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NZ Police/Supplied
Police say this month’s drug seizure was actually half a tonne bigger.
More than half a tonne of cocaine has been added to the drug bust earlier this month, which was already an “eye watering” total, police said on Friday.
About 3.2 tonnes of cocaine worth an estimated $500 million was seized at a transit point in the middle of the Pacific Ocean by a joint police, Customs and Navy operation called Operation Hydros earlier this month.
But Detective Superintendent Greg Williams, the director of the National Organised Crime Group, said on Friday the final analysis of the seized drugs had risen to 3.89 tonnes, with a wholesale value more than $580m.
“This is a significant update, as more than half a tonne of cocaine has been added to the already eye watering total previously announced,” he said.
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The cocaine was likely to head towards the Australian market, police said, where it was enough for a year’s demand. The amount would supply New Zealand for 30 years.
No arrests had been made at this stage, however investigations would continue, Williams said.
STUFF
Police, Customs, and Defence Force officials announce the seizure of $500m of cocaine floating in the Pacific Ocean.
It was expected earlier this month the operation had dealt a “significant blow” to an international criminal syndicate’s operation.
The haul was more than four times larger than the previous biggest cocaine bust.
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