Hong Kong man's drug sentence welcomed by New Zealand gov't

A Hong Kong drug trafflicker who attempted to importmethamphetamine to New Zealand was sentenced to nine year imprisonment by the city's court. (Photo by Apple Daily)

The New Zealand government on Thursday welcomed a nine-year jail sentence for a Hong Kong man who was caught importing a record haul of methamphetamine.

"The sentencing of 31-year old Wai Hung Mak at Auckland District Court today sends a clear message that anyone coming to New Zealand solely for the purpose of bringing in drugs will not get away with it," Customs Minister Maurice Williamson said in a statement.

New Zealand Customs officers intercepted a package containing 980 grams of methamphetamine, which had a street value of almost 1 million NZ dollars (812,678 U.S. dollars), hidden inside heat sealed tea packets in December last year.

A controlled delivery operation was staged two days later, leading to the arrest of Mak, who had been in the country for just two weeks.

"It was clear this man came into New Zealand for the sole purpose of importing drugs. I applaud Customs for stopping him and keeping almost 1 million NZ dollars of this vile and damaging drug from reaching our communities," said Williamson.

"If people attempt to bring in methamphetamine or any other drugs, we will catch them and we will throw them in jail."