A crime partnership run by Northland's top drug cop dealt in hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of methamphetamine and cannabis, a court heard today.
Michael David Blowers, 44, faces one charge each of supplying methamphetamine and cannabis between 1 June2011 and 31 June 2012, and a charge of stealing methamphetamine from a police exhibit locker on or about October 19, 2011.
The Crown alleges that Blowers encouraged a woman to sell drugs and give him the proceeds.
The trial was about the relationship between them, how she became a drug dealer for him, prosecutor Phil Hamlin told a Whangarei High Court jury of seven women and five men.
"He had the source, she had the contacts."
Blowers is accused of using his position as head of the organized crime unit to steal drugs from the police drug storage lock up.
Mr Hamlin said Blowers had taken a portion of a large seizure of methamphetamine and used table salt to make up the weight to try to disguise the theft.
Blowers alleged partner in crime is giving evidence against him and is subject to wide suppression orders.
Defence lawyer Arthur Fairley said in his opening address that Blowers strongly denied that he stole drugs or supplied the woman.
Blowers had loaned the woman money and "was most interested in getting it back" but it was not drug money.
"He will say he certainly did not give her methamphetamine or cannabis."
Supplying methamphetamine carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
Blowers resigned shortly before he was arrested in April last year.
He was investigated after one of Blowers' staff came forward with concerns.
The trial, held before a jury and Justice Geoffrey Venning in the Whangarei High Court is set for two weeks.
