Customs seized 45kg of cocaine in Tauranga on December 4. Photo / Supplied
Customs seizures of smuggled cocaine at the Port of Tauranga in 2025 were more than double the number in 2024.
As New Zealand’s biggest port, it is often the first visited in New Zealand by cargo ships coming from South America, as Kiwis’ use of the Class-A drug surges.
Cocaine and meth seizures at the Port of Tauranga have topped almost $962 million worth in under four years, according to the latest Customs figures.
More than 548kg of cocaine, with an estimated street value of over $191.8m, has been seized so far this year, more than double the amount in 2024.
This includes three seizures totalling 94kg and worth nearly $33m since the beginning of November.
Between January 1, 2022 and December 11, cocaine seizures at the Port of Tauranga totalled just over 1698 kg, with an estimated street value of $655.6 million.
Since January 1, 2022, 1023kg of methamphetamine (valued at $306m) had also been seized.
The single largest drug seizure by New Zealand authorities was 3.2 tonnes of cocaine worth $500m found floating in the Pacific Ocean in February 2023.
NZ Customs investigation manager Dominic Adams said transnational and organised crime groups were escalating their efforts to smuggle larger amounts of drugs through our sea borders, including Tauranga.
Adams said Tauranga and Auckland ports were on the radar of drug smugglers, and a lot of the cargo that arrived in New Zealand came from South America.
“Most of it comes directly from there to the Port of Tauranga. Either from Balboa, Panama or from South America ... Being the biggest port, invariably, we are going to make more seizures here than elsewhere, but all 13 of our seaports are being targeted.”
Adams said drug cartels in Mexico and Central and South America were predominantly responsible for cocaine and meth imported into New Zealand.
He said three transnational drug cartels that regularly targeted New Zealand were the Sinaloa Cartel and the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion, both from Mexico, and Sam Gor in the Asia Pacific region.
He said Mexican cartels knew New Zealand was a lucrative market.
“A kilo of meth in Mexico might cost between US$1000 and US$5000, but selling it here, they are making about $100,000 to $150,000 in profit for each kilo sold wholesale.”
He said what came through the Tauranga port required a “different level of connection and sophistication” than drugs sent through the mail or hidden in passengers’ bags at airports.
Adams said the most noticeable trend over the past few years was the “deliberate and targeted” efforts by organised criminals to corrupt those working in the industry’s supply chain.
People who thought they were “going to make a quick buck” often ended up being held responsible for the import of hundreds of kilos of drugs.
“You’re seen as a door, a business commodity, and once they get their hooks into you, your life’s ruined. It’s not worth it, don’t do it.”
New Zealand’s wastewater data showed there was a growing cocaine use, but nowhere near the size of methamphetamine use, he said.
“That’s why we are putting more people, more staff and more focus on Tauranga’s port and other ports nationally, to target container loads of goods coming from South and Central America.”
Adams said NZ Customs worked closely with local and international partners.
“We have a network of liaison officers across the world, including in Los Angeles and Washington, and their focus is very much on what is happening in South and Central America for us.
He said they liaised with agencies such as the US Customs and Border Protection, Homeland Security Investigations group, as well as police and Customs forces in Panama, South America, Canada and Asia.
“Every time we open a new investigation and identify certain people, that information is shared with our offshore partners. They’re constantly making intercepts and investigations offshore on our behalf.
“Last year alone, our partners intercepted about 1.4 tonnes of drugs offshore on our behalf, destined for New Zealand. And the threat posed to Tauranga’s maritime border is persistent and increasing.”
Adams said last year there had been eight investigations involving the smuggling of cocaine and methamphetamine into the Port of Tauranga, with three arrests.
“It takes a network of people to defeat a network of organised criminals. We can’t do it alone.”
“If anyone is approached or has suspicions about drug smuggling, they can report it confidentially by phoning 0800 WE PROTECT (0800 937 7680) or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”
Detective Inspector Albie Alexander said police would continue to support their partners in identifying and investigating transnational organised crime groups who continue to target NZ as a lucrative market.
“We are committed to disrupting and dismantling organised crime networks and work closely with our partners to identify these networks.”
Sandra Conchie is a senior journalist at the Bay of Plenty Times and Rotorua Daily Post who has been a journalist for 25 years. She mainly covers police, court and other justice stories, as well as general news. She has been a Canon Media Awards regional/community reporter of the year.