Police seize Rotorua money laundering house

The Rotorua house seized from a woman convicted of money laundering has been sold for $385,000.

The seizure of the property followed a police operation in 2014 related to methamphetamine dealing.

The operation resulted in a number of arrests and convictions for the importation and distribution of at least 1.75kg of methamphetamine.

Linda Olive Aldworth, the Rotorua nurse who owned the house, was one of those arrested.

"This is a strong message to those involved in crime, if you succumb to the temptation and greed of money earned from crime then you face losing your assets," Detective Senior Sergeant Brent Murray said.

The Central Asset Recovery Unit discovered Aldworth was laundering large sums of money, both in New Zealand and internationally.

Her money laundering helped other criminal entities' ability to import methamphetamine, police said.

She was charged with laundering $363,631.99, and pleaded guilty.

Aldworth was sentenced to 10 months 14 days of home detention.

Her home in Rotorua, as well as other assets, were forfeited as a result of an application made by the Commissioner of Police under the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act.

In July the property was sold for $385,000, which police said was significantly higher than the rateable valuation. All proceeds of the sale have been forfeited to the Crown.

Money from the Criminal Proceeds Fund is put back into the community to address the impact of drugs.

"Methamphetamine-related crimes create massive social harm in our communities which in turn has significant financial costs for our country, and we will pursue any profits derived from dealing in this drug," Mr Murray said.

"The Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act continues to be a highly effective tool to recover proceeds of crime and we encourage anyone with information regarding criminal or suspicious financial activities to contact police or Crimestoppers as soon as possible."

In another case a Tokoroa woman lost her two houses, car and cash to the Crown in June after a conviction for methamphetamine dealing.

Police seized $141,720 in cash as well as the two properties and car from Sharon Mihaka following a court order issued at the end of June.

She was convicted along with her husband and daughter and was sentenced to four and a half years' imprisonment after being found dealing drugs from her shop, Sharon's Fine Leathers, in Swanston St.

And police seized more than $1 million worth of property, including a 123ha forestry block from a Bay of Plenty Mongrel Mob member last year.

A judge ruled Valentine Nicholas' assets were gained through criminal offending, despite a not guilty verdict in his money laundering trial.

Police have been able to apply through the courts to seize property from offenders since 2009, under the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act.

The burden of proof in these cases was lower than that of a criminal trial, and was decided on a balance of probabilities.

More than $3m worth of assets in the Bay of Plenty region was seized under the act between 2009 and 2016.