Police Customs and the Defence Force hold a press conference.
Police have intercepted 3.2 tonnes of cocaine adrift in the ocean in what is New Zealand’s largest drug bust.
Working alongside the Defence Force and Customs, police recovered 81 bales of cocaine drifting in the Pacific Ocean and have brought it back to shore to be destroyed.
The cocaine wasfound in nets with flotation devices, awaiting collection.
Police would not comment on how the drugs came to their attention.
Police Commissioner Andrew Coster said the massive haul of cocaine found floating in the Pacific Ocean was four times larger than any haul previously found by New Zealand authorities.
Speaking to Newstalk ZB’s Mike Hosking, he said this was a “really great result for New Zealand” and showed the capabilities of Kiwi authorities.
Coster said New Zealand was a potential transit point to Australia from South America.
Asked if the haul was meant for here or for Australia, Coster said: “It’s possible that some of it would’ve landed here, but the volume would’ve supplied us for 30 years - so much more likely Australia.”
Cocaine had not featured significantly in New Zealand compared to methamphetamine, Coster said, which is our biggest problem.
The bales were found six days sailing northeast of New Zealand in international waters, not a high-traffic area, and had not been in the water long before the package was found.
Police, Customs and NZDF seized 3.2 tonnes of cocaine in the Pacific Ocean as part of Operation Hydros in December 2022. Photo / Supplied
The drugs were placed aboard the Royal New Zealand Navy vessel HMNZS Manawanui, which arrived in Auckland early yesterday morning. The drugs were taken to a secure facility to be examined and incinerated.
Police Commissioner Andrew Coster said due to the shipment’s size, the drugs were likely to be destined for Australia.
The interception dealt a significant blow to South American producers right through to distributors, he said.
“I am incredibly proud of what has been achieved here, and the impact this will have on organised crime.”
NZ Police national organised crime group head Detective Superintendent Greg Williams, left, with Police Commissioner Andrew Coster, New Zealand Defence Force Joint Forces commander Rear Admiral Jim Gilmour and New Zealand Customs Service Acting Comptroller Bill Perry, announcing details of Operation Hydros during their press conference in Wellington. Photo / Mark Mitchell
“While this disrupts the syndicate’s operations, we remain vigilant given the lengths we know these groups will go to circumvent coming to law enforcement’s attention,” Coster said.
As the drugs have not arrived in any country, it’s difficult for authorities to understand who is behind the shipment.
No arrests have been made in relation to the finding and inquiries were continuing, Coster said.
International partners, including the Five Eyes Law Enforcement Group, are also involved.
Talking to Heather du Plessis-Allan this evening, Coster wouldn’t go into detail about how they found the drugs in the first place.
“You’ll understand the need to protect our methods, but it’s an outstanding result to have covered such a large hole in the communities,” Coster said.
He repeated again that due to the sheer scale of the shipment, police believe the drugs were headed for Australia.
“I think we are concerned about our region being targeted by drug distribution groups,” Coster said when asked by du Plessis-Allan if we would be seeing more of this “stuff”.
“We have a high street value for our drugs and that makes us an attractive market, I think this case demonstrates that we’ve got a lot of active enforcement activity underway and they take a real risk.”
Police, Customs and Defence Force intercepted 3.2 tonnes of cocaine floating in the Pacific Ocean during Operation Hydros, which began in December 2022. Photo / Supplied
National Organised Crime Group director Detective Superintendent Greg Williamssaid New Zealand was not a cocaine market.
At the moment New Zealand consumes about 1.7kg of cocaine a week.
“We are tiny compared to Australia so there is no way 3.2 tonnes are coming here,” Williams said.
The bust is the equivalent of 30 years worth of cocaine supply in New Zealand and one year’s worth in Australia. It’s estimated it would cause $9b worth of social harm if it had been headed for New Zealand.
New Zealand Customs Service acting comptroller Bill Perry said the shipment was worth more than half a billion dollars.
“Customs is pleased to have helped prevent such a large amount of cocaine causing harm in communities here in New Zealand, Australia and elsewhere in the wider Pacific region.
Constricted air and commercial movements due to Covid-19 could show drug syndicates are testing other routes, Perry said
“It is concerning that last year’s interceptions were in the vicinity of 800kg, and this well tops that.”
Police, Customs and the Defence Force intercepted 3.2 tonnes of cocaine floating in the Pacific Ocean during Operation Hydros, which began in December 2022. Photo / Supplied
New Zealand Defence Force Joint Forces commander Rear Admiral Jim Gilmour said he was pleased to have been able to assist in the operation.
“We had the right people and the right capabilities to provide the support required and it was great to work alongside the New Zealand Police and the New Zealand Customs Service.”
The operation, dubbed Operation Hydros, began in December 2022.
In March last year, police and customs made what was then Aotearoa’s largest-ever drug bust when they intercepted 613kg of methamphetamine arriving through Auckland Airport.
The drugs were worth $245 million and six people were arrested - including some with links to the Comancheros gang.
Police, Customs and Defence Force intercepted 3.2 tonnes of cocaine floating in the Pacific Ocean during Operation Hydros, which began in December 2022. Photo / Supplied
