The New Zealand Herald last week published an article about a customs strategic border threat assessment report undertaken by Customs NZ. The report shows that organised criminals are using increasingly sophisticated practices to misuse and corrupt our trade, transport, data and finance systems.
New Zealand is vulnerable because of naivety and complacency within our high trust approach.
Customs NZ is seeing increasing illegal activities related to drug trafficking. We know from other reports that there is an increase in trafficking in people, theft of native flora and fauna, illegal trading in goods and services, the use of public data and the use of financial and trust structures to hide funds. It’s not just undertaken by organised crime, but the report shows that organised crime is highly active in illegal activities at our borders.
The Herald article by Michael Morrah notes the new and emerging threats being used by organised crime groups of encryption devices and tracking equipment to monitor drug shipments.
Corruption is on the increase as well, through public employees at border points – shipping ports and airports, or those who have access to intelligence services. The threat assessment report notes that ‘trusted insiders’ are now embedded. These could include traders, supply chain operators, financial service providers and professional facilitators (lawyers and accountants) who can establish arrangements for shifting money and concealing funds.
Customs is working to counter attempts to prevent corruption within its staff. This is a must for any agency and any private organisation whose work has an element of vulnerability.
We would expect that similar threat assessment reports are being undertaken by all relevant agencies.
Our Pacific neighbours are also at high risk with members of local gangs travelling to or being deported to the Pacific where they set up new chapters or develop links to other criminal networks.
See NZ Herald Customs intelligence report reveals ‘insider threats’ growing as organised crime gangs expand in New Zealand (behind paywall).
