Five people have been arrested and cocaine with an estimated street value of $80 million has been seized in the second large bust in the Auckland region last week.

Customs officers at the Port of Tauranga found 10 duffel bags filled with 250kg of cocaine hidden among legitimate cargo in a shipping container from Brazil.

The container was then transported to Auckland under the watchful eye of authorities.

Police said three men were arrested as they allegedly attempted to remove the cocaine from the container and transfer it into a van. A fourth man, believed to have been acting as a lookout, was arrested nearby.

Bricks of cocaine were found hidden among legitimate cargo in a shipping container from Brazil as part of Operation Toucan. Photo / NZ Police

Following the arrests, investigators executed six search warrants across Auckland.

Police said four high-powered firearms were found at one of the addresses searched and a fifth man was arrested.

Four high-powered firearms were found during a search of an Auckland address as part of Operation Toucan. Photo / NZ Police

The five men, aged 29, 31, 32, 36 and 41, have each been charged with possession of cocaine for supply, possession of firearms and participation in an organised criminal group. They have appeared in the Auckland District Court.

The arrests followed a joint National Organised Crime Group and Customs investigation known as Operation Toucan.

Detective Inspector Tom Gollan said the seizure had prevented substantial harm in New Zealand communities.

“It’s the second seizure of cocaine in the Auckland region this week and it only highlights the lengths organised criminal groups will go to in pursuit of profit,” Gollan said.

An estimated $40 million worth of cocaine was found in South Auckland earlier this week, when officers were called to a facility after staff discovered several suspicious bags in a container.

That haul weighed 137kg and consisted of 137 individual bricks of the Class A drug.

Police said the investigation remained ongoing and further arrests or charges were possible.