Articles tagged with Organised Crime
Budget 2026 Boosts NZ Customs with $81.5M to Fight Drugs and Crime
2 days ago | 81 viewsBudget 2026 allocates $81.5 million to enhance New Zealand Customs' capacity to combat illegal drugs and organized crime through upgraded equipment, improved facilities, and expanded international presence. The funding supports two main initiatives: $70.7 million for domestic border security enhancements and $10.8 million to establish four new international liaison posts in strategic regions to disrupt criminal networks offshore. Customs Minister Casey Costello emphasizes the importance of these investments in strengthening border protection, international cooperation, and maintaining efficient trade facilitation amid rising smuggling threats.
Tags: Budget 2026 Customs New Zealand Casey Costello transnational crime illicit drugs smuggling border security international posts organised crime$11.9M Reinvested to Combat Meth and Gang Harm in NZ Communities
1 week ago | 111 viewsNew Zealand's government will reinvest $11.9 million seized from criminals into the Resilience to Organised Crime in Communities (ROCC) programme to combat methamphetamine and gang-related harm. ROCC collaborates with police and community groups across seven regions to prevent gang recruitment, support offenders, and aid communities affected by drug and gang activity through practical initiatives with measurable outcomes. This funding, sourced from the Proceeds of Crime Fund, underscores the government's commitment to reducing organized crime and its impact on vulnerable populations without relying solely on enforcement.
Tags: Nicole McKee Casey Costello ROCC Proceeds of Crime Fund New Zealand methamphetamine gangs organised crime Police WELLfedProceeds of Crime Fund 2026 Opens to Fight Violent Crime and Support NZ Safety
3 months ago | 513 viewsStarting 30 March 2026, New Zealand's Proceeds of Crime Fund will reopen to allocate seized criminal assets toward initiatives aimed at reducing violent crime and enhancing public safety. The fund prioritizes high-impact, outcome-focused programs that prevent lower-level offending, dismantle gang operations, and support community partnerships, with strict criteria and short-term investments up to three years. Recent funded projects include improved safety measures in Auckland’s CBD and community-led efforts like the Meke Academy, reflecting a commitment to redirect criminal proceeds to protect victims and prevent further crime.
Tags: Nicole McKee Proceeds of Crime Fund New Zealand violent crime organised crime gangs Meke Academy Ministry of Justice Auckland Hawke’s BayNew Zealand and French Agencies Seize 4.24 Tonnes of Cocaine in Pacific Operation
3 months ago | 605 viewsNew Zealand agencies, including Customs, Defence Force, and GCSB, collaborated with French authorities and the US DEA to intercept 4.24 tonnes of cocaine in French Polynesia as part of Operation Kiwa. This operation is the first major success of the Transnational, Serious and Organised Crime (TSOC) Action Plan aimed at targeting maritime transnational crime networks in the Pacific. The campaign emphasizes international cooperation and enhanced intelligence and surveillance to protect New Zealand and its Pacific partners from organised crime.
Tags: Casey Costello New Zealand Customs Service New Zealand Defence Force Government Communications Security Bureau United States Drug Enforcement Agency French authorities Operation Kiwa Transnational Serious and Organised Crime French Polynesia New ZealandNew Zealand Unveils Stronger 5-Year Plan to Combat Organised Crime and Harm
5 months ago | 823 viewsAssociate Police Minister Casey Costello announced a new all-of-government strategy and action plan to combat Transnational, Serious and Organised Crime (TSOC) in New Zealand, aiming to make the country the hardest place for organised criminal groups to operate. The plan focuses on improving cross-agency coordination, information sharing, addressing methamphetamine harm, and strengthening community resilience through initiatives like ROCC. This five-year strategy responds to increasing organised crime threats, including drug trade and money laundering, and is informed by expert advice to enhance governance, accountability, and resource use across government agencies.
Tags: Casey Costello New Zealand TSOC Organised Crime Methamphetamine Ministerial Advisory Group Resilience to Organised Crime Transnational Crime Money Laundering Pacific NeighboursGovernment Targets Meth Epidemic with Seized Funds: A Nationwide Campaign Against Drug Use and Gang Profits
6 months ago | 660 viewsThe Government is using seized criminal money to fund a nationwide anti-methamphetamine campaign, aiming to reduce violent crime and support victims. Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee emphasizes the destructive impact of meth on families and communities, highlighting the importance of providing help for recovery. The campaign, led by Health New Zealand, is part of a broader effort to combat organized crime, with a focus on cutting off illegal profits and making communities safer.
Tags: Government criminals campaign methamphetamine gangs Nicole McKee Proceeds of Crime Fund Health New Zealand organised crimeAmendments to Policing Act: Enhancing Police Powers for Public Safety & Crime Prevention
7 months ago | 719 viewsThe Cabinet has decided to amend the Policing Act to clarify Police's authority to gather intelligence in public places and expand their powers to temporarily close areas in response to antisocial behavior or safety risks. Recent court decisions have raised uncertainty about Police's ability to record images in public spaces, prompting the proposed amendments to reaffirm their authority for lawful purposes. These changes aim to restore Police's crime prevention capabilities, support prosecutions, respond to evolving threats like organized crime, and enhance interventions for public safety, youth offending, and family harm.
Tags: Police Mark Mitchell Policing Act intelligence gathering crime prevention organised crime gang activity public safety youth offending family harm