A routine police checkpoint became interesting in Thames when police scooped a large haul of paua - 475 to be exact.

The paua quota is 10 per person.

Police seized 475 paua during a routine check point near Thames on Thursday. Photo: Stuff

Police had set up a police checkpoint on State Highway 25 near Kopu in Thames.

Senior sergeant Tim Anderson said three men from South Auckland were in the vehicle when police made the discovery.

The paua were taken from the Coromandel.

The occupants of the vehicle are now assisting police and the Ministry of Primary Industries, the Government body that regulates fisheries, with inquiries.

The minimum legal size for paua is 125mm for the black foot paua and 80mm for the yellow foot paua.

- Stuff