Drug kingpin gets 19 years

Frank William Murray and Betty Anne Lloyd's farm raided by police. Above right, on New Years Eve 2012/13 Hilda Harawira spoke out about the flow-on impact of the drug bust on the local community.

A Northland man police say was at the top of a methamphetamine manufacturing and dealing ring has been jailed for 19 years.

Frank William Murray, 47, unemployed of Herekino was sentenced in the High Court in Auckland last week to 19 years in prison following the termination of a major police investigation into the ring dubbed Operation Enzone.

During the operation police found $100,000 in cash in a rusty ammunition box buried in a paddock on Murray's farm next to the homestead and saw his partner also convicted for allowing the property to be used to manufacture the drug. They also found $300,000 worth of methamphetamine and a P lab, protective clothing, breathing apparatus, and a total of $154,000 in cash. Another Northlander got nine-and-a-half years in jail for his part in the dealing operation.

Murray was sentenced on 18 drug related charges after he was found guilty on five counts of manufacturing the class A drug methamphetamine - also known as P - two of supplying methamphetamine; three of conspiracy to supply the drug; two of possessing precursor material to supply the drug; two of possessing materials to manufacture P; two of possessing equipment to manufacture P; one of conspiracy to supply the class B drug GHB (AKA fantasy) and one of possessing GHB.

Murray was found not guilty on two other charges of manufacturing P.

Detective Sergeant John Sowter from the Organised Financial Crime Agency of New Zealand (OFCANZ) said Murray was part of a network of manufacturers and supplier whose tentacles stretched across the North Island.

"This operation was triggered by intelligence gathered by Eastern District staff in Napier in July 2012," Mr Sowter said. "Over the next four months police and customs launched multiple operations targeting the manufacturing and supply of methamphetamine, GHB and precursor chemicals."

He said the investigations uncovered a number of supply and manufacturing operations in Northland, Auckland, Hawke's Bay and Wellington and led to Murray and several other Northlanders being arrested as part of the operation.

Curtis Edward Yates, 50, from Kaitaia, was found guilty on one count of manufacturing methamphetamine and one of supplying the drug and was jailed for nine-and-a-half years.

Murray's partner, Betty Anne Lloyd, 55, from Herekino was found guilty on three counts of permitting premises to be used to manufacture methamphetamine and sentenced to 11 months' home detention.

Anthony Charles Dobbyn, 54, a plumber from Matakana, was found guilty on one count of being a party to manufacturing methamphetamine and has yet to be sentenced.

"It is clear from our investigations that this organised criminal group was also making extensive efforts to launder the money they were generating," Mr Sowter said.

"We uncovered numerous purchases of motor vehicles, tractors, diggers, farm equipment, boats and building supplies valued at over $250,000."

Sixteen people were eventually arrested following the termination of Operation Enzone in November 2012.

Mr Sowter said Operation Enzone and its parallel investigations are a great example of police and customs working together to protect the New Zealand public from organised criminal groups.

"The success of this investigation sends a clear message to the entire criminal community that Police and our partner agencies are working together to target organised criminal groups who are harming our community," Mr Sowter said.

"Police are pleased to see such a significant sentence that came after a great deal of hard work and that sends a strong message to those contemplating this type of offending."