Massive drug busts in New Zealand, Australia score $216M in cocaine, meth

New Zealand police and customs say they have intercepted 35 kilograms of cocaine hidden in a diamante-encrusted horse head, according to local media.

READ MORE: Fentanyl, cocaine seized in 2 separate Saskatoon drug busts

The drugs were discovered eight weeks ago, leading to the arrest on Friday of a 44-year-old Mexican man and a 56-year-old U.S. national as the two were trying to board a flight to Hawaii from Auckland, New Zealand, Police Detective Superintendent Virginia Le Bas told reporters.

A third man from Mexico was arrested in Christchurch on Saturday, with police saying more arrests were likely, according to local media.

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The drugs had an estimated street value of over US $10 million.

Australian police charged eight people after 275 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine was seized in the Victoria state, local media reported on Monday.

WATCH: $206M of meth seized by Australian police

0:47 $206M of meth seized by Australian police

The drugs were found hidden under floorboards and metal pallets of three shipping containers from China in June, according to local media.

Local media said the accused men, one Malaysian national and seven Australian, were charged with drugs importation and trafficking offences.

The drugs have an estimated value of US $206 million, police said.