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No.4 August, 2014 |
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Hong Kong, China and New Zealand launch New Customs Partnership |
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New Zealand Customs Minister Nicky Wagner recently announced the launch of a new partnership between New Zealand, Hong Kong and Chinese customs which aims to develop cash detector dog capabilities in the region.
Officials from Hong Kong Customs and the General Administration of China Customs’ Anti-Smuggling Bureau recently sent officials to Auckland in order to learn how trained drug dogs detect cash. They spent a week receiving information and knowledge from the cash dog training experts, and watched the training for the detector dogs.
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Officials who underwent the training hoped that after the lessons, their own customs office can design and progress similar training sessions in their own administrations.
Ms Wagner said New Zealand customs was happy about the cooperation.
"It’s fantastic we’re able to assist Hong Kong and China to build this special capability. Detecting undeclared or hidden cash is an increasing priority for many Customs authorities as evidence shows following the money trail can lead to cracking serious organised crime such as drug smuggling."
“Having Hong Kong and China Customs detector dogs sniff both drugs and cash will disrupt drug smuggling and money laundering by transnational syndicates, with flow-on benefits for us in New Zealand,” she said.
Hong Kong shares formal agreements and a close customs-to-customs operational relationships with New Zealand. Both agencies are working together to target illicit drug trade through cross-border efforts.
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