New Zealand Customs Seizes $12 Million Cocaine Haul at Tauranga Port

The New Zealand Customs Service has seized 26 kilograms of cocaine valued at $12 million at the TAURANGA port. The discovery was made by police responding to an early morning break-in at the port.

Upon noticing signs of the break-in, port authorities promptly alerted the police, prompting three suspects to be apprehended. Subsequently, the police searched 36 containers destined for Auckland from TAURANGA. The officials found plastic-wrapped bricks in the refrigeration unit of a reefer container. The contents of the bricks were later confirmed to be cocaine.

Paul Campbell, Customs Group Manager Maritime, noted a concerning rise in drug smuggling via maritime routes. He further stated that while approximately 80% of illicit drugs entering New Zealand arrive via air transport, the volume of drugs transported by sea has steadily increased since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Earlier this year, New Zealand witnessed its largest-ever drug seizure, involving approximately 3.2 tons of cocaine worth $500 million. These drugs were discovered floating in a remote area of the Pacific Ocean, packaged in bales and ensnared in nets, suggesting an international drug smuggling syndicate deposited them. This particular shipment was believed to be en route to Australia.