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More than three tonnes of cocaine, which New Zealand authorities believe was bound for Australia, has been picked up in the Pacific Ocean.
New Zealand police reveal massive cocaine haul
New Zealand’s defence force has intercepted a year’s worth of Australia-bound cocaine bobbing about in the Pacific Ocean.
A cross-agency operation involving New Zealand police, customs and defence officials produced the haul, recovering 81 bales of the illicit drug totalling 3.2 tonnes.
The cocaine has been brought back to Auckland after a six-day journey from the open seas on board the HMNZS Manawanui, and will be destroyed.
Police Commissioner Andrew Coster said it was “one of the single biggest seizures of illegal drugs by authorities in this country” – worth an estimated $NZ500 million ($A453 million).
