Australian for trial on drug charge

Press, 2 December 1981, Page 3

Australian for trial on drug charge

PA Auckland An Australian appeared in the District Court at Auckland yesterday charged with importing into New Zealand cannabis plant said to have a street value of $1 million. Andre Milley, aged 30, of no fixed abode, denied importing cannabis into New Zealand on Christmas Day, 198(1. He appeared before Justices of the Peace, Mrs A. V. Fitzpatrick and Mr A. R. Gorbey, for the taking of depositions. Mr Rowan Moss appeared for Milley. who was originally from France. The police prosecutor, Detective Sergeant David Lucas, said Milley was alleged to have imported two

suitcases containing 50 small packages of cannabis, weighing a total of 42.8 kilograms. The bags were not claimed and were seized by the police at Auckland Airport. The defendant was later located in Australia, and extradited. A prosecution witness, Detective Inspector Brion Philip Duncan, said he worked as a narcotics attache in Bangkok from August 1978 to August 1981. On Christmas Eve, 1980, he went to Bangkok Airport as a result of information received, and watched Milley check in two suitcases. They appeared to be very heavy. Detective Inspector Bryan Jdhn Rowe, an officer in charge of the drug squad in Auckland, said he went to

Auckland Airport on Christmas Day, 1980, and took possession of two unclaimed suitcases. The suitcases were found to contain two large packages wrapped in black polythene, each one containing 25 smaller packages of plant material. The material had been certified by the D.S.I.R. as cannabis plant containing resin. “It is believed that this particular seizing was the largest of its type ever made in New Zealand,” he said. After hearing the evidence, Mrs Fitzpatrick and Mr Gorbey ruled there was a case to answer. Milley was remanded in custody, to appear before a jury in the District Court on February 3.