Drug ring accused identified

The identity of one of the men charged with supplying hundreds of thousands of Ecstasy analogue pills can be revealed.

Name suppression has been lifted from Allen Joseph Stubbington, who was one of 11 people arrested in Operation Greenstone on charges of importing, manufacturing, possessing and supplying class-B and -C drugs.

The 55-year-old has been referred to as "The Book Keeper" in court hearings because of a credit ledger, known as a "tick list", which police allege recorded drug activity over a two-year period.

The Harley-Davidson-riding Stubbington, who is well regarded in the bodybuilding scene, is one of six accused who were refused bail after the five-month covert operation.

He will seek to be released tomorrow, along with Brendon Nguyen and two others with name suppression, including a millionaire businessman referred to as "The Boss".

Another in custody is Craig Williams, called "The Banker", who lived in the Metropolis tower in central Auckland and is alleged to have moved nearly $8 million to overseas accounts in just 12 months.

Police allege the men were part of a designer-drug syndicate that distributed pills chemically similar, but not identical, to MDMA, which is the traditional ingredient in Ecstasy tablets.

These analogues are class-C controlled drugs, while MDMA-based Ecstasy is class B.

Police allege Stubbington bought $4.5 million worth of pills from "The Boss" which he sold to a supply network.

When "The Boss" was arrested last November in Operation Ark - on exactly the same charges he faces now - Stubbington hired 28-year-old Cameron Blair Broxton to press the pills for him, the court was told.

Detective Sergeant Bruce Howard said police were still looking for the pressing machine.

The Book Keeper
* Allen Joseph Stubbington
* 56 charges including importing, manufacturing, possession and supply of Class-B and C drugs.

Can you help?
Anyone who knows where the pressing machine can be found can contact Detective Sergeant Bruce Howard on (09) 259-0733 or Crimestoppers, 0800 555-111.