New Zealand introduces bill to strengthen border security

The New Zealand government introduced a bill to strengthen customs’ ability to combat organized crime and growing border threats, a senior official said Wednesday.
The Customs and Excise (Border Security) Amendment Bill aims to update legislation to address changes in the border threat environment, including a “massive increase” in illicit drug seizures, Customs Minister Casey Costello said in a statement.
The bill would strengthen security requirements in customs-controlled areas and export storage facilities, increase penalties for serious offending, provide customs with additional operational powers, modernize information-sharing and digital border capabilities, and enhance officer safety, according to the statement.
Customs also needs improved powers to address the growing trade in child exploitation material, the minister said.