WELLINGTON: New Zealand Customs intelligence has led to the largest seizure of cocaine in Australia’s history.
The Australian Federal Police said more than 1.4 tonnes of cocaine with a street value of about $312 million had been seized. Six people, including a New Zealander, were arrested in the bust, which was the culmination of a police operation that spanned more than two years.
The investigation began with a tip-off from New Zealand Customs. The drugs were meant for Australia and none of the shipment entered New Zealand, a customs spokeswoman confirmed. The long-running investigation involved Customs, the Organised Financial Crime Agency of New Zealand, the Fijian Transnational Crime Unit, French Polynesian.
Six men, aged between 32 and 66, have been charged with serious drug importation offences. The investigation began in August 2014 when the Australian Federal Police were alerted by New Zealand Customs about a scheme to import the drugs into Australia.
