Ecstasy couriers plead ignorance
A former couple say they were unwitting drug couriers when they flew into Christchurch with 5 kilograms of Ecstasy worth $2 million in a suitcase.
Now the Russian man is in custody to begin a lengthy prison term next week, but the Ukrainian woman has been freed to return to her family in Israel.
Ganna Manchenko said the 10 months since her arrest had been a ‘‘nightmare’’.
The 32-year-old walked free at the Christchurch District Court yesterday when the Crown agreed to drop charges of importing the class B drug MDMA, which is more commonly known as Ecstasy, and possession of the drug for supply.
Judge Tom Gilbert explained to her that the Crown was no longer pursuing charges against her. The charges were dismissed and she was free to go.
Manchenko, her now former partner Vadim Shkolnitski and another man were stopped and questioned by Customs officers at Christchurch Airport after their flight from Europe via Singapore on April 6, 2017.
Luggage X-rays had identified inconsistencies and on close examination officers located several packages inside the lining of one of the cases which later tested positive for Ecstasy.
‘‘She is extremely relieved this nightmare is over,’’ said Manchenko’s lawyer, Steve Hembrow, outside the courtroom.
‘‘She is simply looking forward to getting back to Israel and being able to see her family.
‘‘She has always maintained that she knew nothing about the drugs that were concealed in the suitcase of her then partner.’’
Russian national Shkolnitski, 36, pleaded guilty in court yesterday – shortly before a trial had been scheduled – to a charge of importing the Ecstasy, and the Crown dropped the possession-forsupply charge.
Outside the court, lawyer Gregor Morison said the Shkolnitski, a truck driver, was also not aware of the drugs in the suitcase.
‘‘But he accepts he was reckless and should have picked up the signals,’’ Morison said.
‘‘Once he came to understand the law about importation – that if you are reckless you are also guilty – that is the basis on which he has pleaded guilty.’’
He was remanded in custody for sentencing on February 28, along with the third person arrested – Vladimir Turovsky, a 33-year-old Russian dive shop owner.
Turovsky had pleaded guilty on February 9 to a charge of importing 5 kilogram of the drug hidden in a Samsonite suitcase.
At the time of the arrests, the drugs were said to have a street value of about $2m.
The drug, referred to as MDMA in court, was found in powdered form.
A Russian interpreter was needed in court for Turovsky and Shkolnitski, who are due to be sentenced next week even if presentence reports cannot be prepared in time.
The pair face prison time as home detention reports have already been ruled out.
The maximum jail term for importing Ecstasy to New Zealand is 14 years.