Police and Customs have made the biggest cocaine bust in New Zealand history, shipped to New Zealand in a container of bananas.
In a multi-agency international operation, customs officers screened 800 containers before the drugs were found.
The vessel carrying the 190 kilograms of cocaine left Panama on the fourth of August, and arrived in Auckland on the 20th.
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When the drugs were found, they were swapped out for another substance, and delivered to Sydney under covert surveillance by officials.
Sydney police yesterday arrested a 41-year-old man from south Sydney, and charged him over part of the haul.
New Zealand police said links here are being investigated, but wouldn't comment on these.
The banana importer is not believed to be linked to the case, police saying Auckland is believed to have been a transit point for the drugs.
Customs do say there has been a recent divergence at the border away from methamphetamine, towards MDMA and cocaine.
Panama's proximity to Columbia means it's become a transit point for smuggling cartels.
Cocaine's price in New Zealand is hefty, fetching up to $350 per gram, a lot of this cost down to the fact that supply is small.
The huge haul found by customs is to be burned and buried.
Newshub.