A man facing five drugs charges was sentenced yesterday to nine months' home detention and ordered to forfeit $4605 in cash.
Tomu William Filikitonga (37), of Wanaka, admitted cultivating cannabis and possessing cannabis, benyl piperazine (BZP), MDMA propane and LSD, all at Wanaka on December 1 last year.
Judge Tony Couch said Filikitonga had to forfeit $4605 of the cash seized by police; he also sentenced him to 120 hours' community work.
Filikitonga was one of eight men arrested as a result of the Southern police initiative Operation Viking, which targeted the flow of party drugs in Wanaka.
Officers carried out a search warrant at Filikitonga's home and found 1.3kg of cannabis plant material.
Officers also discovered $10,370 in cash in a spare room, along with 11 squares of class A drug LSD, 1.1g of class B drug MDMA and 1.1g of class C drug BZP.
A further three tabs and two caps of BZP were found in Filikitonga's bedroom. Forty-three cannabis plants were found in the garden outside.
