By PATRICK GOWER
Police say they have eliminated the organised crime syndicate responsible for introducing the methamphetamine drug "P" to Auckland, after a swag of guilty verdicts in a big drugs trial.
A jury yesterday found five men, including three members of the Headhunters gang, guilty of charges relating to manufacturing
and conspiring to supply methamphetamine, known as speed.
"The syndicate was the first police had uncovered involved in the large-scale distribution of pure methamphetamine, known as P," said inquiry head Darryl Brazier.
"They are hardened, seasoned criminals who have been major figures in the Auckland crime scene for 20-odd years."
The retrial ran for 11 weeks, and the jury spent two days and nights reaching their decisions.
The case was the end of Operation Flower, run by the Auckland police organised crime squad in late 2000, and resulting in 20 arrests.
Police uncovered the country's biggest methamphetamine lab, used by the syndicate in West Auckland. Its discovery prompted the evacuation of a nearby school and homes for fear that it would explode.
The lab was one of nine found that year - police found 147 last year.
The soaring use of P, which has been linked with a number of high-profile violent crimes, including the RSA killings, led Parliament to reclassify it as a Class A drug, meaning manufacturers and dealers can face a life sentence.
Concern about the drug also prompted the Government to announce $6.6 million funding in this week's Budget for lab clean-up teams in Auckland and Wellington.
The police case was based around conversations bugged at the Grey Lynn home of the syndicate's alleged leader, renowned underworld figure Waha Saifiti. He was found guilty of manufacturing methamphetamine and conspiring to supply it.
Speaking to the Weekend Herald last night, Saifiti said police had set him up as an easy target because of his criminal past. He said he had become addicted to "pure" methamphetamine and sold some on, but had never manufactured it.
He claimed to have not received a fair trial because of police manipulation of the bugged conversations.
Saifiti said he would pursue a private prosecution of the transcribing officer, Sergeant Jason Mackie.
Mr Brazier said the case proved police warnings that the Auckland drug scene was under the control of gangs such as the Headhunters.
"There were a few people in there today who thought they were untouchable, and this result has proved that they are not."
By PATRICK GOWER
Police say they have eliminated the organised crime syndicate responsible for introducing the methamphetamine drug "P" to Auckland, after a swag of guilty verdicts in a big drugs trial.
A jury yesterday found five men, including three members of the Headhunters gang, guilty of charges relating to manufacturing
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