WELLINGTON, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand police seized 46 kg of cocaine in Tauranga, North Island on Wednesday following a joint operation between New Zealand Police and the New Zealand Customs Service.
"Illegal drugs have no place in our communities. The great work of Police and Customs staff to stop these drugs entering the country and causing havoc is to be applauded," Minister of Police Stuart Nash said.
Based on the Drug Harm Index, the seizure has stopped 62 million NZ dollars (43 million U.S. dollars) of additional social harm to New Zealand communities, Nash said.
The termination of the operation and the resulting arrest of four foreign nationals shows the power of cooperation between different agencies in protecting New Zealand through border security, Nash noted.
"The drugs seized today will cause a significant dent in the supply of the drug across the country and also sends a strong message that New Zealand authorities are actively working to stop the importation of illegal drugs," said Nash.
