( dpa )- New Zealand Customs officers said they seized about 1 kilogram of crystal methamphetamine that a man and woman were trying to smuggle into the country on a flight from Hong Kong on Wednesday.
The haul, which has an estimated street value of about 1 million New Zealand dollars (about 780,000 US dollars), was significant because officers usually found ingredients of the drug being brought in, said Customs investigations manager Bill Perry.
New Zealand police say crystal methamphetamine, known as "ice" or "P," is the country's biggest drug problem and has been responsible for a number of murders and other crimes of violence.
The man and woman were charged with importing a class A drug and possession for supply. They were not named and their nationality was not released pending a court appearance.
Perry said, "International crime syndicates are active, aggressive and incredibly inventive in finding new ways to conceal their illegal trade."