The New Zealand Police announced the arrest of four people, after an estimated 46 kilograms of cocaine was seized from an address in Tauranga, New Zealand. The cocaine seized has an estimated street value of around NZ$20 million ($450 per gram).
The authorities seized the country’s largest ever shipment of cocaine which arrived to the port of Tauranga from Chile on Tuesday 31 October, with the crime syndicate approaching the vessel and retrieving the cocaine from a hidden compartment on the exterior of the hull.
International media report that the ship carrying the drugs was the ‘MAERSK ANTARES’, without the crew being involved.
In particular, customs commenced the operation after an investigation into smaller methamphetamine seizures, resulting in several arrests, identified persons of interest believed to be involved in smuggling and distributing Class A drugs and money laundering.
Then, customs joined forces with Police to carry out investigative work, establishing that a cocaine shipment would be offloaded from a commercial ship near Tauranga.
Search warrants executed in Tauranga, Mt Manganui and residential addresses in Auckland, in the early hours of November 1st, resulted in the arrest of two Australian men, a Croatian and a Serbian. The arrested men will appear in the Tauranga District Court, on charges relating to importing the cocaine and possessing the drug for supply.
Police Assistant Commissioner: Investigations, Richard Chambers, said: “Today’s seizure is hugely significant. These arrests have dismantled a trans-national crime syndicate attempting to profit from a drug that would have caused a great deal of harm within our communities.”
Customs Group Manager Intelligence, Investigations & Enforcement, Jamie Bamford highlighted the important role the cooperation between Customs and Police played, in order for these arrests to be made.