Post by Lux on Feb 28, 2009 9:45:56 GMT 12
By MARTIN VAN BEYNEN - The Dominion Post | Friday, 27 February 2009
Police have broken up an alleged drug ring operated from Christchurch Prison by a convicted murderer.
The inmate, a motorcycle gang member who cannot be named for legal reasons, was targeted in an operation by the Christchurch Drug Squad late last year. He was allegedly using a sophisticated cellphone that circumvented the jail's recently installed cellphone-blocking and jamming equipment.
The ring was mainly a distribution network that brought methamphetamine, commonly known as P, from Auckland to Christchurch. Rounding up suspected members began at Christchurch Airport on February 3 with the arrest of a woman as she arrived from Auckland. Searches revealed she was allegedly carrying 39 grams of P with a street value of about $40,000.
The ring is believed to have turned over tens of thousands of dollars a month. Further arrests have netted two men and four more women in Christchurch and two men in Auckland.
Detective Senior Sergeant Dave Long, of the Christchurch Drug Squad, said police were not expecting any other arrests relating to the ring.
Those arrested face a variety of charges, including the supply of, and conspiracy to supply, methamphetamine after October last year.
The inmate has been charged with conspiring to supply P and hashish and of supplying P.
The police swoop also found cannabis, stolen property, firearms, including a loaded pistol in the possession of one offender, and $58,000 cash.
"We're pleased we've managed to stop this alleged drug's network carrying on," Long said.
"We're working hard to stop methamphetamine flowing into the local market and fuelling more crime."
Corrections Minister Judith Collins, who has been highly critical of her department, did not want to comment.
Prisons in New Zealand have had continual problems with inmates using cellphones.
A high-profile incident happened in 2005 when Sounds murderer Scott Watson sent pictures of his genitals to a woman outside the prison.
Phones are used to intimidate witnesses and organise crime.
Southern assistant regional manager Ian Bourke said Christchurch Men's Prison was still in the process of receiving full cellphone-blocking coverage. "The prison site is being tested to ensure that the technology is effective and that there is no chance that the technology will leak outside the prison boundaries and affect legitimate cellphone users in the community," he said in a statement.
Corrections has been rolling out jamming equipment at its prisons since last year.
However, the phone allegedly used by the inmate was a third-generation phone that was able to beat the blockers.
Angie Lee Hurring, 32, Storm Harley Curran, 26, and Julie Pateman, 47, all of Christchurch, have appeared in the District Court on conspiracy to supply P charges, with all bar Hurring remanded at large.
Another Christchurch woman, aged 48, has appeared on the conspiracy charge but has received name suppression.
Shane William Thorne, 46, and Say Tusong Lu were arrested in Auckland on similar charges. They were remanded in custody after appearing in the Auckland District Court.
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Police have broken up an alleged drug ring operated from Christchurch Prison by a convicted murderer.
The inmate, a motorcycle gang member who cannot be named for legal reasons, was targeted in an operation by the Christchurch Drug Squad late last year. He was allegedly using a sophisticated cellphone that circumvented the jail's recently installed cellphone-blocking and jamming equipment.
The ring was mainly a distribution network that brought methamphetamine, commonly known as P, from Auckland to Christchurch. Rounding up suspected members began at Christchurch Airport on February 3 with the arrest of a woman as she arrived from Auckland. Searches revealed she was allegedly carrying 39 grams of P with a street value of about $40,000.
The ring is believed to have turned over tens of thousands of dollars a month. Further arrests have netted two men and four more women in Christchurch and two men in Auckland.
Detective Senior Sergeant Dave Long, of the Christchurch Drug Squad, said police were not expecting any other arrests relating to the ring.
Those arrested face a variety of charges, including the supply of, and conspiracy to supply, methamphetamine after October last year.
The inmate has been charged with conspiring to supply P and hashish and of supplying P.
The police swoop also found cannabis, stolen property, firearms, including a loaded pistol in the possession of one offender, and $58,000 cash.
"We're pleased we've managed to stop this alleged drug's network carrying on," Long said.
"We're working hard to stop methamphetamine flowing into the local market and fuelling more crime."
Corrections Minister Judith Collins, who has been highly critical of her department, did not want to comment.
Prisons in New Zealand have had continual problems with inmates using cellphones.
A high-profile incident happened in 2005 when Sounds murderer Scott Watson sent pictures of his genitals to a woman outside the prison.
Phones are used to intimidate witnesses and organise crime.
Southern assistant regional manager Ian Bourke said Christchurch Men's Prison was still in the process of receiving full cellphone-blocking coverage. "The prison site is being tested to ensure that the technology is effective and that there is no chance that the technology will leak outside the prison boundaries and affect legitimate cellphone users in the community," he said in a statement.
Corrections has been rolling out jamming equipment at its prisons since last year.
However, the phone allegedly used by the inmate was a third-generation phone that was able to beat the blockers.
Angie Lee Hurring, 32, Storm Harley Curran, 26, and Julie Pateman, 47, all of Christchurch, have appeared in the District Court on conspiracy to supply P charges, with all bar Hurring remanded at large.
Another Christchurch woman, aged 48, has appeared on the conspiracy charge but has received name suppression.
Shane William Thorne, 46, and Say Tusong Lu were arrested in Auckland on similar charges. They were remanded in custody after appearing in the Auckland District Court.
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