Around 21kg of cocaine worth an estimated $7.3 million has been seized from a shipping container at the Port of Tauranga, Customs officers say.
The container, which arrived from Balboa, Panama on October 2, was assessed by Customs officers which led to the discovery of a shrink-wrapped duffel bag containing 21 bricks of cocaine branded with ‘VESPA’ and a ‘mouse’ logo, wrapped in fragile tape.
An x-ray screening of the cargo revealed the abnormal bag hidden among other legitimate goods.
Customs maritime group manager Paul Campbell said Customs had intercepted over 430kg of cocaine in Tauranga in 2025 alone, nearly double the amount seized at the port in 2024.
“Transnational, serious, and organised crime groups continue to exploit legitimate trade routes, causing delays and disruptions across the supply chain. Customs is acutely aware of the impact this has on businesses,” he said.
“Our role is twofold: to facilitate legitimate trade while actively dismantling criminal networks. Every interception strengthens our intelligence capabilities.
“We have a strong grasp of how these groups operate and where they plan to strike, reflected in our growing seizure statistics.
Customs urged industry stakeholders and the public to remain vigilant.
Suspicions about drug smuggling could be reported confidentially to 0800 937 768 or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
