Bags of cocaine seized as part of the operation. Photo / NZ Police
A major police operation has busted a record-breaking $38 million cocaine haul, with nearly 200kg of the drug allegedly smuggled into Auckland from South America with the help of Hells Angel member.
The month-long investigation, dubbed Operation Depot, targeted a drug syndicate alleged to have imported 190kg of cocaine into New Zealand, hidden inside a boiler imported from Ecuador.
Seven people have now been charged with importation and possession for supply of cocaine, and participating in an organised criminal group, after a series of arrests during the past several days.
All were remanded in custody and granted interim name suppression after their appearances in the Auckland District Court this week, including a gang member. The cocaine importation charges carry a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
Raids following the investigation by the Police National Organised Crime Group found enormous of the white powder at a commercial property in New Lynn.
The cocaine was allegedly hidden within pipes inside a large boiler originally exported from Ecuador.
Police allege 190kg of cocaine was extracted from the boiler. If proven by police, this would make the bust New Zealand’s largest single seizure haul of cocaine leading to arrests, the Herald understands.
Police say the cocaine seized so far is worth up to $38m on the street.
“This was a very sophisticated method of concealment with excellent collaboration of border authorities, which was key to identifying and flagging this import as suspicious,” detective inspector Paul Newman said.
Court documents viewed by the Herald show the date of the alleged importation of the Ecuadorian heavy machinery to New Lynn in West Auckland was October 3.
The search warrants were executed during the past few days at a several homes across Auckland, the culmination of a month-long investigation, police said.
Those arrested are listed in court documents as living at a range of properties in central and south Auckland. The accused range in age from 21 to 37.
Newman said the seizure is a significant find for both police and Customs.
“Organised crime groups are investing increasingly large amounts of money and resources to conceal drugs as they come across the border,” he said.
Police are not ruling out further seizures or arrests.
Authorities are set to further deconstruct the boiler to establish the full extent and amount of cocaine concealed inside the machinery.
In March this year, Customs seized 700kg of cocaine in transit at Tauranga in a shipping container, but this did not lead to any arrests in New Zealand.
In 2016, a US man and a Mexican national were arrested and charged after 35kg was found concealed inside a Diamante horse head.
Ronald Wayne Cook Senior was jailed for 17 years and nine months, while Agustin Suarez-Juarez received 19 years and nine months.
Five of the men arrested this month, aged in their 20s and 30s and living across Auckland, appeared in court on Monday and were all granted interim name suppression.
Two of the men who applied for bail failed in their applications and were remanded in custody until early next year. Another two were remanded in custody until later this month while their lawyers prepare applications for electronically monitored bail.
A fifth man was remanded in custody by consent until Thursday.
Two additional men were scheduled to appear in court this afternoon on the same charges as the others.
One of the group is a member of a Hells Angels chapter in Auckland.
Along with the drug and organised crime charges he faced an additional under the Search and Surveillance Act of failing to carry out obligations in regards to a computer system search.
He was granted interim name suppression by Judge Belinda Sellars.
His lawyer Tiffany Buckley, appearing on behalf of Ron Mansfield KC, sought and was granted leave to adjourn his application for bail until later this week. He was remanded in custody by consent until then.
The fifth man who appeared on Monday was in court again on Tuesday before Judge Sellars.
His lawyer Steven Lack did not seek ordinary bail but indicated he would be applying for electronically monitored bail.
Lack entered a not guilty plea for his client and elected trial by jury on all charges.
Lawyers for three other men have indicated on Monday they would also be pleading not guilty.
The seventh and final man to be charged in connection with the operation also appeared on Tuesday before Judge Sellars and was remanded in custody until Thursday.
He also received interim name suppression.