Organised crime is being described as the number one threat to New Zealand's national security.

The Ministerial Advisory Group on Transnational, Serious and Organised Crime see it as such a significant issue, it's recommending the government should give one minister the responsibility of tackling the problem.

A new report says police and customs regularly encounter drug shipments which were once thought unthinkable. 

Customs Minister Casey Costello told Ryan Bridge she sees merit in the recommendation.

She says it's been done before, in the 80s when the Serious Fraud Office was set up to respond to a specific type of criminal offending.

LISTEN ABOVE