Customs seizes cocaine worth nearly $16m from container at Port of Tauranga

Some of the 45 1kg bricks of cocaine seized from a container at the Port of Tauranga. Photo / NZ Customs

Cocaine with a street value of nearly $16 million has been seized from a container at the Port of Tauranga.

Customs officers discovered 45 kilograms of the Class A drug in 1kg bricks branded with markings including Volvo, Porsche, and a hamster wearing a crown.

Customs says the container originated in Houston in the United States, transited through Balboa, Panama before arriving in Tauranga on Thursday.

The container had been risk-assessed as part of standard Customs pre-arrival procedures for all incoming sea cargo and vessels.

During X-ray screening, Customs officers identified anomalies in the imagery, which led to an inspection of the container and its contents.

The outer packaging depicting a hamster in a crown. Photo / NZ Customs

Hidden amongst legitimate goods, Customs officers found two plastic-wrapped bags that contained 45 cocaine bricks.

The street value of the drug was $15.75m.

It comes after other recent busts at the port linked to Panama, including 33kg of cocaine worth $11.5m in November, 21kg of cocaine worth more than $7m in October and 157kg of cocaine worth $60.9m split between two container vessels in July.

Customs manager maritime, Robert Smith, said Customs remained vigilant at New Zealand’s seaports, working to disrupt crime groups from exploiting the maritime border and legitimate trade routes and shipments.

“This cocaine seizure demonstrates the ongoing work of Customs frontline officers who continue to put pressure on criminal networks, making it harder for them to operate through our seaports.”

Customs seized 45kg of cocaine in Tauranga, including some branded with a Volvo logo. Photo / NZ Customs

He said Customs took an intelligence-driven, multi-layered approach to protecting NZ’s borders, and worked closely with industry stakeholders such as port and shipping and logistics companies.

Customs urged industry workers and the public to remain vigilant and report potential suspicious behaviour to Customs.

Suspicions about potential drug smuggling can be reported confidentially to 0800 WE PROTECT (0800 937 768) or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.