Cocaine courier’s greed earns him jail time
A 47-year-old drug courier sentenced today in the Manukau District Court will spend 8 years and 3 months’ in jail for
trying to smuggle 2.6 kilograms of cocaine through Auckland Airport last October. He will be deported after serving his
sentence.
Portuguese national Helder Soares Gomez arrived at Auckland Airport from Chile on 13 October 2017, and was stopped by
Customs officers. A baggage examination revealed cocaine, with a street value of up to $1.2 million, hidden in the
lining of his two suitcases. During the interview, he admitted to agreeing to carry the cocaine-filled bags for money.
Customs Investigations Manager Bruce Berry says this was not a particularly sophisticated concealment, and shows this
man’s greed overrode his common sense.
“Thorough examination by Customs officers at the airport led to the seizure, and this man will now spend considerable
time in jail.”
Since his arrest four months ago, Customs has arrested three other cocaine couriers at Auckland Airport and worked with
overseas partners to stop another cocaine courier from travelling to New Zealand.
The five couriers intercepted both here and overseas carried a total of 15.8 kilograms of cocaine. Based on the New
Zealand Drug Harm Index, these airport seizures have prevented around $19.6 million of potential additional harm to New
Zealanders.