Officials seize 10kg of cocaine

MORE than 10 kilograms of cocaine, believed to be linked to a syndicate allegedly importing millions of the drug from Colombia to rural Canterbury, has been seized.

Police arrested nine people, including five farm workers, in November as part of Operation Mist, a 10-month investigation in which officials seized 50kg of cocaine.

As part of the operation, Spanish police found 24kg of cocaine bound for New Zealand concealed in a container in a truck in Barcelona.

Detective Inspector Darryl Sweeney, the National Organised Crime Group’s South Island investigations manager, told Stuff more than 10kg of cocaine arrived in New Zealand before Christmas, and after the arrests. The cocaine, detected and seized by Customs, was in similar concealment methods allegedly used by the syndicate.

More than 60 charges have been laid against the nine arrested, seven of whom were Colombian nationals.. Further arrests are expected.