Customs seized 8.3 million cigarettes in four months, worth $17.2m on market

Author: Ethan Griffiths,
Publish Date: Wed, 17 Jun 2026, 1:19pm

Customs Minister Casey Costello says 8.3 million illegal cigarettes were seized at the border in the first four months of this year. Photo / NZME

Customs seized 8.3 million cigarettes in the first four months of this year, equivalent to nearly 70,000 cigarettes each day.

The figures point to a significant rise in seizures compared to 2025, with the illegal but typically more affordable cigarettes rising in popularity.

Customs Minister Casey Costello said the cigarettes were sold for as little as $12 a packet.

Between January and April, 7708kg of illegally imported tobacco were seized, including 8.3 million individual cigarettes and 1031kg of loose tobacco.

In the legitimate market, the value of the seizure would be worth $17.2 million.

Last year, a total of 19,905kg of tobacco was seized, including 14.8 million individual cigarettes. The figures meant an average of 1.23 million cigarettes were seized each month in 2025.

In the first four months of this year, 2.075m cigarettes were seized each month, on average.

The figures suggested seizures of loose tobacco had fallen this year, with an average of 666kg seized per month in 2025.

The monthly average for the first four months of this year was 257kg.

Costello outlined the figures alongside Customs bosses at a post-budget select committee hearing yesterday.

Speaking to Newstalk ZB, Costello said there were many reasons for the rise in seizures, and therefore importations.

“I think we’ve had an issue with the excise increases breaching that threshold. We’re at the point where there’s this big price differential.

“I think also there has been, and I’ve said it repeatedly, real misinformation around the health messaging on vaping.”

She said there was evidence some people had turned to cigarettes to give up vaping, as they were under the mistaken belief that cigarettes were less harmful.

“Plus, it’s supply driven. It’s there, it’s available, it’s cheap.”

A Customs investigation in May 2024 led to the seizure of 1.36 million illicit cigarettes, and five arrests. Photo / Supplied

She said investments in the Customs force had improved the agency’s ability to respond to imports, including working more closely with overseas partners to identify supply chains.

In New Zealand, retailers found to be selling illicit tobacco face a six-month prison sentence, a $20,000 fine or both.

In May, Costello announced an action group of Customs, police and health officials to prosecute sellers, ordering the agencies to prepare a joint plan.

Costello had previously spoken of fragmented responsibilities making enforcement difficult.

The Ministry of Health sets tobacco control policy, while Health NZ operates the investigation teams. Customs focuses on excise evasion, while police support all three.

She said officials continued to work on improving legislation to control illicit tobacco and expected to make announcements soon.

Ethan Griffiths is a political reporter with Newstalk ZB, based in the Parliamentary Press Gallery. He joined NZME as a print journalist in 2020, previously working as an Open Justice reporter in the Bay of Plenty and Wellington, and as a general reporter in Whanganui.