Massive drug case headed for long trial
A trial expected to last nearly three months has been scheduled after a massive drugs bust in Porirua and the northern suburbs of Wellington in April.
The scale of the material police disclosed was believed to make it the largest covert drug operation yet handled in the Wellington region, a judge in the High Court in Wellington was told yesterday.
Lawyer Liz Hall, appearing for one of eight defendants whose cases were before the court, said it would be hard to identify issues needing to be dealt with before the trial, in the tight time frame proposed.
The court has planned an 11-week trial starting in July 2018, on what is expected to be more than 80 charges.
When police announced the arrests in April, it was said more than two kilograms of methamphetamine was seized, and more than $450,000 in cash.
Police said a four-month investigation had targeted the alleged supply and distribution of methamphetamine involving the Porirua Mongrel Mob gang.
The operation resulted in police restraining assets including a Mercedes-Benz car, a launch, and a container house near the Firth of Thames, bringing the total value of assets restrained in the investigation to an estimated $2.3 million. Violinist Wilma Smith, one of New Zealand’s best-loved musicians, will be starring in the Waikanae Music Society’s next concert on Sunday, September 24 with her piano quartet called Wilma and Friends.
The concert, in the Waikanae Memorial Hall, starts at 2.30pm and will feature popular masterworks from the piano quartet repertoire by Beethoven and Dvorak.
For more information phone (04) 905 6070 or go to: