Two foreigners in their 20s have been arrested in Auckland after Customs officers found six kilos of cocaine hidden in the false bottoms of suitcases.
The pair, aged 22 and 23, arrived at Auckland Airport last night from Santiago, Chile.
Both were referred for a baggage check during passport processing. When officers removed the contents of each suitcase, X-rays revealed inconsistencies.
"On closer examination, each suitcase was found to contain a false bottom within the lining, in which there were vacuum-sealed bags containing a powder-like substance that tested positive for cocaine," a spokesperson for the Customs Service said.
Customs said the suspected cocaine had a combined weight of about 6.3kg, equivalent to an estimated 63,140 doses, worth approximately $2.2 million if sold in retail amounts.
The service's Auckland Airport manager Paul Williams said the interception showed the skill of officers working to protect "communities from the harm caused by illicit drugs."
"For those choosing to smuggle drugs, your time is always limited," Williams said.
"You will be identified, and you will be held to account.
"Every interception like this represents significant community harm prevented, and reinforces that New Zealand’s border is actively defended."
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