An east Auckland man has been jailed after smuggling drugs and cigarettes worth more than $770,000 into New Zealand.
Justice Anne Hinton sentenced Flat Bush resident Yangzi Li to serve seven years and three months in prison when he recently appeared at the Auckland High Court.
He pleaded guilty to numerous drugs-related charges earlier this year.
The agreed summary of facts in the case, released to the Times, states Li was accused of importing and possessing the Class A drug methamphetamine, importing the Class B drug MDMA, possessing cocaine for the purpose of supply, possessing cannabis for the purpose of supply, and defrauding the NZ Customs Service.
Several of the charges carried a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
Between July 2019 and August 2020, Li and another man were alleged to have arranged the importation of various controlled drugs and undeclared tobacco cigarettes into New Zealand as part of an international smuggling syndicate.
Their goal was to facilitate the distribution of the drugs and cigarettes, according to the court document.
During an almost two-year period from August 2018 to June 2020, the NZ Customs Service intercepted numerous consignments of tobacco cigarettes imported into New Zealand by the other man using false names and or addresses.
“Between July 7, 2019, and January 16, 2020, Li imported two consignments of tobacco cigarettes into New Zealand using false names and/or addresses.
“Those imports were intercepted by Customs and found to comprise a total of 8,320 tobacco cigarettes worth $9,677.25 (incl GST) in unpaid duty.”
Between July and August 2020, Li imported four consignments of controlled drugs into the country by post using false names and or addresses.
“Customs intercepted those consignments and found them to contain three imports totalling 7.348 kilograms of the Class B controlled drug MDMA and one import of 1.472 kilograms of the Class A controlled drug methamphetamine.”
A search warrant executed at Li’s Flat Bush home in July 2020 uncovered 2.724 grams of methamphetamine; a tin containing two bags of cocaine totalling 33.1 grams; 42.7 grams of cannabis; a grinder and plastic cup, both with cannabis residue on them; two sets of electronic scales; two boxes containing zip-lock bags; $10,700 in cash; and a glass methamphetamine pipe.
Found also was a pamphlet featuring a handwritten name with an address in central Auckland and a phone number, which was the contact number provided for the two consignments concealing 8,320 cigarettes.
Police seized four mobile phones and other electronic items from Li’s home.
Analysis of Li’s personal mobile phone identified multiple NZ Post account profiles including names, emails, passwords and mobile phone numbers matching the imported postage parcels Customs intercepted and which contained controlled drugs.
His phone featured messaging applications with encryption and auto-deletion.
Forensic analysis of the phone showed Li was in regular contact with overseas suppliers about the importation of controlled drugs to New Zealand and their distribution in this country.
Between January and June 2020, about $51,399.60 had been deposited into Li’s personal bank account through 29 “unexplained cash deposits”.
