Customs seizes 48 kilograms of cocaine in Tauranga
12.00pm 13 April 2026
Customs officers have recently seized 48 kilograms of cocaine, with an estimated street value of $16.8 million, from a refrigerated container at the Port of Tauranga.
The drugs were hidden within the insulated lining in the roof of a refrigerated container carrying legitimate goods from Balboa, Panama.
Unlike the “rip-on, rip-off” method where drugs are concealed inside the container, these drugs were hidden between the inner ceiling and the top of the container in the insulated roof lining.
Customs Group Manager Maritime, Paul Campbell says there is increasing complexity in concealment methods being used by transnational and serious organised criminal groups as they become more sophisticated in how they hide drugs.
“This method of concealment signals the lengths crime groups are going to in attempting to move drugs through the supply chain. It reflects a deliberate effort to exploit commercial pathways and reinforces that while we are making it harder for them, we must constantly evolve how we detect and disrupt these threats.
“This result demonstrates the skill and commitment of Customs officers, whose rigorous and ongoing training together with supporting technology enables them to identify complex concealments of drugs.
“Customs will continue to apply sustained pressure at the maritime border and is committed to making New Zealand’s seaports a hostile environment for criminal networks.”
Customs urges industry workers and the public to remain vigilant and help play a part in stopping organised crime. Suspicions about potential drug smuggling can be reported confidentially to 0800 WE PROTECT (0800 937 768) or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
