At a media conference in Whangarei yesterday, Customs Investigations Manager Bruce Berry said it was possible New Zealand was not the cocaine's final destination but a step on the way.
The drug was packed in mainly 1kg packets, with a couple weighing in at 1.5kg, and was found in a travel bag.
Mr Berry and Northland Field Crime Manager Dene Begbie would not name the cruise ship, or say whether the haul was detected at an overseas port before coming into New Zealand or whether the operation had concentrated on passengers or crew.
Nor would they say where the ship had come from or was bound.
''We identified a person of interest at the time and linked him to two separate addresses in Paihia,'' Mr Berry said.
Customs had been working in collaboration with its Australian counterpart and other international agencies for some time on this operation, he said.
''The flow of information has been continual.''
He reiterated the illicit import did not come off any of the three cruise ships that called into the Bay of Islands on Wednesday, which was the same day the cocaine bust and arrest was made.
Other questions - such as whether Yelengwe Yonkwa-Dingom was known by police here or overseas and if he had been under surveillance before bringing the drug into New Zealand this month - also could not be answered.
Mr Begbie and Mr Berry said they could not reveal more information while the major international investigation was still under way.
The arrest is a testament to the work carried out by Customs that includes profiling using advance information and working with police and other agencies domestically and internationally, such as the Australian Border Force, they said.
At the time of the press conference, the haul had not been forensically examined.
Detective Inspector Rhys Johnston, of Mid North police, said about eight CIB staff took part in the Customs-led operation.
''It was great working with our partners in a joint operation based on good intelligence,'' he said.
Police said Yelengwe Yonkwa-Dingom could face further charges.
According to court documents, he is from Pau, in south west France. His lawyer, Arthur Fairley, sought remand without plea and did not apply for bail or name suppression.
The lanky French national was assisted by an interpreter in French but Mr Fairley said an official interpreter would be needed for further court proceedings. Yelengwe Yonkwa-Dingom spoke virtually no English.
Judge Duncan Harvey remanded him in custody to reappear on January 12.
