A man who imported methamphetamine to a sleepy Central Otago town and “played fast and loose” with the drug has been jailed for more than three and a-half years.
Jade Brendon Martin, a 22-year-old roofer from Clyde, bought 7.5g of the class A drug using bitcoins from websites based in Mexico and Canada, but the shipments never made their way to his home.
They were addressed to his house.
It made his apprehension “relatively straightforward”, defence counsel Sarah Saunderson-Warner said.
Martin appeared before the Dunedin District Court this morning having admitted counts of importing methamphetamine (also known as "P"), supplying the drug and allowing a premises to be used for the cultivation of cannabis.
The intercepted packages saw police execute a search warrant at the defendant's home in October last year. There they found a purpose-built room fitted with false walls, accessed by a pull door disguised with shelving and coat hooks.
In the room were five mature cannabis plants in the final stages of budding, in potting mix, under fluorescent lights. A further 33 seedlings had been planted.
Martin's partner took responsibility for the cultivation and was sentenced to community detention and community work in February, the court heard.
Also at the house, police found plastic point bags and electronic scales consistent with small-scale "P" dealing.
Ms Saunderson-Warner said it was no commercial enterprise - her client was selling the drug to support his own habit and would “shout” friends every couple of weeks.
But Judge Michael Crosbie said there was some degree of sophistication and it did not matter that the imported methamphetamine did not make it into Martin's hands.
“You were playing fast and loose with this drug,” the judge said.
“We know this particular drug is a real scourge. It's destroying communities and destroying the lives of young people, and you're part of that industry, make no mistake.”
The court heard how Martin began using cannabis at high school before moving to Christchurch in 2013 when his meth habit took hold.
Ms Saunderson-Warner said Martin had seen the impact of his offending on his family - who were in court to support him - and was keen to attend a rehabilitation programme while in prison.
Judge Crosbie sentenced Martin for three years and eight months, and made special mention of the efforts of those who brought the man to justice.
“Clearly this was very good work by Customs, and it shouldn't be lost on those who do try and dabble in the drug market and importation that Customs and border control is increasingly sophisticated,” he said.
