Fight Against Organized Crime: Advisory Group Demands Funding in Budget 2026

By Lions Roar News National Desk

WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND (December 29, 2025) — The chairperson of New Zealand’s ministerial advisory group on organized crime has issued a stern warning to the government, stating that a “frightening” future awaits the country unless significant resources are committed in the upcoming Budget 2026.

Steve Symon, who leads the independent group, says while the government’s recently endorsed plan to combat Transnational Serious and Organized Crime (TSOC) is a positive first step, it must be backed by “real money and rolling up sleeves” to be effective.

🏛️ A Multi-Agency “Silo” Problem

Currently, the fight against organized crime in New Zealand is fragmented across as many as 30 different agencies. Symon argues that this “siloed” approach allows criminal networks to thrive.

Proposed Structural Changes:

New Ministerial Portfolio: Establishment of a dedicated Minister for Organized Crime to ensure top-level accountability.
Central Business Unit: A new department to coordinate actions between Customs, Police, and the GCSB.
Information “Data Lake”: Consolidating scattered data from various agencies into a single, controlled access point to identify criminal patterns.

📦 The Influx of Drugs: A Bleak Picture

Despite record-breaking seizures by New Zealand Customs, experts warn that the illicit market is more resilient than ever.

Key Concerns:

Stable Prices: Jose Sousa-Santos (University of Canterbury) noted that even with massive seizures, the street price of methamphetamine remains stable, indicating that the volume entering the country is still rising.
New Tactics: Criminal groups are adopting sophisticated methods used in the Americas and SE Asia, such as “narco-subs” and low-profile vessels to bypass coastal patrols.
Invisible Reach: Organised crime is no longer just about drugs; it now heavily involves cyber-fraud, illegal tobacco (a $10 billion industry in Australia), and migrant exploitation.

🗺️ The Pacific Frontier

Associate Minister of Police Casey Costello has emphasized that New Zealand’s Pacific neighbors are being increasingly targeted as transit hubs. The government’s plan includes a joint maritime campaign involving the NZ Defence Force, GCSB, and Customs to disrupt these supply chains across the Pacific Ocean.

“Organized crime is a business that will do anything to make a profit. We need to be pivoting and responding in a far more flexible way,” Minister Costello stated.