Sherelle Kennelly: Chief Executive of the Customs Brokers and Freight Forwarders Federation on new remote controlled vessels to help combat drug smuggling around our coastline

Early Edition with Ryan Bridge · Apr 15, 2025 · 2m · transcript

Customs now has two remote controlled vessels to help combat drug smuggling around our coastline.

Tahi and Rua were launched yesterday and can be at sea for up to 100 days using renewable energy.

A recent Government report shows Customs seized 55 kilograms worth of methamphetamine in 2015 - now 90 kilos gets stopped every week.

Customs Brokers and Freight Forwarders Federation Chief Executive Sherelle Kennelly told Ryan Bridge the boats are an important addition.

She says it's a sustainable technology to try to stop these illicit drugs entering the border.

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