Winston Peters rules out working with Labour ahead of the next election, and technology has been identified as a key component to tracking down shoplifters. Video / Herald NOW
Customs seized 130kg of cocaine worth up to $50.44 million at the Port of Tauranga.
The cocaine was found in a container from Italy, marked with a lion and ‘GGG’.
Customs’ maritime manager Robert Smith credited the seizure to advanced technology, staff know-how, and strong partnerships with port authorities and police.
Customs has seized 130kg of cocaine at the Port of Tauranga, smuggled inside a shipping container sent from Italy.
Customs’ maritime manager, Robert Smith, said his officers found the Class A drug yesterday after assessing the container as suspicious and running it through an X-ray.
The total amountseized was worth up to $50.44 million, Smith said. It comes less than four weeks after another 157kg of coke was found at the same port.
The container was loaded with machinery and had arrived from Italy via Panama, he said.
After an X-ray and a physical examination, officers found 130 blocks of cocaine, each 1kg, inside duffel bags at the front of the container.
Customs found 130kg of cocaine in duffel bags inside a shipping container at the Port of Tauranga.
Photo / Customs
Each brick had a picture of a lion on the outside and ‘GGG’ branding, Smith said.
He credited the seizure to leading-edge technology and his officer’s know-how.
“This seizure is a result of our intelligence processes, leading-edge technology and officer know-how, which enables Customs to keep our borders secure and prevent TSOC groups from profiting from communities.”
Smith put a high value on Customs’ partnerships with port authorities, police and traders.
“These relationships equip us to respond collaboratively, quickly and effectively to the threat of drug smuggling.
“The impact to trade and importers’ business by organised crime should not be underestimated. These activities not only impact the speed and costs of imports but damage New Zealand’s reputation as a trading nation,” he said.
“Co-operation across government and industry is strengthening our border and we will continue to evolve and adapt to target this threat.”
Hundreds of bricks of cocaine worth up to $60.9m were found inside three containers at the Port of Tauranga on May 4.
The cocaine bricks were branded with a lion and the initials 'G G G'. Photo / Customs
Customs officers, police and Navy members searched a container ship that had arrived from Balboa, Panama and found the drugs, Customs said.
One hundred and twenty-nine bricks of cocaine, also each weighing up to 1kg, were found in duffel bags inside two of the containers.
Customs vessel Hawk V had monitored the ship at anchor off the port and onto its berth at the port, with the Royal New Zealand Navy dive team checking the vessel’s hull.
Several containers onboard were risk-assessed as “suspicious” and X-rayed.
Raphael Franks is an Auckland-based reporter who covers breaking news and local stories from Tāmaki Makaurau. He joined the Herald as a Te Rito cadet in 2022.
