New Zealand: 3.2 tonnes of cocaine seized off the country

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New Zealand police said on Wednesday they had seized a significant quantity of drugs floating in the Pacific Ocean, which would have been enough to supply the country with cocaine for “30 years”. 

New Zealand Police Chief Andrew Coster said the seized package, which included 81 bales of cocaine, weighed 3.2 tonnes and had a street value of around $316 million. /p>

“This is the most significant illicit drug discovery made by the New Zealand services,” he said.

Authorities believe the cocaine, tied to a net and covered in yellow floaties, was dropped off at a “floating transit point” in the Pacific Ocean, where it should have been picked up before heading to Australia.

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“We believe that (it) was destined for Australia, where (it) would have been enough to supply the market for a year”, explained the police commissioner. “That's more than New Zealand would use in 30 years.”

A navy boat intercepted the package which was drifting hundreds of miles northwest of New Zealand , thanks in particular to the information provided by the “Five Eyes” alliance. This intelligence collaboration network includes Australia, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and New Zealand. 

“There is no doubt that this discovery carries a major financial blow to the South American producers and distributors of this product,” said Coster, who believes that this seizure is a “significant result” for the New Zealand and Australian police services. 

< p>Authorities, however, said it was still too early to determine where the drugs had come from.