A group accused of being involved in a South American drug smuggling ring faces a lengthy wait for trial

Nine people deny almost 100 charges relating to allegations of a criminal group importing cocaine worth millions of dollars into New Zealand.

It follows a 10-month police investigation which saw a series of raids and arrests, mainly in Canterbury, in November last year.

At the High Court in Christchurch today, a trial date of April 29, 2024 was confirmed - nearly two years away.

The trial is expected to take up to ten weeks.