The lawyer for one of two men charged with importing 35kg of cocaine hidden inside a diamante encrusted statue has told a jury if his client's life was made into a TV series, it would be very boring.
The cocaine was found inside the head of the ornamental horse. Photo: RNZ / Mani Dunlop
Ronald Cook Senior and Agustin Suarez-Juarez have pleaded not guilty to drugs charges in the High Court in Auckland.
Mr Cook's lawyer Sam Wimsett said his client believed the horse's head contained cash - not drugs.
He said Mr Cook believed he was money-laundering and was deeply ashamed of that.
But Mr Wimsett said his life - as a father of six and a grandfather - was nothing like the TV series Narcos.
He said his client worked as a sales representative for a hardware company.