Some 81 bales of cocaine weighing 3.2 metric tons (3.5 quick tons) had been intercepted within the Pacific Ocean as a part of Operation Hydros — a joint initiative between New Zealand’s police, customs and protection drive.
Those behind the policing operation valued the haul at greater than half a billion New Zealand {dollars} (about $318 million).
A Batman brand is plastered throughout one of many packages proven, whereas others are seen labeled with a black four-leaf clover.
An worldwide crime syndicate is believed to be chargeable for the cache, which the police assume was headed for Australia.
A navy vessel took six days to ship the medicine again to New Zealand, the place they’ll now be destroyed, police stated.
Coster stated within the information launch: “There is no doubt this discovery lands a major financial blow right from the South American producers through to the distributors of this product.
“This is without doubt one of the single largest seizures of unlawful medicine by authorities on this nation. While this disrupts the syndicate’s operations, we stay vigilant given the lengths we all know these teams will go to avoid coming to legislation enforcement’s consideration.”
Operation Hydros, which started in December, screens “suspicious” vessel movements and includes working with international partner agencies, Coster said.
He added: “The significance of this restoration and its affect can’t be underestimated.”
No arrests have been made but an international investigation is ongoing.
Bill Perry, New Zealand Customs Service acting controller, added: “It is a big illustration of what lengths organized crime will go to with their international drug trafficking operations and reveals that we aren’t exempt from main organized felony drug smuggling efforts on this a part of the world.”
