Sentencing for Operation Livorno
"Sentencing for Operation
Livorno"
Please
attribute to Detective Superintendent Greg
Williams:
Police and Customs
note the sentencing today of four people including two
Taiwan nationals who were charged in relation to the
importation, as well as conspiracy to import methamphetamine
into New Zealand.
In early 2015, a joint investigation
involving Police and Customs was launched after it was
discovered that a drug syndicate was operating, which
involved Taiwanese nationals travelling to New Zealand under
the guise of being tourists.
They would receive packages
which claimed to contain wine, when in reality they
contained methamphetamine in a liquid form.
Under this
operation, authorities seized 6 kilograms of methamphetamine
with a street value of approximately $6 million.
In
September 2015, four offenders were charged, and have now
been convicted as follows:
- 24-year-old man and
27-year-old woman were convicted of one charge of conspiracy
to import methamphetamine, and one charge of conspiracy to
supply methamphetamine.
- 25-year-old man
convicted on three charges of importing methamphetamine and
one charge of conspiracy to import methamphetamine.
-
21-year-old male convicted on one charge of conspiracy to
import methamphetamine.
Detective Superintendent Greg
Williams of the National Organised Crime Group says this
joint investigation, the arrests, and today’s sentence
reflects the effectiveness of joint agency cooperation in
detecting and dealing with this type of
offending.”
“Police are under no illusion that there
is a very high demand for this drug.
The damage to
individuals, families and whanau from methamphetamine is
immeasurable.
Our work to disrupt these organised
criminal groups who do not care at all about the devastation
this drug causes to our community is
ongoing.”
“Police and Customs have a strong
partnership and work together with a focus on stopping this
drug infecting our communities.
Police are also focused
on getting help for those with drug addiction and encourage
anyone who is concerned for someone they know to contact
police or one of the many community support groups available
to them for assistance,” says Detective Superintendent
Williams.
Customs Investigations Manager Bruce Berry says
today’s sentence shows those who risk getting involved in
the illicit business of importing and supplying drugs should
be prepared to get caught and pay for their
crimes.
“Customs is aware of the different trends and
methods that criminal syndicates try to use to smuggle
methamphetamine, and are agile in responding to
these.
Whether it’s sending individuals into the
country as tourists, or smuggling drugs in plain sight as a
legitimate product – in this case wine – we use
intelligence to understand what risk looks like, and focus
our efforts accordingly.
Customs will continue to partner
with Police to take down other drug supply
networks.”
There are many support services and
organisations in our communities that can assist.
The
Drug Alcohol Helpline (0800 787 797 or alcoholdrughelp.org.nz) is a great place
to seek information and support to begin removing yourself
from the harm caused by these types of
drug.
ENDS