By RNZ
Customs officers have seized an estimated 100kg of cocaine worth up to $35 million after it was discovered hidden inside a shipping container at the Port of Tauranga.
The drugs were found on Monday during a routine inspection of a refrigerated container carrying legitimate goods that had travelled from Chile via Peru, Colombia and Panama before arriving in New Zealand.
Customs said officers had identified the container as a potential risk before it arrived in the country as part of standard screening procedures for incoming cargo.
An x-ray scan revealed irregularities in a stack of boxes near the container doors, a concealment technique commonly known as “rip-on, rip-off”, where drugs are secretly added to legitimate shipments without the knowledge of the importer.
A detailed search uncovered 10 boxes containing a total of 100 bricks of cocaine. The bricks were branded “PRADA”, and further testing confirmed they contained cocaine.
Customs maritime manager Robert Smith said the seizure highlighted the ongoing efforts of transnational organised crime groups to exploit international supply chains.
“Transnational serious organised crime groups are continuously testing border security and supply chains globally, looking for vulnerabilities they can exploit,” he said.
“This seizure highlights our ability to detect those efforts and intervene before harm reaches our communities.”
Smith said Customs officers screened hundreds of shipping containers arriving through New Zealand ports each week.
“Through sustained operational activity, sharper risk assessment, and continued investment in targeting and detection technology, Customs is raising the cost, complexity, and risk for criminal groups seeking to operate here.”
Enquiries into the shipment are ongoing.
This story was first published on rnz.co.nz
