Young mum, cousin latest drug deaths
Pair among 20 deaths related to synthetic drugs
A woman who had given birth just two weeks earlier and her cousin are among the latest suspected victims of fatal doses of synthetic cannabis.
And the Weekend Herald can reveal that the man charged with supplying both victims was a relative.
Marilyn Makikiriti, 26, died on Monday, September 11, in West Auckland. Her cousin, Junior Taneao, died two days later.
Police confirmed the deaths were believed to be related to synthetic cannabis and were investigating on behalf of the Coroner. They said they could not comment further.
Makikiriti and Taneao are among 20 deaths before the Coroner suspected to be related to synthetic drugs.
The list also includes 22- year- old Henderson father Calum Jones, whose parents spoke out about synthetics in the Herald last week.
Makikiriti’s brother, Isitolo Uritua, has been charged with two counts of selling or supplying a psychoactive substance.
Sources said police have alleged Uritua supplied his sister and cousin with drugs before they died.
He appeared in the Waitakere District Court on September 15 and was remanded on bail until October 5.
The men who allegedly supplied Uritua with the drugs have also been charged and appeared in court yesterday.
Mitchell Moss, 22, is charged with supplying and possessing psychoactive drugs.
A 30- year- old man, who was granted interim name suppression, is charged with supplying and possessing psychoactives and possession of a pipe for consuming methamphetamine.
Both men were remanded on bail until October 11.
Conditions of their bail include not associating with each other or using drugs including synthetics.
Makikiriti and Taneao’s funerals were held this week.
Their family did not want to speak publicly about their deaths.
Makikiriti was a mother of three boys — her youngest born in late August, just two weeks before she died.
Another of her sons started school early this month and she proudly shared a photograph of him in his uniform on Facebook.
A death notice for Makikiriti published online described her as a loving mother and sister and “a good friend to many”. Other friends and family paid tribute to the 26- year- old on social media. They said she would be remembered for her big and beautiful smile, her mischief and her love of music. She was “one of a kind”, one relative said. The government banned psychoactive cannabis- like substances in 2013 but they are still heavily used and available throughout the country. After the dramatic spike in deaths police ramped up their efforts to catch those manufacturing and selling the toxic substances. As part of that they arrested Red Beach man Gary Mark Thompson. The 58- year- old appeared in the North Shore District Court yesterday on a raft of charges relating to the seizure of drugs police say had a street value of $ 1.5 million.
Thompson, who voluntarily returned from Australia last week just before his arrest, is facing four counts of importing a psychoactive substance as well as charges of manufacturing and possession with intent to sell.
Last week Detective Inspector John Sutton said Thompson’s arrest, part of Operation Tiger targeting the importation of synthetics, was “significant”. Thompson was remanded on bail until his next appearance on conditions including not accessing the internet.
Police are calling on anyone with information about people making or selling synthetic cannabis to contact them immediately.
“We need to do more, we need your help,” said Waitakere Detective Sergeant Kelly Farrant.
“We need you to tell us who is supplying the drugs that are seriously harming our whanau.”
“If you wish to remain anonymous, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111,” she said.
“Our aim is to arrest the people supplying the drug and to help those suffering from the terrible addiction caused by it.”