EPA fights back against refrigerant crime

This aircon unit was installed by a legally certified engineer. (Image: Coastal News)

Fri, 21 Feb 2025

Organised criminals are illegally importing refrigerants into New Zealand as a safer bet than drugs, but the Environmental Protection Authority says it’s on to them.Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) chief executive Allan Freeth outlined the problem at a Feb 13 annual review before Parliament's environment select committee.Freeth said the EPA had recently executed several search warrants in Auckland in a joint operation with police and the NZ Customs Service. "We seized a considerable amount of ozone-depleting gas...

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