Six younger adults chasing ‘Insta-worthy’ life charged over importing 93kg meth from Malaysia

Customs investigations supervisor Dominic Adams stated younger individuals have been more and more being wooed on social media by organised crime syndicates to do their soiled work, describing the rising prevalence as “an active and dangerous development”.

With such teams actively recruiting on-line, Adams urged younger Kiwis and their households to be aware of the chance and be careful for crimson flags.

“Criminal groups are using social media to entice our young people into high-risk illegal activities, with the promise of overseas travel, cash and an Insta-worthy lifestyle,” Adams stated.

“But be warned about affords which might be too good to be true – they arrive with strings connected and lifelong penalties.”

Operation Trammel has resulted in 22 arrests and 31 search warrants since January, when five individuals were arrested.

In April, 11 people were arrested after Customs executed search warrants across Rotorua, Hamilton and Auckland in relation to the operation.

They were aged between 19 and 31 and alleged to have worked as couriers, recruiters and organisers for a locally run syndicate, with Customs alleging 252kg of methamphetamine had been smuggled into New Zealand, mainly in passenger luggage, on return trips from Malaysia.

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