Auckland courier driverTuipulotu Vi was shot and killed in 2024.
An Auckland courier driver was allegedly murdered by a US-based hitman after Customs intercepted 18kg of cocaine and firearms police believe were linked to an international organised crime syndicate.
The killing followed a series of shootings across South Auckland, with the courier driver's son one of the targets, police believe.
RNZ earlier revealed Tanginoa Pahulu Tangi is believed to have been sent to New Zealand by an organised criminal group based in the US to carry out a killing. He is jointly charged with two others of killing Tuipulotu Vi in August 2024. Vi was not involved in the drug world.
The homicide investigation, dubbed Operation Block, is linked to Operation Mexted, a joint investigation by the National Organised Crime Group (NOCG) and Customs, which targeted a transnational organised criminal cell.
