Rotorua drug ring - trio sent to prison

File photo / NZ Herald

Three drug dealers involved in a major P ring in Rotorua have been jailed.

Warren John McLaine, 59, of Auckland, Edward David Phillips, 48, of Ngongotaha and Lee Sara Haira, 42, of Rotorua appeared for sentencing in the High Court at Rotorua yesterday.

McLaine previously pleaded guilty to a charge of possession of methamphetamine for supply between May and October 2009. He was sentenced to jail for five years and one month.

Phillips previously pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine for supply and two charges of supplying methamphetamine between March and October 2009. He was sentenced to six years and seven months with a minimum non-parole period of three years and three months.

Haira, who is a serving prisoner, had pleaded guilty to a charge of supplying methamphetamine, one of supplying methamphetamine and one charge of conspiring to possess methamphetamine for supply. She was sentenced to 21 months' jail, to be served on top of the two-and-a-half-year sentence she is serving on other methamphetamine-related charges.

Justice Graham Lang said the trio were arrested after police intercepted a busy network of drug dealing.

Rotorua man Graeme Williams, who earlier this year was jailed for 10 years and 10 months for his part in the opeation, was a "busy street dealer" at the "top of the table", Justice Lang said.

McLaine was a "trusted lieutenant" who transported cash and drugs for Williams. He used his own contacts to source methamphetamine and accepted that 266g of methamphetamine had passed through his hands.

Justice Lang said McLaine had not made any commercial gain from getting the methamphetamine but obtained the drug to feed his habit.

He said Haira committed the offences while on bail for similar offending and was already serving a two-and-a-half year jail term. Haira and Phillips had pooled their funds to buy more of the drug at a cheaper price.

Justice Lang said Haira had 26.7g of methamphetamine for supply and described her as a "busy retailer" of the drug.

She had a large amount of support, had made considerable progress while in jail and had many good qualities but needed to ensure that she stayed well clear of drugs in the future, Justice Lang said.