WELLINGTON, Oct. 30 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand police have seized 250 kg of cocaine worth an estimated street value of 80 million NZ dollars (about 45 million U.S. dollars) and arrested five men following a joint investigation with customs, police said on Friday.
The cocaine was concealed in 10 duffel bags inside a shipping container originating from Brazil. The container entered New Zealand through the Port of Tauranga before being transported to Auckland under the monitoring of authorities, according to a police statement.
Four men were arrested in the early hours of Thursday as three allegedly attempted to remove the cocaine from the container and transfer it to a van, while a fourth, believed to have acted as a lookout, was arrested nearby, police said.
Following the arrests, investigators executed six search warrants across Auckland, locating four high-powered firearms at one address and arresting a fifth man.
The five men, aged between 29 and 41, have each been charged with possession of cocaine for supply, possession of firearms and participation in an organized criminal group. They have appeared in the Auckland District Court, the statement said.
The seizure came after police snatched 137 kg of cocaine in the Auckland region on Tuesday. ■