The four men facing charges following New Zealand's largest cocaine bust have been named.
Benjamin Northway, 35, Matthew Scott, 44, Mario Habulin, 45, and Deni Cavallo, 46, all appeared together before Judge Edwin Paul in the Tauranga District Court yesterday.
The men faced various charges relating to importing cocaine into New Zealand and possessing the drug for supply. The men were arrested after 46kg of cocaine, with a street value of $20 million, was seized in Tauranga on Wednesday.
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Judge Paul lifted name suppression for the men yesterday and said he expected pleas to be entered at their next court appearance on December 4.
He also ordered a German-speaking interpreter to appear on behalf of Cavallo.
Police opposed bail for the four men.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Sean Brennan made an application for the matter to be transferred to Auckland District Court, which was opposed by the four defendants' lawyers.
He said the defendants had no connections to Tauranga other than being arrested here and all the prosecution witnesses were based in Auckland.
The four men were remanded in custody until December 4 for a hearing in the Tauranga District Court in regards to the transfer application.
The arrests came after what Customs manager of intelligence, investigations and enforcement Jamie Bamford said was a five-month investigation involving raids on properties in Tauranga, Mount Maunganui and Auckland.
Bamford said the drugs were allegedly stashed in a hidden compartment on a commercial shipping vessel - the Maersk Antares - which arrived at the Port of Tauranga on October 31.
Police Assistant Commissioner of investigations Richard Chambers described the haul as the biggest ever seizure of cocaine in New Zealand.
Charges
Benjamin Northway:
Importing cocaine into New Zealand on June 1 in Tauranga
Participating in an organised criminal group between October 27 and November 1 at Tauranga
Importing cocaine into New Zealand on October 31 at Tauranga
Possessing cocaine for supply on October 31 at Tauranga
Possessing methamphetamine for supply on November 1 at Auckland
Possessing cocaine for supply on November 1 at Auckland
Possession of methamphetamine on November 1 at Auckland
Matthew Scott:
Importing cocaine into New Zealand on June 1 at Tauranga
Possessing cocaine for supply on August 21 at Otahuhu
Participating in an organised criminal group between October 27 and November 1 at Tauranga
Importing cocaine into New Zealand on October 31 at Tauranga
Possessing cocaine for supply on October 31 at Tauranga
Possessing methamphetamine for supply on November 1 at Auckland
Mario Habulin:
Importing cocaine into New Zealand on June 1 at Tauranga
Importing cocaine into New Zealand on October 31 at Tauranga
Participating in an organised criminal group at Tauranga between October 27 and November 1
Possessing cocaine for supply in Tauranga on October 31
Deni Cavallo:
Importing cocaine into New Zealand on October 31 at Tauranga
Participating in an organised criminal group at Tauranga between October 27 and November 1