meth bust

Stevie Norua Cullen and Selaima Fakaosilea appeared in the High Court at Whangārei this morning before Justice Gordon.

Cullen has been sentenced to 27 years in prison with a minimum period of imprisonment of nine years.

Fakaosilea has been sentenced to 12 years and six months to be served cumulatively on the 14 years and six months sentence she was given last year for further drug dealing following the Northland bust.

She was given a minimum period of imprisonment of seven years.

In a major drug bust today, more than 150 police staff raided houses and commercial properties in Auckland, Canterbury and Southland.

The seizures took place in suburbs including New Lynn, Blockhouse Bay, Avondale, Manukau, Mt Eden, Grey Lynn, Karaka, Greenlane, Manurewa and Northcote in Auckland.

Ten people have been arrested.

The warrants are part of an operation dubbed Operation Maddale, run by the National Organised Crime Group.

More than $550,000 of cash was seized along with luxury vehicles including a Porsche, a Jeep and several motorbikes.

The suspect is said to be a cleaner at the airport.

Last week, police detained a 59 year old man at the airport after he allegedly tried to smuggle the illicit drugs into New Zealand.

The suspect was arrested inside the departure transit area.

Cash in different currencies worth about TOP$10,000 were also found in the man’s possession.

The drug seizure is the largest in the Kingdom of Tonga.

The suspects are being held in custody to appear in court at a later date.

Photo Loop Tonga

The haul, estimated to have a street value of A$1bn (£600m; $800m), was uncovered when police raided a dock in Western Australia, authorities said.

Police have charged the men, each of whom faces a maximum penalty of life in prison.

Crystal methamphetamine, also known as ice, has been described as the most damaging illicit drug in Australia.

The 1.2-tonne (2,650lb) bust was larger than the previous record seizure, made in Melbourne in April.

They are  Ulakai Fakaosilea , Amoki Matoto Fonua  and Malachi Damien Tuilotolava.

Fakaosilea and Fonua have been charged with importing/exporting and possession for supply.

Tuilotolava has been charged with importing/exporting, possession for supply, participating in an organised criminal group and money laundering.

Tongan Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva  told Parliament when he returned to Tonga after his state visit to New Zealand that he had been told a number of Tongans were involved in the drug deal.

Four people have been charged over the importation and manufacture of 720 litres of methamphetamine.

Authorities discovered the drugs in a shipment from Asia to Australia and found the remainder in storage units in Sydney.

The ice was allegedly hidden in stick-on 'water magic' push up bras, bottles of craft glue and painting sets.