A joint Police and Customs operation has disrupted an importation of cocaine with an estimated street value of $80 million, with five arrests made.
It is the second large seizure of cocaine in Auckland this week, weighing in at 250 kilograms.
The arrests are the result of a joint National Organised Crime Group (NOCG) and Customs investigation, known as Operation Toucan.
Four men were arrested in the early hours of Thursday in the Auckland region.
Detective Inspector Tom Gollan says investigators had established that a significant amount of cocaine had been imported into New Zealand, concealed within a shipping container.
That container originated from Brazil, and it entered New Zealand through the Port of Tauranga where Customs officers located ten duffle bags, hidden amongst a legitimate consignment of cargo, and filled with bricks of cocaine.
“The container was then transported to Auckland under the watchful eye of authorities,” Detective Inspector Gollan says.
The criminal syndicate had been using the well-known “rip-on, rip-off” smuggling mythology.
“Our detectives, supported by specialist Police units, arrested three men as they allegedly attempted to remove the cocaine from the container and transfer it into a van,” Detective Inspector Gollan says.
A fourth man, believed to have been acting as a lookout, was arrested nearby.
“This is a significant drug seizure that will prevent substantial harm in our communities,” Detective Inspector Gollan says.
“It’s the second seizure of cocaine in the Auckland region this week and it only highlights the lengths organised criminal groups will go to in pursuit of profit.
“This seizure also represents more than $90m in social harm to this country.”
Following the arrests, investigators executed six search warrants across Auckland.
At an address Police searched, four high powered firearms were located seized, and a fifth man was arrested.
The five men, aged 29, 31, 32 36,and 41, have each been charged with possession of cocaine for supply, possession of firearms, participation in an organised criminal group and have appeared in the Auckland District Court.
“This is a particularly concerning find and illustrates the link between large scale drug dealing, importations and firearms,” Detective Inspector Gollan says.
Operation Toucan acknowledges the assistance provided by the Federal Police of Brazil to this investigation.
Customs Acting Investigations Manager Nigel Barnes said this outcome highlights the value of strong domestic and international collaboration to combat transnational, serious and organised crime, while protecting New Zealand’s legitimate supply chains.
“This operation began offshore, with intelligence from our international partners alerting us to the shipment before it reached New Zealand. Customs then intercepted the container in Tauranga and worked closely with Police to gather evidence against the suspects who were subsequently arrested.
“By combining international intelligence with joint Customs and Police investigative and operational expertise, we have arrested five people so far and stopped a significant quantity of cocaine from reaching the community,” Mr Barnes says.
The investigation remains ongoing, and Police and Customs are not ruling out further arrests or additional charges.