Customs and police at Auckland Airport have seized nearly 23kg of methamphetamine hidden in the cargo of a flight from Taiwan.
A police spokesperson said the haul was the second-biggest border seizure of drugs in New Zealand history. The biggest was 95kg of methamphetamine, also at Auckland Airport.
The drugs, which were found on 5 December, were worth about $22 million, the spokesperson said.
A Customs spokesperson said the large quantity and the sophisticated method of their concealment showed the risks organised criminal groups were willing to take in the hope of making big money.
Two Taiwanese nationals have been charged with importing methamphetamine and possession of methamphetamine for supply.
They appeared in Manukau District Court today and were remanded in custody to reappear in April.