Three people have been arrested and charged more than two years after the largest ever cocaine shipment was found on New Zealand shores.

A record-breaking 725kg of the drug was found at Port of Tauranga in 2022, with an estimated value of $253.75 million.

Police launched Operation Bask following the discovery, and on Monday said they had arrested three people, all from Auckland.

Two men, aged 27 and 35, and a 41-year-old woman are facing charges including importing cocaine, possessing cocaine for supply and participating in an organised crime group. They were both due to reappear in the Tauranga District Court on October 3.

National Organised Crime Group Detective Inspector Tom Gollan said the vessel had travelled from "Ecuador, via Panama, with a container of produce loaded with cocaine, in a method known as 'piggybacking'... controlled drugs being loaded into a container of legitimate product in an effort to avoid law enforcement."

725kg of cocaine was imported into the Port of Tauranga via Panama on 25 February, 2022. Photo: Police / supplied.

More than two years later it remains the largest cocaine shipment to ever arrive on New Zealand shores, and if not detected, would have caused a huge amount of harm to the community.

A breakthrough in the investigation was made recently, resulting in the three arrests.

They have also been charged with a further importation of 30kgs of cocaine that arrived into the Port of Tauranga on 31 December 2021, again from Balboa in Panama.

Customs’ Acting Investigations Manager, Nigel Barnes, says global intelligence networks and well-developed targeting methods are key to identifying and stopping this type of smuggling attempt.

“We Identified the South American shipment as a potential risk before it arrived in Tauranga and that turned out to be the case resulting in the record cocaine seizure that we made,” Mr Barnes says. 

“This joint operation has also provided both Police and Customs with further intelligence and insights which are clearly still producing results.

“These arrests demonstrate the persistence and determination of NOCG detectives and Customs staff in disrupting the drug supply line.”

Detective Inspector Gollan say Police are committed to seeing less drugs on our streets and ultimately less money going to those who intimidate and cause violence within our communities.

“Police will continue to target those who supply drugs into our vulnerable communities, however we cannot do it alone.

“If you see any unlawful or suspicious activity, please update us online now or call 105.”

For assistance with drug and alcohol addiction there are several organisations available to assist, one of which is the Alcohol Drug Helpline: 0800 787 797 or online at: Alcohol Drug Helpline

Facts
•            725kg of cocaine imported into the Port of Tauranga via Panama on 25 February 2022
•            Is the single largest cocaine shipment to New Zealand
•            Street value of $253,750,000
•            Total drug harm prevented $270,845,500
•            Equivalent to 7,250,000 individual doses
•            30kgs of cocaine imported into New Zealand into the Port of Tauranga on 31 December 2021, again via Panama.
•            Street value of $10,500,000
•            Total drug harm prevented $11,207,400
•            Equivalent to 300,000 individual doses

-Additional reporting by RNZ.