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is0m3tr1x

Member

Registered: 2019-04-01

Posts: 165

[NEWS] Ninety Mile Beach meth bust sentencing: Pair jailed

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Two people have been jailed for their role in the 501kg meth import to Ninety Mile Beach.

Stevie Norua Cullen and Selaima Fakaosilea were found guilty of importing methamphetamine and participating in an organised criminal group, in relation to New Zealand's largest meth bust.

In the High Court in Whangārei on Wednesday, Cullen, a former Christchurch bouncer, was sentenced to 27 years, with a minimum period of imprisonment of nine years.

Fakaosilea, a relative of All Black great Jonah Lomu, was sentenced to 12 years and six months for these charges, with a minimum period of seven years.

Fakaosilea is already serving 14 years, six months in prison for supplying methamphetamine and cocaine in September and November 2016 - charges that she pleaded guilty to in December 2018.

This sentence is to be served cumulatively, giving a total of 27 years.

Fakaosilea's sister, mother and child were in court for sentencing, as was Cullen's mother.

The charges considered on Wednesday relate to the importation of half a tonne of methamphetamine to Northland's Ninety Mile Beach (Te Oneroa-a-Tōhe) in June 2016.

If sold in 1kg lots, it would be worth between $130 million and $150 million, and still stands as the country's largest meth bust.

Crown lawyer Richard Annandale said the import was large-scale commercial drug dealing and, if successful, the effects on the community would have been pronounced.

Six other people pleaded guilty to their roles in the import: Ulakai Fakaosilea, Malachi Tuilotolava, Jeremiah Iusitini, Amoki Fonua, Ka Yip Wan and "Witness X", who has name suppression.

Cullen and Fakaosilea were found guilty in June after a six-week trial in the High Court in Whangārei, where the full story behind the drug bust was revealed.

The pair faced life imprisonment for the import and 10 years for participating in an organised criminal group.

Justice Christine Gordon QC said, despite Cullen and Fakaosilea not pleading guilty, the starting point for their sentences should be similar to their co-accused.

She described Cullen as a "trusted lieutenant required to carry out physical tasks" under the direction of those above him, similar to Fonua.

Gordon started with 30 years in jail for the import, taking off three years for mitigating cultural factors plus time already served on electronic bail.

She also gave a sentence of five years for participating in an organised criminal group, to be served at the same time.

Gordon described Fakaosilea as an important communications link in the running of the operation, although recognised she was not the "kingpin".

She started with 28 years for the import, plus added an extra year for Fakaosilea's role in the organised criminal group, and a further two years for the fact she later went on to show a pattern of drug-related offending.

However, Gordon gave a discount of four years for Fakaosilea's past, where she suffered abuse and racism.

With a sentence of 14 years, six months already handed down, Fakaosilea was left with a sentence of 12 years, six months for the import and participating in an organised criminal group.

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What you do in life echoes in eternity...

Luifizer

Member

Registered: 2019-05-06

Posts: 37

Re: [NEWS] Ninety Mile Beach meth bust sentencing: Pair jailed

They made themselves look as suspicious as possible, buying boats worth tens of thousands of dollars and paying for these boats in cash.  Launching the boat from the beach.  Attempting to launch and operate a boat despite zero boating experience. Doing a drive-by on the beach while the Police were present.

Complete morons.