Police raid nets drug dealer

DRUG FIND: Small bags of methamphetamine similar to these were found in Christopher Kitto's possession.PHOTO/FILE

A 62-year-old South Wairarapa man who sold metham-phetamine to fund his own drug habit has been remanded in custody.

Christopher Stanley Behan Kitto of Martinborough pleaded guilty to charges of possession of the Class A drug metham-phetamine for supply, supplying cannabis and cultivating cannabis when he appeared before Judge Pat Grace in the Masterton District Court on Thursday.

He was arrested as part of police Operation Lucy, clamping down on the drug trade in the region in an effort to reduce the harm caused by drugs to the community.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Garry Wilson said police stopped a car leaving Kitto's Grey St property on March 18 and found a cannabis tinnie inside and executed a warrant on the address the same day.

Kitto was caught trying to hide two small plastic self-sealing bags in his hand containing white crystals and told police it was methamphetamine, Mr Wilson said.

Police found a further 19 small packets of the drug in his front pocket and while checking out his property discovered two mature cannabis plants growing.

As police carried out the raid an associate of Kitto's arrived and told police he had bought three to five tinnies from Kitto the day before and had returned to pay his debt, the court heard.

Mr Wilson said Kitto admitted to selling both cannabis and methamphetamine to fund his own addiction and to growing cannabis for his own use.

Defence lawyer Jock Blathwayt said his client "obviously had a serious habit" as he asked the court to order a drug and alcohol report to assist at sentencing.

Judge Grace remanded Kitto in custody and ordered a pre-sentence report, including a drug and alcohol assessment, for sentencing on June 23.