2 November 2011

Customs success in the fight against organised crime

A Hong Kong man whose only reason for coming to New Zealand was to facilitate the importation of drugs, was sentenced yesterday to eight and a half years imprisonment for the importation and possession for supply of the Class A Drug, methamphetamine.

Ka Wing Lam appeared at Auckland District Court and pleaded guilty to four charges of importing a Class A drug, and one charge of possession for supply of a Class A drug.

As a result of a joint operation between NZ Police and Customs, Lam was arrested in July this year after Customs intercepted a package containing 653 grams of methamphetamine that was sent to him. Lam also admitted receiving three other packages by mail that contained methamphetamine.

The estimated total of methamphetamine Lam admitted to receiving is 1.9 kilograms which has a current street value of about $1.9 million dollars.

Customs Manager Drug Investigations, Mark Day said the interceptions made by Customs were significant successes against organised crime syndicates.

“It was established that Lam’s reasons for coming to New Zealand were to facilitate drugs coming to this country and assist in the initial distribution of those drugs and the funds generated from the initial activity.

“This is a major success for Customs and the Police Drug Squad as it has prevented this shipment of methamphetamine from being sold into our communities and interrupts the devastating effect it has on individuals and their families”, said Mr Day.

“By attempting to come through the border as legitimate travellers, these criminals are trying to assume normal travel patterns so that they will not be targeted as high risk. With the excellent work of Police and our vigilant Customs officers we've shown these people are not beyond detection.”

The maximum jail term for importation and possession for supply of a Class A drug is life imprisonment.

ENDS

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