Serious Drug Operations
Charges for serious drug operation typically face hefty sentences of imprisonment if convicted. The Police invest a significant amount of time and resources into these cases. Our team will analyse the highly technical, complex and detailed disclosure to provide you with the best advice.
The Police can spend years gathering evidence in serious drug operations. They co-operate with international authorities and have a raft of powers in relation to search and surveillance of individuals.
Often serious drug operations rely on “inferences” that can be made by a person’s movements and contacts. We will assess the evidence to determine if the Police have a strong case against you and possible penalties.
We are familiar with the various technologies, types of warrants, and interception devices used by Police in serious drug operations.
We have acted in many high profile cases including Operation Selena, Operation Salmon and Operation Weirton (the largest import of methamphetamine at the New Zealand border with a street value of more than $245 million).
CASE EXAMPLE:
Our client was a patched member of the King Cobras and charged in relation to Operation Selena, known as the “baggage handlers case” at Auckland airport. After reviewing thousands of pages of disclosure and surveillance information, it became apparent that the Police did not have a case against our client and at best it was suspicion. We filed an application for a s147 – insufficient evidence to go to trial. Eventually the Crown agreed and the charges were dismissed against our client. If convicted, he would have been sentenced to at least 20 years imprisonment.