Cocaine bricks intercepted by Customs in Tauranga, December 2025. Photo: Customs / supplied
Customs says it seized more than $15 million worth of cocaine found in a US shipping container at the Port of Tauranga.
The container originating from Houston, Texas, stopped in Balboa, Panama, before arriving in Tauranga on Thursday, 4 December.
Customs said its officers identified "anomalies" during standard X-ray screening, prompting a physical inspection of the container's contents.
It said hidden among legitimate goods were two plastic-wrapped bags containing 45 cocaine bricks, each weighing 1kg.
The bricks displayed various branding, including Volvo, Porsche and a hamster wearing a crown.
The cocaine seized was estimated to have a street value of $15.75 million.
Cocaine bricks intercepted by Customs in Tauranga, December 2025. Photo: Customs / supplied
Customs maritime manager Robert Smith said the seizure showed Customs frontline officers were making it harder for criminal networks to operate through New Zealand's seaports.
"It also reinforces the value of Customs' intelligence-driven, multi-layered approach to protecting New Zealand's borders. Every seizure we make strengthens our intelligence and our ability to target criminal networks.
"Alongside Customs' border protection measures, we work closely with industry stakeholders such as port and shipping and logistics companies and we encourage reporting of potential suspicious behaviour through our programme, Border Protect, at our seaports."
Police and Customs have been asked if any arrests had been made and if they were investigating.
Cocaine bricks intercepted by Customs in Tauranga, December 2025. Photo: Customs / supplied
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