'Drug bust'

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 9, Issue 406, 1 October 1991, Page 10

'Drug bust'

In what has become known locally as a 'drug bust' earlier last month several people appeared in the Ohakune District

Court on charges relating to the possession of . cannabis plant, cannabis seed, instruments for the commission of an offence under the Misuse of Drugs Act as well as other charges. They were all given interim name suppression on various grounds the main one being that some of them, as first offenders, would have the charges dealt with by way of diversion. They included: A 28-year old male; possession of cannabis plant on 3 September and possession of a shotgun while not being the holder of a firearms licence. He was remanded without plea to appear again on 24 October. Counsel: Brian Mason. A 22-year old female; possession of a plastic

water pipe for the commission of an offence under the Misuse of Drugs Act on 3 September, and the possession of a prescription drug in a container other than that prescribed by the Medicine Act of 1981. Defendant was remanded to 24 October to see if a programme of diversion had been satisfactorily completed. Counsel: Brian Mason. A 31-year old male; possession of cannabis seed on 4 September and possession of cannabis plant on 4 September. He was remanded without plea to 24 October. Counsel: Paul Brown. A 28-year old male; Possession of cannabis plant on 4 September. He was remanded to 24 October for diversion to be considered. Counsel: Paul Brown. A 30-year old male; /possession of cannabis seeds on 3 September, possession of cannabis plant on 3 September and possession of a pipe for the commission of an offence under the Misuse of Drugs Act on 3 September. He was remanded to appear on 24 October to check that a programme of diversion had been satisfactorily completed. Counsel: Brian Mason. A 31-year old male; possession of a plastic water-pipe for the commission of an offence under the Misuse of Drugs Act on 3 September and theft on or about 29 August of a New Zealand passport valued at $56.25 the property of the New Zealand government. He was remanded without plea to appear again on 24 October. Counsel: Brian Mason. A 30-year old male; possession of a Class 'C' drug (cannabis) on 4 September, possession of a class 'C drug (cannabis) for supply on 4 September and possession of a plastic water-pipe for the commission of an offence under the Misuse of Drugs Act on 4 September. This defendant, who told the Court that his solicitor was from Wellington, asked that the indictable charge (possession of cannabis for supply) be deferred until next year so that he would have legal representation. However Judge Watson said he was not prepared to wait that long and remanded defendant to appear in the Taihape District Court on 17 December for a depositions hearing. A 25-year old male; possession of cannabis plant on 3 September and possession of a Class 'A' drug namely Lysergic Acid ('LSD') on 3 September. He was remanded to appear in the Ohakune District Court on 24 October.