Two people accused of involvement with an $8 million methamphetamine bust were found guilty on four out of five charges in the Wellington High Court today.
Chun Yu Ng, 24, and Xiaohui Huang, 26, were linked to one of the biggest drug seizures in New Zealand history.
The
jury of found Ng guilty of possession of methamphetamine for supply and conspiracy to supply, but not guilty to being a party to importing the drug.
Huang was found guilty of the two charges against her -- possession of methamphetamine for supply and conspiracy to supply.
When her sentence was read out and translated to her, Huang wept silently in the dock.
The eight women and four men of the jury reached the verdict after two-and-a-quarter hours, after an eight-day trial.
Ng and Huang were arrested last year after customs officials intercepted a courier parcel from China at Auckland Airport.
The parcel containing 8.193kg of methamphetamine, hidden inside water filters.
Police replaced most of the drug with a harmless white powder.
After a disguised customs officer delivered the package to Ng, he passed it on to Huang, who was arrested by police.
The drugs were recovered from Huang's hotel room.
In his summary before the jury retired, Justice Clifford advised disregarding any feelings they might have against drugs, or any sympathy for the defendants when reaching their judgement.
"Their defence is essentially that they did not know it was illegal drugs," he said.
He also told the jurors though neither of the accused took to the stand to defend themselves, it was the Crown's task to find them guilty, proving the charges beyond reasonable doubt.
They were remanded in custody for sentence on June 1.
- NZPA
