The estimated 469kg haul was Customs' largest ever meth seizure at the border and had a street value of about $235 million.
Customs began an investigation last year targeting an overseas criminal syndicate, and inquiries linked individuals to a New Zealand-based company.
By mid August, a shipment from Thailand was assessed as high-risk and searched by Customs officers when it arrived at the Ports of Auckland.
The shipping container held 60 electric motors, and each motor hid an average of around 8kg of methamphetamine.
At the time, Customs investigations manager Bruce Berry called it "an extremely sophisticated and complex importation" scheme run by an organised criminal syndicate.
About 65 Customs and police staff conducted search raids across nine Auckland properties finding another 15kg of methamphetamine, a hand gun, and a large quantity of cash.
Based on wastewater analysis data, police estimated that the importation equated to between 22 and 26 weeks' supply of national meth consumption.
