Shop owner busted importing meth pipes
The New Plymouth owner of an Asian grocery store tried to smuggle 865 methamphetamine pipes into the country through Customs and air mail.
Yumei Meng has admitted selling around 15 of the class A drug pipes each week from her shop, Asian Food Supplies, on St Aubyn St in Moturoa.
Yesterday, the 53-year-old appeared in New Plymouth District Court with an interpreter at her side.
Through her lawyer, Julian Hannam, Meng pleaded guilty to one charge of importing prohibited goods and one of possession of methamphetamine utensils for the purpose of sale or supply in relation to 214 of the pipes.
According to the summary of facts, Meng, who holds a Chinese passport and is a permanent resident of New Zealand, arrived at Auckland Airport on December 9 from China.
On the passenger arrival card she marked ‘‘no’’ when asked if she had with her any restricted goods, such as equipment for using drugs.
She was referred for a baggage search by a New Zealand Customs Service officer, to whom Meng confirmed she had packed her own bags, was not carrying goods on behalf of anyone else, nor did she have any goods to declare.
However, her luggage turned up 214 meth pipes. Ten grinders, 20 pocket scales and 2550 smoking pipe gauzes were also found.
When questioned about the meth pipes, Meng said she sold them in her shop, under the counter, despite knowing it was illegal.
She sold about 15 a week for between $10 and $13, she admitted to New Zealand Customs Service. The pipes were later confiscated.
But it wasn’t Meng’s first attempt at bringing P pipes into the country.
New Zealand Customs Service has recorded three previous occasions last year where Meng imported meth pipes and cannabis utensils through the mail and air cargo stream, the summary stated.
On April 24, a package from China declared as ‘‘glass crafts’’ was intercepted and found to contain 152 meth pipes.
A second package imported from China by Meng was seized on July 8 after the parcel declared ‘‘water tank fittings’’ was found to contain 499 meth pipes and 34 cannabis utensils.
On September 18, New Zealand
Customs Service intercepted a third package destined for Meng from China. It was declared as ‘‘quartz’’ and contained four glass bongs.
On all three occasions, the utensils were seized and a notice was sent to Meng.
In court, New Zealand Customs Service counsel Jacob Bourke indicated the end sentence would likely be a fine.
Meng was remanded at large to return on April 6 for sentencing.
According to the New Zealand Companies Office, Meng is the sole director of company Green Leaves Limited, which trades as Asian Food Supplies.
The shop was closed yesterday with a note on the door saying they would reopen today.