NEW Zealand Customs intercepted a shipment of 700 kilograms of cocaine, found in a shipping container at the Port of Tauranga.

Using what it said were “intelligence and targeting indicators”, Customs identified a potential risk container shipment that left South America in January 2022 and arrived in Tauranga, where Customs officers were ready to inspect the consignment. 

The total weight is estimated to be over 700 kilograms, with a potential street value of an estimated NZ$280 million. Customs said those funds would have gone into the illicit market and transnational crime groups.

Customs investigation manager, intelligence, investigations and enforcement Cam Moore said Customs is currently investigating this shipment alongside its national and international law enforcement partners.

“This extremely significant seizure, the second within two weeks, highlights how transnational organised crime groups are actively trying to exploit New Zealand. They are trying to smuggle drugs to New Zealand on an industrial scale because of the significant profits that can be made, they also want to use New Zealand to access other drug markets,” Mr Moore said.

“We are not prepared to let that happen or to let them target those that live here. This seizure shows the successful efforts Customs and its partners are having in their shared focus to disrupt drug smuggling and protecting New Zealand’s borders.”

Mr Moore said Customs takes a global view, joining forces with New Zealand Police and with overseas partner agencies, as well as working closely with industry to have an impact against such threats to New Zealand’s borders.

“We will also use the intelligence and insights we gain from this investigation to our advantage in order to continue to break these networks and make New Zealand, our border, our people and our economy stronger and safer,” he said.

Detective Superintendent Greg Williams, National Organised Crime Group, said: “this is another significant seizure and comes on the back of strong international partnerships, information sharing and diligent profiling work by Customs at the borders”. 

“This would have caused a huge amount of harm in any community it was distributed into.  We will work alongside Customs to establish who was responsible for bringing this drug into New Zealand and to hold them accountable,” DI Williams said.