Two seizures of cocaine worth $11.5 million were found in refrigerated containers on board a vessel at Port of Tauranga. Photo \/ Customs<\/p>\n
Between January 1, 2022 and December 11, cocaine seizures at the Port of Tauranga totalled just over 1698 kg, with an estimated street value of $655.6 million.<\/p>\n
Since January 1, 2022, 1023kg of methamphetamine (valued at $306m) had also been seized. <\/p>\n
The single largest drug seizure by New Zealand authorities was 3.2 tonnes of cocaine worth $500m found floating in the Pacific Ocean in February 2023.<\/p>\n
NZ Customs investigation manager Dominic Adams said transnational and organised crime groups were escalating their efforts to smuggle larger amounts of drugs through our sea borders, including Tauranga.<\/p>\n
Adams said Tauranga and Auckland ports were on the radar of drug smugglers, and a lot of the cargo that arrived in New Zealand came from South America.<\/p>\n
\u201cMost of it comes directly from there to the Port of Tauranga. Either from Balboa, Panama or from South America … Being the biggest port, invariably, we are going to make more seizures here than elsewhere, but all 13 of our seaports are being targeted.\u201d <\/p>\n
NZ Customs manager of investigations Dominic Adams. Photo \/ Corey Fleming<\/p>\n
Adams said drug cartels in Mexico and Central and South America were predominantly responsible for cocaine and meth imported into New Zealand.<\/p>\n
He said three transnational drug cartels that regularly targeted New Zealand were the Sinaloa Cartel and the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion, both from Mexico, and Sam Gor in the Asia Pacific region.<\/p>\n
He said Mexican cartels knew New Zealand was a lucrative market.<\/p>\n
\u201cA kilo of meth in Mexico might cost between US$1000 and US$5000, but selling it here, they are making about $100,000 to $150,000 in profit for each kilo sold wholesale.\u201d<\/p>\n
Container ships at Port of Tauranga. Photo \/ Laura Smith<\/p>\n
He said what came through the Tauranga port required a \u201cdifferent level of connection and sophistication\u201d than drugs sent through the mail or hidden in passengers\u2019 bags at airports.<\/p>\n
Adams said the most noticeable trend over the past few years was the \u201cdeliberate and targeted\u201d efforts by organised criminals to corrupt those working in the industry\u2019s supply chain.<\/p>\n
People who thought they were \u201cgoing to make a quick buck\u201d often ended up being held responsible for the import of hundreds of kilos of drugs.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re seen as a door, a business commodity, and once they get their hooks into you, your life\u2019s ruined. It\u2019s not worth it, don\u2019t do it.\u201d <\/p>\n
New Zealand\u2019s wastewater data showed there was a growing cocaine use, but nowhere near the size of methamphetamine use, he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s why we are putting more people, more staff and more focus on Tauranga\u2019s port and other ports nationally, to target container loads of goods coming from South and Central America.\u201d<\/p>\n
NZ Customs\u2019 offshore partners<\/p>\n
Adams said NZ Customs worked closely with local and international partners. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe have a network of liaison officers across the world, including in Los Angeles and Washington, and their focus is very much on what is happening in South and Central America for us.<\/p>\n
He said they liaised with agencies such as the US Customs and Border Protection, Homeland Security Investigations group, as well as police and Customs forces in Panama, South America, Canada and Asia.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery time we open a new investigation and identify certain people, that information is shared with our offshore partners. They\u2019re constantly making intercepts and investigations offshore on our behalf.<\/p>\n
\u201cLast year alone, our partners intercepted about 1.4 tonnes of drugs offshore on our behalf, destined for New Zealand. And the threat posed to Tauranga\u2019s maritime border is persistent and increasing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Adams said last year there had been eight investigations involving the smuggling of cocaine and methamphetamine into the Port of Tauranga, with three arrests.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt takes a network of people to defeat a network of organised criminals. We can\u2019t do it alone.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIf anyone is approached or has suspicions about drug smuggling, they can report it confidentially by phoning 0800 WE PROTECT (0800 937 7680) or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.\u201d<\/p>\n
Detective Inspector Albie Alexander said police would continue to support their partners in identifying and investigating transnational organised crime groups who continue to target NZ as a lucrative market.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are committed to disrupting and dismantling organised crime networks and work closely with our partners to identify these networks.\u201d<\/p>\n