Customs officers have seized an estimated 157 kilograms of cocaine, worth up to NZ$60.9 million, in three separate containers at the Port of Tauranga.

These seizures are part of Customs’ ongoing targeting and search efforts in collaboration with industry, domestic and international law enforcement to disrupt drug smuggling by transnational and serious organised crime groups.

On Sunday 4 May, Customs officers teamed up with Police and Navy to search a container vessel that had arrived into the Port of Tauranga from Balboa, Panama, carrying an assortment of containerised cargo.

Customs vessel Hawk V monitored the vessel both at anchor off the Port and onto its berth at the port, with the Royal New Zealand Navy Dive team undertaking a dive to check the vessels hull for concealments. Customs officers then boarded the vessel for a thorough search.

Several containers onboard were risk-assessed as suspicious, with further x-rays and physical examination leading to the discovery of 129 bricks of cocaine, each weighing up to one kilogram, found within duffel bags inside two of the containers.

This amount of cocaine would have been worth up to NZ$50 million on the streets.

Just four days earlier, Customs officers based in Tauranga had similarly searched another container vessel from Panama and found 28 bricks of cocaine, weighing up to one kilogram each, in the refrigeration compartment of a container.

Customs Manager Maritime Robert Smith has credited these seizures to the ongoing collaboration between law enforcement agencies, notably Police, and Navy, as well as partnerships with the port company and shipping lines that’s paying dividends.

“Customs is taking a New Zealand Inc. approach and combining forces with like-minded agencies and industry colleagues to send a stark warning to transnational and serious organised crime groups that they are not welcome on our shores.

“We have been working closely with port authorities and shipping companies – these seizures evidence our partnerships are really making an impact. Criminal groups can expect to see more of us, not just in Tauranga.

“It is important to emphasise these are not one-off seizures found by chance – these results are through the dedication and hard work of Customs officers who are playing their part day in and day out to protect our borders and communities,” Mr Smith says.

Royal New Zealand Navy Maritime Component Commander, Commodore Shane Arndell, said the Navy was always proud to support Customs in keeping New Zealanders safe from harmful substances.

“Our Navy divers are accomplished in conducting underwater searches, regularly working with Customs on tasks like these.’’

Customs urges industry stakeholders and the public to remain vigilant at all times. Suspicions about drug smuggling can be reported by calling 0800 WE PROTECT (0800 937 768) in confidence, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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