Jeremy Jones appeared in the Rotorua District Court via audiovisual link and pleaded guilty to a range of drug dealing charges. Photo / Kelly Makiha
A “prolific” drug dealer peddling thousands of dollars of methamphetamine and liquid ecstasy from his central Rotorua shop boasted he was the “best at this” in town.
Now Jeremy David Jones, 48, is behind bars awaiting sentencing after admitting in the Rotorua District Court to 18 serious drug dealing charges.
The offending included having at least 1kg of meth for supply and 14 litres of liquid ecstasy, also known as fantasy or 14B, between April and December 2024.
The former signwriter ran a graphic design and apparel business called StickerUp, but was spending most of his time dealing drugs.
His operation included having “staff” sell drugs from the rear window of his Tutanekai St shop at night.
A police summary of facts, supplied to the Rotorua Daily Post this week, describes how Jones was caught after police started tapping two of his phones in October 2024.
They found he boasted about being a drug dealer, including saying, “I’m the best at this, in this town, that they’ve ever seen”.
His business address at 1298 Tutanekai St was being set up to be a legitimate signwriting and screenprinting business and a future barber shop, but police say it was mainly used to deal drugs.
The summary said Jones’ dealing could “only be described as prolific”.
He had loyal customers, whom he would supply with large quantities of class A drug methamphetamine and class B drug 14B.
They were mainly drug dealers and users who distributed drugs in their own networks.
He hired some methamphetamine-dependent customers as “staff” to sell and transport drugs, which he supplied them on “tick” or credit.
They were asked to get slightly higher prices, with the money earned used to repay their credit and buy their own drugs.
Jones was described in the summary as “hands-on”, completing many deals himself. This included weighing drugs, meeting customers and deliveries.
Although not a gang member, Jones was linked to deals with the Mongrel Mob, Black Power, and the Killer Beez.
He used patched gang members to “stand over people” or seek retribution for “perceived slights”.
In one intercepted message, he bragged about paying a patched member $1000 and 2 grams of methamphetamine to “smash” someone for stealing a phone.
Jones had a list of “staff” and their debts to him, ranging from $1600 to $2250, saved on his phone.
One developed a debt so large that Jones received the man’s Work and Income NZ benefit for more than four weeks, denying access to it without his permission.
The man made deliveries, sampled new methamphetamine for Jones to check the quality and was among those who sold the drug from the rear shop window at nights.
He would sell pre-packaged 0.25g, 0.5g and 1g bags of methamphetamine and $50 bottles of 14B, the summary said.
In an intercepted conversation, Jones claimed the man had “moved about $200,000 worth of gear” for him.
Jones complained about the man owing him money, but said he would not stop allowing him to work for him.
“So he owes me say $2500, right, but his profit margin’s about $80,000, so why would I stop?” he said.
Others Jones employed to staff the drug window overnights were responsible for being there from 7pm to 5pm to supply customers for pre-arranged deals or walk-ins, or for transporting drugs.
Between July and December 2024, Jones possessed at least 1kg of methamphetamine for supply.
Police identified 131 occasions where he, or others he was working with, supplied the drug.
Between April and December 2024, he was in joint possession of at least 10 litres of 14B for supply.
On at least 12 occasions he had unknown quantities of the drug.
The “shop window” operated for up to 20 nights before Jones shut it down.
Jones bragged about his drug dealing and frequently told others how much he was selling and making.
In an intercepted call, Jones said: “I have gotta go and pick up bro, I f**kin burnt through those 15 in under 24 hours that’s 15 doughnuts brother. That’s unbelievable eh.“
A doughnut emoji was used in one message to refer to an ounce of methamphetamine.
When doing a cannabis deal with one of his meth sellers, Jones joked about him buying his quality weed.
“I’m worried that this weed is so f**king good, it’s gonna slow down our f**king gear sales, and you’re gonna be spending all your time in McDonald’s drive-through because you’re hungry, getting the munchies,” Jones said.
Jones and an associate were stopped by police in Tīrau on December 11 on their way to Thames to supply drugs, the summary said.
Jones was found with a contact Taser, more than 100g of methamphetamine, scales, bags, rubber bands and a litre of 14B.
At his Rotorua home that afternoon, police found nearly a gram of methamphetamine, 2 grams of cocaine and 350ml of 14B.
The following morning, police raiding Jones’ Tutanekai St shop found a gram of cannabis, a contact Taser and a litre of 14B.
Among the charges Jones admitted on Monday were supplying, possessing and dealing methamphetamine and liquid ecstasy; possessing cocaine; possessing, supplying and conspiring to deal cannabis; and possessing restricted weapons (contact Tasers).
He was remanded in custody for sentencing on May 8.
Kelly Makiha is a senior journalist who has reported for the Rotorua Daily Post for more than 25 years, covering mainly police, court, human interest and social issues.