Wilkins said Pacific smuggling routes are becoming entrenched as island nations struggle to cut them off.<\/p>\n
“They have limited enforcement resources themselves and their governance systems and limited capacity to address organised crime,” he said.<\/p>\n
“For organised crime, it’s good to be in those situations where you are in an area with low governance, and you can establish yourself, and that gives you a good stepping off point into the Oceania market.”<\/p>\n
Adams said NZ Customs collaborates with partners in Australia and the Pacific through intelligence-sharing, joint targeting and offshore disruption, aiming to stop drugs before they reach the border.<\/p>\n
![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/the-100-bricks-of-cocaine-seized-by-customs-in-tauranga-3UP7PJKDJNHTNBX6MPJZWMFAAU.jpg\")
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The 100 bricks of cocaine seized by Customs in Tauranga. (Source: Supplied)<\/p>\n
The scale of seizures is on the increase too.<\/p>\n
In 2022, Operation Bask uncovered 725kg of cocaine<\/a> hidden in a container of bananas at the Port of Tauranga, shipped from Ecuador via Panama.<\/p>\n Then in 2023, Operation Hydros \u2013 a joint effort between Police, Customs and the Defence Force \u2013 recovered 3.2 tonnes of cocaine<\/a> floating in the Pacific Ocean, with an estimated street value of about $500 million.<\/p>\n In February this year, a joint Pacific operation seized 4.2 tonnes of cocaine<\/a> in French Polynesia, with an estimated street value of approximately $1.5 billion.<\/p>\n Marketed to the affluent first<\/p>\n Research shows 42% of cocaine users earn more than $80,000 a year, and most are in full-time work – a world away from the image many associate with illicit drug use.<\/p>\n Cocaine is an emerging product in the New Zealand market, Wilkins said, compared to methamphetamine which is deep into the mature stage of its product cycle, with a long trail of negative health consequences and public awareness to match.<\/p>\n He said cocaine offers a product that doesn’t have the same negative aura and stigma as methamphetamine “In fact, the opposite. It’s seen as a kind of glamorous, Hollywood type drug,” he said.<\/p>\n The drug’s short duration is seen as being part of its appeal. “They want to go back to their families, go back to their jobs after having this party and be real functional.”<\/p>\n Cocaine is listed as a Class A drug in New Zealand, meaning it has a very high risk of harm to people misusing it. The maximum punishment for possession is a six month jail sentence, while the penalty for supply can be life in jail.<\/p>\n The NZ Drug Foundation describes the drug as a stimulant, speeding up brain and body functions. While this can make people feel energetic, alert and euphoric, it can also make them feel anxious, sweaty and increase their heart rate.<\/p>\n The Drug Detection Agency (TDDA) says one of the risks of stimulants is safety in workplaces<\/a> due to their impact on decision making.<\/p>\n Research shows 42% of cocaine users earn more than $80,000 a year, and most are in full-time work. (Source: istock.com)<\/p>\n![\"Research](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/research-shows-42percent-of-cocaine-users-earn-more-than-dol-F3P3INIIBZH7BIC6QEDROFHJTE.jpg\")
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