New Zealand police find 3.5 tons of cocaine in Pacific Ocean
Jack Birle
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Police in New Zealand said they intercepted roughly 3.5 tons of cocaine that was floating in a remote part of the Pacific Ocean.
Authorities said the capture of the drugs will deal a blow to South American drug producers and that the cocaine was likely headed for Australia.
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“This is one of the single biggest seizures of illegal drugs by authorities in this country. While this disrupts the syndicate’s operations, we remain vigilant given the lengths we know these groups will go to circumvent coming to law enforcement’s attention,” New Zealand Police Commissioner Andrew Coster said.
Authorities say the seized drugs were brought aboard the Royal New Zealand Navy vessel HMNZS Manawanui and have been brought to the country after a six-day journey. The cocaine is set to be destroyed.
Officials say the massive amount of cocaine was valued at roughly $500 million and was enough to have serviced the Australian market for a year or the New Zealand market for more than 30 years.
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“It is a huge illustration of what lengths organized crime will go to with their global drug trafficking operations and shows that we are not exempt from major organized criminal drug smuggling efforts in this part of the world,” New Zealand Customs Service acting Controller Bill Perry said.
No arrests have been made in the massive drug bust.