A real estate broker is accused of smuggling 4kgs of cocaine into New Zealand.

The 25-year-old woman was arrested at Auckland Airport yesterday and charged with importing cocaine.

In a court charging document, Customs alleged the woman tried concealing cocaine in two suitcases.

She faces charges now under the Misuse of Drugs Act which carry a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

Customs said she was travelling on a flight with Chilean airline Latam and the cocaine was found in two suitcases made by Lansay, which is a Brazilian brand.

The woman’s nationality was not immediately disclosed.

The cocaine would have had a street value of roughly $1.45 million.

Cocaine consumption in New Zealand has in recent years, according to the latest annual Drug use in Aotearoa report.

Cocaine consumption more than tripled in 2024 compared to the previous three years’ average in that study.

About 2.4% of adults reported that they used the drug at least once in the past year in 2023/24.

In February, Customs seized an estimated 101kgs of cocaine at Auckland International Airport.

At the time that was believed to be the largest-ever seizure at any New Zealand airport.