A 20-year-old Brazilian man was jailed for five years in New Zealand Friday for trying to smuggle cocaine valued at 656,000 NZ dollars (578,585 U.S. dollars) into the country.

Customs officers arrested Lucas Pereira at Auckland International Airport in May after a search of his luggage revealed 1.875 kilograms of cocaine hidden inside the lining of both his suitcases, said a statement from the New Zealand Customs Service.

An investigation found that he was approached at a party in Brazil in January and offered a large sum of money for carrying cocaine into the country.

He was given 2,000 NZ dollars (1,764 U.S. dollars) and extra cash for air tickets and sight-seeing in New Zealand.

Customs manager investigations Maurice O'Brien said it was yet another case of a young man being enticed with money to pose as a tourist and carry drugs into the country.

"This man has learnt the hard way that the promise of cash and free overseas travel was not worth the price he will pay," O'Brien said in the statement.

Pereira would be deported after serving jail time. Endi

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