Accused: goats made my millions

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An alleged drugs kingpin, who is fighting police moves to seize $1.5 million worth of personal assets, claims he made his money through angora goat farming and not underworld operations.

West Aucklander Peter William Cleven, who police claim is the leader of one of the country's largest drug networks, is due to appear in the High Court at Auckland today for a bail hearing after a week in jail following a police raid.

Detectives have already confiscated the 37-year-old's $150,000 Mercedes-Benz, a jetboat, works of art and a $20,000 Harley-Davidson motorcycle under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

They have also taken legal steps to prevent him from selling his $1 million Titirangi Beach home on Paturoa Rd and a Pukekohe property, valued at $300,000, while they continue their investigations.

In the Auckland District Court last week, Cleven's lawyer, David Jones, said that while it appeared Cleven's living standards were beyond his means, that was because he had made a fortune out of angora wool farming in the 1980s.

The officer in charge of the drugs raid, Detective Sergeant Darryl Brazier, said last night: "His [Cleven's] income over the past five years is being investigated. We will be doing a full financial analysis."

Cleven has yet to enter a plea to the four charges of conspiracy to supply and supplying methamphetamine and possession and supply of a cannabis plant. More charges are likely.