Northland pair facing multiple charges expect to learn fates

Police seized nearly 30 grams of methamphetamine during the operation involving the pair. Photo / File

Two Northlanders facing charges of dealing in methamphetamine and possession of firearms on a rural property are expected to know their fate today.

The jury in the trial of Keith John Mills, 29, and Lateisha Ann Jeeves, 23, will retire to consider their verdicts after Judge John McDonald sums up the case in the Whangarei District Court this morning.

Police swooped on a property on Roberts' West Rd, Arapohue, about 16km southeast of Dargaville, occupied by Mills and Jeeves on January 29, 2014, and seized nearly 30 grams of methamphetamine, $12,000 cash and firearms.

They have denied knowledge of the drugs and Mills said the methamphetamine, found in a container between a mattress and base of a bed, belonged to an Auckland-based friend who visited him.

Crown prosecutor Kevin Patterson told the jury yesterday Mills and Jeeves knew about the drugs, contrary to their denials in court. He said Mills told police, during the police raid, the $12,000 cash located in a bedroom was his but told the court, while giving evidence, the money belonged to his friend.

Mr Patterson said that when questioned about the money Mills' friend told the jury he could not remember leaving the cash at the property.

He said a police expert on drugs, Detective Andrew Glendinning, gave evidence the cash, methamphetamine, scales, calculator, firearms, ammunition and gang paraphernalia found were items associated with commercial drug dealing.

Mills' lawyer Arthur Fairley told the jury his client's friend earlier confessed to possession of methamphetamine for supply, and even told the court the drug belonged to him.

He said the Crown relied on inference saying just because methamphetamine was found at the property, Mills must be guilty or had control of the drug.