Drug internally imported

Press, 18 April 1981, Page 4

Drug internally imported

PA Auckland A Dunedin man swallowed 10 condoms containing “brown rock” heroin to import it from Hong Kong to New . Zealand, the District Court of Auckland heard. Allan Hughes, aged 32. a screen printer, pleaded guilty to importing heroin on April 2. He was remanded in custody by Judge Nicholson to May 1 for a probation report and sentence in the High Court.

Sergeant T. Horne told the Court that reliable information was received by the Dunedin police that the defendant was travelling from Auckland to Hong Kong, and would return with heroin hidden internally. On March 28 the Auckland police watched the defendant board a direct flight from Auckland to Hong Kong. He

was carrying only a small overnight bag. The defendant arrived back in New Zealand from Hong Kong on April 2. At Auckland Airport his clothing and baggage were searched, and he was allowed to leave. He was not seen to associate with anybody. Sergeant Horne said that the defendant was subsequently brought from Dunedin to the Auckland

Central police station. He denied carrying heroin internally. He refused to be Xrayed or examined by a doctor, and he declined to eat or drink for 30 hours. A vigil was kept on him to monitor his body functions. On April 4, Sergeant Horne, said, the defendant started to convulse. He admitted that he had swallowed 10 con-

doms containing “brown rock” heroin. He said that he had previously swallowed a more refined heroin, but this was the first time he had attempted to do so with “brown rock,” and he was concerned about the abrasive effects on the condoms. Ten condoms from the defendant were later examined and found to contain 20 per cent pure heroin, with a street value of $40,000.

The defendant told the police that the heroin was for his own. use. He had bought it in Hong Kong, as he was not prepared to pay the price in New Zealand for it.

He said that he was not addicted to heroin. He would, he said, have sold some, but the heroin scene in Dunedin was too small for any significant dealing.