Ministerial Advisory Group on Transnational, Serious and Organised Crime
The Ministerial Advisory Group (MAG) on Transnational, Serious and Organised Crime (TSOC) has been established by Hon Casey Costello, Minister of Customs and the Associate Minister of Police. The group provides independent, expert advice.
The advisory group will provide monthly reports to the Minister with its findings and recommendations on different aspects of New Zealand’s response to organised crime. The group commenced its work in late February 2025 and will conclude its work by 30 September 2025.
A key focus of the group is to identify gaps, blockages and vulnerabilities that are hindering an effective response to TSOC. It will develop advice and options to make a step change in the way that law enforcement, regulatory agencies, and the private sector work to detect, deter and dismantle organised crime groups in New Zealand.
This review will provide advice on strengthening operational practices and government decisions on refreshing the Transnational Organised Crime Strategy 2020 - 2025.
May 2025
- Full report - Corruption in the Pacific (PDF, 328 KB)
April 2025
- Full report (PDF, 506 KB)
- Summary (PDF, 107 KB)
March 2025
- Full report (PDF, 316 KB)
- One-page summary (PDF, 840 KB)
- 20 February 2025: Advisory group on organised crime appointed
- 26 November 2024: Advisory group to focus on organised crime
Steve Symon (Chair)
Steve Symon has been a Crown Prosecutor with Meredith Connell for over 20 years, and a Partner for ten. Over that time, he has been involved in some of the largest and most complex prosecutions in New Zealand. This has involved considerable work across the interface between law enforcement and regulatory agencies.
Craig Hamilton
Craig Hamilton is a former Police Inspector who specialised in the recovery of the proceeds of crime. Craig now consults for a range of countries on combatting money laundering and other finance-related criminal activity.
Dr Jarrod Gilbert
Dr Jarrod Gilbert is one of New Zealand’s foremost academic experts in matters relating to transnational, serious and organised crime.
John Tims
John Tims is a former Deputy Police Commissioner with considerable strategic and operational experience in organised crime and serious crime investigations. John has recently been involved with reviews and strength assessments of agencies both domestically and internationally. Throughout his career, he has worked in a multi-agency environment and was responsible for developing the multi-agency centre Te Pou Herenga Waka in the Counties Manukau Police District.
Owen Loeffellechner
Owen Loeffellechner is a senior leader with expertise in corporate and private sector protection, both domestically and internationally. He has expertise implementing strategic and operational safeguards to enhance preventive measures and long-term resilience against criminal threats.