A New Zealand man being sought by South American police in connection with a major Buenos Aires drug syndicate is originally from Wanganui.
Police were told Peter Leaitua, 40, was the son-in-law of a Colombian woman who died in Auckland in September after a condom full of cocaine exploded in her stomach. She had been recruited by the drug syndicate.
It was reported that Mr Leaitua had arrived at Auckland Airport from Argentina on September 6 on the same flight as his mother-in-law, Sorlinda Vega, his wife and two children.
Interpol issued a Red Notice for Mr Leaitua, saying he was a New Zealander who spoke Spanish and was wanted on drug charges in Argentina.
Two Wanganui men, who want to remain anonymous, said they remembered the Leaitua family when they lived in Wanganui.