Police and Customs are investigating the seizure of a quantity of a substance believed to be cocaine found in Christchurch.
The drug was located in a container at the Lyttelton Port Company depot in Woolston by port staff who alerted police about 2.30pm on Monday.
Detective Senior Sergeant Tony Hill said the joint investigation is focusing on the movements of the container and its eventual destination.
Hill said it has not been determined if the drug was for the domestic or international market, but cocaine seizures are relatively uncommon in Canterbury.
Police and Customs are not releasing any further details on the cocaine or the container movements as investigations are continuing.