New Zealand Police and Customs have identified and spoken to more than 160 people nationwide for buying illegal drugs via ‘darknet' and other illegal sites, with more police visits to come.

Last week law enforcement agencies around the world took part in Operation Hyperion, a coordinated effort to target buyers and sellers of illegal drugs over the internet.

From October 22 to 28, agencies focused on packages coming through mail centres, before tracking these back to buyers and sellers.

Manager National High Tech Crime Group Kelly Knight says New Zealand Police and Customs have identified almost 300 people involved in the illegal trade.

'The clear message for people who think they can use the internet to buy illegal drugs and get away with it is that they can't,” says Kelly.

'These sites are not top secret. Police can view them, and together with Customs we can track packages down to addresses and individuals.”

Among the illegal drugs identified were small amounts of cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, alpha PVP, LSD, ecstasy, and cannabis seeds.

The local operation has so far resulted in six arrests and 66 formal warnings.

Several more investigations are in progress with more people yet to be visited.

One person faces 13 importing charges relating to ecstasy, LSD and cannabis.

Under the operation's banner, Wellington Police have also charged a person in connection with creating the darknet illegal drug site VicUnderworld, which is no longer operating.

A 22-year-old man appeared in the Wellington District Court on Friday November 4.