九一星空无限

ZB ZB
Opinion
Live now
Start time
Playing for
End time
Listen live
Up next
ZB

Man admits importing 2kg of meth from Laos and United Kingdom

Author
Sam Sherwood, NZ Herald,
Publish Date
Thu, 22 Jun 2023, 11:25am
The entrance at the Christchurch Court House. Photo / Herald
The entrance at the Christchurch Court House. Photo / Herald

Man admits importing 2kg of meth from Laos and United Kingdom

Author
Sam Sherwood, NZ Herald,
Publish Date
Thu, 22 Jun 2023, 11:25am

A man has pleaded guilty to importing more than 2 kilograms of methamphetamine into New Zealand in packages from Laos and the United Kingdom.

Peter Ah Tong, 35, appeared in the Christchurch District Court on Thursday before Judge Jane Farish. He is due to be sentenced on September 1.

Through his lawyer, Kerryn Beaton KC, he pleaded guilty to importing a Class A controlled drug, possession of a Class B controlled drug for supply, and possession of a Class C controlled drug.

According to the summary of facts, Ah Tong was living at a property in Waltham, Christchurch at the time of the offending. He also frequently visited his partner鈥檚 address in Bishopdale.

On May 9, 2022 Customs intercepted a package imported by Ah Tong destined for his partner鈥檚 address. It was declared as containing a bicycle and had been shipped from Laos. The package, addressed to Daniel Jeremy, held 591 grams of methamphetamine.

A day later, Customs intercepted a package imported by him to his home. The package, which was declared as containing 鈥渕otopas鈥, had been sent from Laos. Inside was 481 grams of methamphetamine concealed in a black metal cylinder. Photos of the tracking number were later located on his phone.

On May 12, a package declared as an AC compressor and addressed to Matthew Duke was delivered to his partner鈥檚 home. The package had been shipped from the United Kingdom.

On his phone, police found photos and videos from the following day. The footage showed photos of an AC compressor followed by photos of a 鈥渨hite crystalline substance鈥 in a bowl.

There was also a video of the methamphetamine being weighed on a set of scales. The video showed the methamphetamine weighed 506 grams.

On May 13, Ah Tong discussed 鈥渁 kilo鈥 arriving the following week from London, and said he had 鈥渁 massive amount of customers鈥, and claimed that he had sold everything. He also provided his home address as an address to re-direct incoming packages.

Customs intercepted another package on June 15, 2022 destined for his address for a James Lachlan. The package, originating from London, was declared as a compressor. Inside was 514 grams of methamphetamine.

In total, Ah Tong imported more than 2kg of methamphetamine into New Zealand.

On June 14, 2022, police raided Ah Tong and his partner鈥檚 addresses. At his partner鈥檚 home, they found 5.2 grams of MDMA located in a box in a bedroom wardrobe. Three small plastic bags containing small amounts of MDMA were also located in Ah Tong鈥檚 bedroom.

A green plastic container located in the kitchen contained 15 pink pills with the Playboy logo embossed on the pills. The pills contained dimethylpentylone, a MDMA analogue which is a Class C controlled drug.

Digital scales, small plastic bags, and $5410 in cash was also found in Ah Tong鈥檚 bedroom.

Ah Tong declined to comment to police.

Police sought an order for destruction of the drug dealing instruments and forfeiture of the cash found at the address.

Take your Radio, Podcasts and Music with you