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Prison for dark web MDMA dealer’s ‘get-rich-quick scheme’ - 04/12/24

A man who imported drugs into the country has had his sentencing delayed due to disagreement over the role that cryptocurrency played in his offending.

Hunter Cooper, 23, whose name suppression has now lapsed, was to be sentenced at the Blenheim District Court on Tuesday, after admitting to importing MDMA into New Zealand and possessing the class A drug for supply.

But the hearing has been adjourned, to allow further evidence to be called that the judge said could have a “significant impact” on the sentencing outcome.

Cooper first appeared in court in May last year, after being arrested as part of Operation Honeydew - a seven-month police investigation into the importation and sale of illicit drugs in Marlborough.

In 2022, Cooper met people in online forums, who persuaded him to import MDMA into New Zealand, a police summary of facts said.

Cooper arranged over the dark web for the drug to be sent from a supplier in Belgium, and provided a number of addresses that could be used to receive packages without causing suspicion.

Fifteen importations of MDMA were successfully delivered at addresses he provided, including four packages sent to his grandparent’s house in Blenheim, addressed to a fictional name.

Blenheim police executed a search warrant at Cooper’s Redwoodtown residence on May 17 last year, and Cooper attempted to hide a package when they arrived.

The package contained 1.8kg of MDMA, and was uplifted by police after Cooper dropped it at the property “in his haste to hide it”, the summary said.

He initially faced 20 charges, but pleaded guilty to a representative charge of importing drugs between April and November 2022, and one count of possessing drugs for supply, in August last year.

On Tuesday, Crown solicitor Joshua Vuataki said the Crown’s position was that Cooper used cryptocurrency to “facilitate his offending”, but Cooper’s lawyer Marcus Zintl disputed facts established by the Crown.

“[Cooper’s] position sir is that he did not use crypto to pay his supplier,” Zintl said to Judge David Ruth.

The judge then adjourned the case to allow for a dispute of summary of facts hearing on February 8, where evidence would be called, before another sentencing date would be set.

Judge Ruth said to Cooper that the factual matters raised at the hearing would have a “significant impact on where I see your role in this offending”.

Cooper was granted interim name suppression at his first court appearance, but Zintl said on Tuesday that name suppression would no longer be pursued.

He would remain on bail until his next court date.

He was jailed for 4-5 years

CLEARSITE: https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/350162045/cryptocurrency-questioned-mdma-importation-case