Police granted orders to control Taranaki meth dealer’s property and cash

A convicted P dealer has lost control of a residential property and a large amount of cash after it was discovered $15,000 had been taken from his bank accounts despite him being behind bars.

Taranaki man Marlon Jon Bird is on remand in prison awaiting sentence after pleading guilty to eight drug charges, including possession of methamphetamine for supply, which carries a maximum term of life imprisonment.

He has appeared in court multiple times in the past five years after being found with significant amounts of the class A drug and money.

It was this history which was called on when Justice Helen McQueen granted orders sought by the Commissioner of Police under the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act to stop Bird getting rid of some of his assets. A High Court decision released on September 2 related to the 35-year-old’s Walsh Rd property in New Plymouth, which was being renovated, all appliances and building materials on site, $45,793.80 found at the address, and the contents of all bank accounts in Bird’s name.

The orders were sought without notice, as police had concerns that if Bird got wind of it, moves would be made to get rid of or conceal them.

Evidence filed in support of the police application included detail of

Bird’s history of hiding ownership of assets, including buying and renovating homes, and selling them quickly.

The court was also told $15,000 had been spent by ‘‘a third party’’ using money from Bird’s bank accounts while he was in custody.

In granting the orders, Justice McQueen said there were reasonable grounds made out that property subject to the orders was ‘‘tainted’’ in that it was acquired through significant criminal activity.

The judge pointed to Bird’s convictions for making and selling methamphetamine.

Regarding his current charges, a September 2019 search of Bird’s New Plymouth home found $31,700 in cash hidden in a bucket, while a search of his car turned up about $8000 more.

About 94 grams of methamphetamine, with a street value of $37,600, was also found.

While on electronically monitored bail for these charges, a further search of Bird’s property in April 2021 found him in possession of chemicals and equipment linked to making P, along with $40,000.

He is due to be sentenced November 8.

In 2017, Bird was sentenced to 12 months’ home detention after being found with 25g of P and $17,000 in cash.

It was also discovered how he laundered almost $88,000 of drug money through buying five cars, four of which were registered in other people’s names. on