Community detention for drug importer

A 19-year-old Invercargill male was sentenced in Invercargill District Court today for importing five ecstasy tablets into the country via the internet from the Netherlands.

Isaac Patiari Teaukura Maki, IT student, appeared before Judge Michael Behrens today for importing a class B drug into New Zealand, namely methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) on or about June 28, driving with a blood alcohol level of 95mg at Queenstown on September 28 and driving with a breath alcohol level of 304mcg (under 20) on November 3.

He was sentenced to three months' community detention, six months' supervision and disqualified from driving for nine months.

Maki's lawyer Hugo Young asked for a 106 discharge without conviction but it was refused by the judge.

The police summary of facts says a parcel was intercepted by New Zealand Customs at the international mail centre at Auckland Airport on June 28.

An examination conducted by customs officials found five tablets hidden within a fluorescent light starter, it says.

A narcotics indicator test conducted on a small portion of one of the pills showed it was MDMA (or ecstasy) and stamps and franking on the parcel showed it had been sent from the Netherlands to a person called Mary Blank, the summary says.

Police made inquiries at the house the parcel had been addressed to and spoke with Maki. He admitted purchasing the tablets using an anonymous website known as Silk Road.

He said he had purchased the tablets, worth about $60, with BitCoins, which are an anonymous digital currency traded in a similar fashion to publicly listed shares, the summary says.

Maki told police the pills were for his own use and he had concocted the fake name to lessen the risk to himself, it says.

Hugo Young said Maki later committed the drink-driving offences while under stress because of the drug charge and he had not been coping.

Judge Behrens said Maki had said he imported the drugs out of curiosity.