World - Australia
Updated: February 08, 2023

New Zealand Recovers Over $300 Million Cocaine Floating In Sea

By Quadri Adejumo
February 08, 2023
0

New Zealand has recovered 3.2 tonnes of cocaine worth more than $300 million, found floating in the Pacific Ocean.

Police said the cocaine which was found kilometres northwest of New Zealand was recovered in a joint operation with the New Zealand Customs Service and Defence Force.

Both were acting on intelligence from the Five Eyes alliance, which also includes Australia, the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.

Commissioner of New Zealand Police, Andrew Coster said; “This is the largest find of illicit drugs by New Zealand’s agencies by some margin.

"Officials believe the drugs were dropped at a floating transit point in the Pacific Ocean where they would have been picked up and taken to Australia."

He added; “We believe it was destined for Australia, where it would have been enough to service the market for one year.

“It is more than New Zealand would use in 30 years.”