Two sea drones have completed patrols across Northland's coastlines to monitor international marine traffic for potential narcotics smuggling.
The 7.4-metre Uncrewed Surface Vessels (USVs), named Tahi and Rua, were controlled remotely from Devonport Naval Base to track small craft arriving from overseas between January and May.
Equipped with radar, infrared cameras, and electro-optic systems, the vessels patrolled hard-to-reach areas, including the Bay of Islands, Whangaroa Harbour, and Ninety Mile Beach.
The operation targeted vessels showing suspicious behaviours, such as ship-to-ship transfers or landing in remote bays under the cover of darkness.
Data and imagery from the patrols have been handed over to Customs to assess and prioritise potential boarding team deployments.
