Police are looking for three people believed to be connected to the importation of 13.5kg of methamphetamine.
Photo: By Psychonaught (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
The drugs, which are estimated to have a street value of $13.5 million, were discovered in heavy machinery at Auckland Airport several weeks ago.
A 22-year-old Waikato man and a 48-year-old Auckland woman have already been charged in relation to the drugs.
Detective Inspector Paul Newman said police were still looking for three others.
The wanted individuals likely knew police were after them, he said.
He urged them to come forward.
The drugs could be traced through the Pacific but were believed to have been sourced from China, Mr Newman said.
Other import consignments had already arrived in New Zealand and Mr Newman said police were looking to track down where they had ended up, as it was possible they also contained drugs.
The three wanted people, as well as the two people who have already been arrested, had links to gangs in the upper North Island, Mr Newman said.
Criminals were becoming increasingly sophisticated with the ways they were concealing drug imports, he said.