Billie Moore: Airports Association chief executive says gangs trafficking drugs from smaller centres is a regularly raised concern

Gangs are taking advantage of relaxed regional airport security screenings.

Stuff reports they're travelling between New Zealand's smaller centres to traffic drugs around the country, where there's little risk of having their bags scanned.

Current security settings mean flights with fewer than 90 passengers are unlikely to go through security screening.

Airports Association Chief Executive, Billie Moore told Ryan Bridge it's a regularly raised concern.

“But it’s important for us to focus on the fact that the purpose of passenger and baggage screening is for aviation security, and so that means unlawful interference with aircraft.”

She says the purpose of screenings are for aviation security -- to stop unlawful aircraft interference.

“These issues are about other illegal activities, they’re a ma

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Gang members are apparently using regional flights to traffic drugs
around the country, making the most of the lower levels
of security at our regional airports. Currently, the security settings
mean that flights with fewer than ninety seats or less
than ninety seats on board unlikely to go through security screening.
Now the government says they're not going to do much
about this. It's a problem for the police. Billy Moore

(00:22):
is the and he's out on Airport's Association chief executive
and is with us this morning. Good morning, Billy, morning Ryan,
Thank you for being with me. Is this a big
problem for you guys?

Speaker 2 (00:32):
Look, it is a concern that is regularly discussed amongst
the airport's airlines and the Civil Aviation Authority, something we're
aware of a police consume. But it's important for us
to focus on the fact that the purpose of passenger
and beaker's screening is for aviation security, and so that
means I'm more for interference with aircraft. These issues are

(00:55):
about other illegal activities and are a metaphor the police
rather than aviation security. So while we talk about this
in the context of security at airports, it's operation in
some of their issues around some steps that we can take.

Speaker 1 (01:13):
Though you're really just more worried about someone bringing a
plane down, aren't you, I mean, rather than exactly yeah,
because because I mean, does it actually matter? I mean,
obviously it's not ideal for you, but if the drugs
are going to go, they could go on an intercity bus,
they could go on the back of a car, you
know what I mean.

Speaker 2 (01:30):
Yeah, you're right about that. Look, there are concerns around
this in terms of the overall security environment at airports
when when things like this are going on. Obviously it's
a concern for us because it makes the security environment
more you know, more tense, more and more difficult terms
the people around and the things that airports are being
used for. But there are steps we can take. For instance,

(01:52):
we think that a stronger and more consistent police presence
at airports is a really good step forward, and we're
trying to engage the civil authority and others on how
that could happen. So that's something that we know both
airports and airlines would like to see.

Speaker 1 (02:06):
Would you like to see permanent police officers at all
regional airports?

Speaker 2 (02:12):
Not necessarily going that far, but really strong relationships is important.
So that the police in that area have a great
engagement with airport staff, with airline staff, so that that
information flow is going, so that they're familiar with, for instance,
the airside environment as well. So there's still some steps
we can take there that would help this kind of situation.

Speaker 1 (02:34):
All right, Billy, thank you very much for that. This morning,
Billy more of the New Zealand Airports Association Chief Executive.

Speaker 2 (02:40):
For More Familiar edition with Ryan Bridge.

Speaker 1 (02:43):
Listen live to news Talks.

Speaker 2 (02:44):
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