Attempts to smuggle drugs and their ingredients worth as much as $17 million into New Zealand have been foiled by customs officials.

Earlier this month packages containing 14.9kg of ephedrine were stopped at the International Mail Centre.

Plastic bags containing the ephedrine were hidden among an assortment of Indian foods.

By itself the ephedrine - used to make crystal methamphetamine (ice) - was worth around $1.6 million. However, refined to produce 13kg of ice the value would rocket to $13 million.

"Seizures of ephedrine, and pseudoephedrine happen frequently. This particular seizure though was notable for its size," New Zealand Customs Service investigation manager Paul Campbell said .

Two men and a woman were arrested and face drug smuggling charges.

The catch followed an earlier incident where a man and woman on a flight from Hong Kong were found with 4kg of ice hidden under their clothes.

It was the second time customs officials had caught people attempting to bring drugs worth over a million dollars through Auckland Airport.