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New Zealand recovers $423 million of cocaine floating at sea

An undated handout photo received from the New Zealand Defence Force on Feb. 8, 2023 shows the Royal New Zealand Navy vessel HMNZS Manawanui retrieving 3.2 tonnes of cocaine adrift in the Pacific in an historic drugs bust estimated to be worth around $423 million.
An undated handout photo received from the New Zealand Defence Force on Feb. 8, 2023 shows the Royal New Zealand Navy vessel HMNZS Manawanui retrieving 3.2 tonnes of cocaine adrift in the Pacific in an historic drugs bust estimated to be worth around $423 million. Photo by HANDOUT/New Zealand Defence Force /AFP via Getty Images

SYDNEY — New Zealand authorities said on Wednesday they had recovered 3.2 tonnes of cocaine worth more than $423 million, believed to be bound for Australia and found floating at sea.

New Zealand Police said it a statement it had collected the drugs from the Pacific Ocean in a joint operation with the New Zealand Customs Service and the New Zealand Defence Force.

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A police photo showed the haul, apparently before recovery, in a net supported on the ocean surface by floats.

An undated handout photo received from the New Zealand Police on Feb. 8, 2023 shows some of the 3.2 tonnes of cocaine recovered adrift in the Pacific in an historic drugs bust estimated to be worth around $423 million.
An undated handout photo received from the New Zealand Police on Feb. 8, 2023 shows some of the 3.2 tonnes of cocaine recovered adrift in the Pacific in an historic drugs bust estimated to be worth around $423 million. Photo by HANDOUT/New Zealand Defence Force /AFP via Getty Images

No arrests have yet been made.

“This is one of the single biggest seizures of illegal drugs by authorities in this country,” Police Commissioner Andrew Coster said in a statement.

“While this disrupts the syndicate’s operations, we remain vigilant given the lengths we know these groups will go to circumvent coming to law enforcement’s attention.”

The seizure has a value of NZ$500 million ($423 million), according to New Zealand Customs Service Acting Controller Bill Perry.