Smuggling cell phones, drugs and other contraband into New Zealand's maximum-security prison is easy and authorities need to investigate, a High Court judge has said.
Justice Edwin Wylie sentenced three men and a woman at the High Court in Auckland today for their part in a drug-ring operated inside Paremoremo
Prison.
Career criminal Ulaisi "Rocky" Pulete was sentenced to a further two years, on top of his current sentence for two charges of possession of methamphetamine and eight charges of supplying.
Kathleen Robyn Garrity was found guilty of 20 charges of supplying methamphetamine and a charge of possession for supply.
She was sentenced to three years and 10 months.
Michael Anthony Luamanu was charged with one charge of supply and one of possession for supply. He received two years and 10 months in prison.
A fourth man, a methamphetamine wholesaler, pleaded guilty to four charges of posession of methamphetamine and one of supply. He was sentenced to two years with a minimum one year inside.
"Through-out the 11 weeks of trial I have heard detailed evidence which has made it clear that drugs, cellphones, and contraband was smuggled in with relative ease," Justice Wylie said.
He said on one occasion a package of contraband was intercepted when it was thrown over the wall but it was intercepted by other prisoners.
"Indeed you, Mr Pulete, were able to order a cocktail of drugs for your 40th birthday," Justice Wylie said.
He said the situation made a "mockery" of the prison system.
"My view is it is a matter of real concern which requires urgent action of the appropriate authorities."
The four were arrested as part of a covert police operation, known as Web.
Police bugged the cellphones of inmates inside Paremoremo
The Crown said the prisoners used smuggled cellphones to organise the importation of pseudoephedrine from China to New Zealand.
By directing associates on the outside the inmates were able to run the operation and smuggle drugs inside prison.
