Yachtsman on trial on heroin charge

Press, 11 October 1979, Page 4

Yachtsman on trial on heroin charge

PA Auckland A man accused of importing $1 million worth of heroin into New Zealand by yacht told a member of his crew that the heroin was “the best," said a witness in the Supreme Court at Auckland. The crew member, whose name was suppressed, said he had been told that after he had asked to see the heroin when the yacht sailed from Bali. He was giving evidence for the Crown on the second day of the trial of Brian James Curtis, aged 45, a self-employed property developer, of Glen Eden. Curtis has pleaded not guilty to a charge of importing heroin at Karamea. Westland. on March 9. The trial, which is expected to last more than a week, is before Mr Justice McMullin and a jury. Mr E. R. Winkel and Mr M. J. Ruffin appear for the Crown and Mr G. F. Little and Mr R. S. Walker for Curtis. The witness said he met Curtis six weeks before the yacht left Auckland. Curtis told him he was sailing to Bali and was going to bring Buddha sticks back to New Zealand. Curtis had not liked the idea of the witness’s girlfriend going, too, but after he met her he agreed to let her come.

The yacht was called Nomad when it left on November 26, 1978. During the voyage, witness said Curtis used the name Brian Carter. About a week after they left, Curtis told witness he ■wanted him to paint the name Toa on the yacht. At Bali, the witness said an official he thought was a Customs, officer came aboard and took possession of a rifle, a shotgun, and ammunition. During the voyage the guns had been in Curtis's cabin. Witness said Curtis told him they were for protection and that there was a lot of piracy in the area. After their arrival in Bali, Curtis went to Singapore. Curtis had told witness he had to get money changed and intended to stay with his sister for the New Year. When he returned from Singapore Curtis said to witness that he did not think there were going to be any Buddha sticks available and that he wanted to go to Thailand to buy heroin instead. He

said he did not want to go back empty-handed. Curtis told him he would like to have witness’s girlfriend go with him and would give her $3OOO to bring the heroin back to Bali. She agreed and they went the next day and were away for about a week. The yacht sailed from Bali after the two returned. Witness said he asked Curtis' if he could see the heroin that was brought back in a radio and Curtis showed it to him two or three days later. The heroin, in the form of white powder, was inside three plastic bags. Witness said Curtis told him one of the bags contained Ikg and others each contained o.skg. Curtis said it was No. 4 heroin and that it was the best. On the trip back the yacht berthed at Albany in Western Australia. While there witness said Curtis told him to tell anyone who asked that they were schoolteachers returning to Sydney. A Customs officer spoke to Curtis at Albany. Curtis told him they were schoolteachers and that they had not been out of Australian waters. The yacht was then headed back for New Zealand. Curtis had told the crew that they were heading for Porirua, witness said. There Curtis and the

girl wouid go straight to Auckland while witness and the navigator were to clean up the yacht and sail it up to Thames. After having difficulty heading northwards they decided to sail to Karamea on the West Coast. Witness said Curtis told them that if they were asked by the authorities they were to say that he (witness) had just bought the yacht in Christchurch, had sailed it round the South Island and was heading back to Auckland. Cross-examined by Mr Little, the witness said he knew- a man called Colin Prast. He said this man took him to meet Curtis. Asked what Prast had told him about the trip, witness said he told him that Curtis was taking a yacht to Bali and needed a crew. He knew witness was addicted to heroin and thought it would be a good way to get away from the drug. Asked if the heroin had ever been in the back of the radio, witness said he had not seen it there. Mr Little suggested that the witness himself had bought the heroin off a South American yacht at Bali. Witness denied this. Mr Little also suggested to the witness that Curtis did not even know the heroin had been on board the yacht. The witness replied, “No.” (Proceeding)