Cocaine bust in Pacific Ocean could fuel Australia drug market for a year, New Zealand cops say

The cartels have taken a “major financial hit” after a shipment of cocaine large enough to supply Australia for a year.

The 3.2-ton bust was found in 81 bales of cocaine floating in the Pacific Ocean and has an estimated street value of $500 million.

The cocaine packaging was strangely wrapped with Batman logos and a four-leaf clover.

It was intercepted by Operation Hydros, a joint mission between New Zealand police, customs and defense forces, which described the haul as the largest find ever made by “some margin”.

Australian authorities are “exceptionally pleased that we have taken this step,” said Greg Williams, head of the New Zealand Police National Organized Crime Unit.

The shipment was brought to New Zealand aboard the Royal New Zealand Navy ship HMNZS Manawanui and will be destroyed.

New Zealand Police Commissioner Andrew Coster said that given the enormous size of the shipment, it was likely destined for the Australian market.

“A ride of that magnitude would fill the New Zealand market for 30 years,” he said.

‘There is no doubt that this discovery is a huge financial blow from the South American producers to the distributors of this product.

“While this disrupts union operations, we remain vigilant given how far we know these groups will go to evade law enforcement attention.”

The 3.2-ton bust was found in 81 bales of cocaine floating in the Pacific Ocean and has an estimated street value of $500 million.

He said Operation Hydros began in December 2022 as part of New Zealand police’s work with international agencies to find and monitor the movements of suspicious boats.

“I am incredibly proud of what our National Organized Crime Group has achieved by working with other New Zealand agencies, including the New Zealand Customs Service and the New Zealand Defense Force.

“The importance of this recovery and its impact cannot be underestimated,” Commissioner Coster said.

Although no arrests have yet been made at this stage, an international investigation continues to find the culprits.

Williams, of the New Zealand Police National Organized Crime Unit, said the drugs were found in international waters in a net held in place with flotation devices.

Although no arrests have yet been made at this stage, an international investigation continues to find the culprits. In the image, some of the seized cocaine bales.

Williams would not comment on how authorities found out about the shipment and where it was, but said it was common for drugs to be moved this way.

The drugs would float in the water until they were picked up by a boat.

He said the police had a “good sense” of how international drug cartels operated.

“That’s really critical to the work that we need to do, together with Customs and again with Defense, interdicting the flow of these drugs.”

Bill Perry, acting comptroller for New Zealand Customs, said his agency was happy to have “helped prevent such a large amount of cocaine from causing harm to communities here in New Zealand, Australia and elsewhere in the region.” of the Pacific in general.

“The magnitude of this seizure is estimated to have taken more than $500 million worth of cocaine out of circulation.

The cocaine’s distinctive packaging (pictured) featured logos of a bat and a four-leaf clover.

“It’s a great example of how far organized crime will go with their global drug trafficking operations and shows that we are not exempt from major organized crime drug trafficking efforts in this part of the world,” he said.

The New Zealand Defense Force joint forces commander, Rear Admiral Jim Gilmour, was also delighted with the success of the drug bust.

He said it was “very important” to be aware of what is happening in and around New Zealand’s maritime border.

“If we are going to deal with transnational crime, illegal fishing or any other threat to New Zealand’s national security, it is very important to maintain that awareness of what is happening in the maritime domain and our abilities to be able to respond within it.” . .’