices during the warrants.
Detective Inspector Tom Gollan said the arrests reflect a wider push to shut down transnational organised crime at the border.
“Since Operation Selena in 2021, Police and Customs have worked with Auckland Airport to disrupt the flow of drugs being imported through the air border, facilitated by the corruption of baggage handlers,” he said.
“This operation has routed out the organisers, facilitators and baggage handlers involved in this illegal operation. Police and Customs investigators have exposed their networks, while establishing how they are evading systems and controls.”
Operation Matata has now seen 43 people arrested since February 2025. So far, 20 consignments of methamphetamine and cocaine have been intercepted, weighing 630 kilograms and 112 kilograms respectively, with a combined retail value of more than $270 million and estimated social harm exceeding $730 million.
Gollan noted that 20 of those arrested across the investigation were baggage handlers, but none of the eight arrested this week were airport employees. Instead, they were alleged facilitators and controllers overseeing the syndicate.
He said airport workers should treat unsolicited cash offers as clear red flags, noting: “Alarm bells should be going off when they are offered cash payments in exchange for them committing serious offending.”
Customs Investigations Manager Dominic Adams said the arrests demonstrate the strength of multi-agency cooperation.
“Customs, Police and industry partners are working across our air and maritime borders to combat these criminal groups intent on smuggling illicit drugs into New Zealand,” he said. “Those arrested have abused positions of trust to smuggle harmful drugs into our communities. Customs and Police will not tolerate this.”
Auckland Airport’s Head of Terminal Operations Richard Deihl said the airport community remains united in efforts to disrupt the global drug trade.
“These latest arrests demonstrate the strong and effective collaboration between Police, Customs and the airport community to disrupt the global drugs trade and prevent harmful substances from reaching our community.”
Operation Matata continues to run with support from international law-enforcement partners, resulting in enforcement activity in several overseas jurisdictions.
