1 October 2015

Ephedrine importers receive total 28 years imprisonment

The sentencing of a 35-year-old man in the Auckland District Court is the conclusion of Operation Mohawk that has resulted in four offenders responsible for importing almost 65 kgs of ephedrine receiving total prison terms of 28 years and forfeiting $31,340.

Shulai Fan was sentenced today to six years and four months imprisonment and ordered to forfeit $6,480 cash for importing over 18 kilograms of a class B drug, ephedrine which is used in the manufacture of methamphetamine (“P”).

Fan is one of four offenders jailed for eight importations of ephedrine from China in 2014. He was caught and arrested when he received one of three courier packages containing ephedrine hidden inside a metal cabinet door in zip lock bags.

In total, the three packages contained 18.6 kilograms of ephedrine which has a potential yield of 5.6 kilograms of methamphetamine with a street value of around $5 million.

Two males and a female pleaded guilty to related charges late last year after Customs intercepted courier packages containing ephedrine concealed in power adaptors and cigarette packets. They are currently serving prison sentences between six and eight years.

Customs Manager Investigations Maurice O’Brien says Customs launched an investigation after several courier packages from China were intercepted and linked to the four offenders.

“We worked closely with New Zealand Police to connect the offenders to their international supply chain, and successfully dismantled an elaborate drug network.”

“By sharing resources and skills to target drug imports we have prevented a large quantity of ephedrine that would have yielded methamphetamine with a street value of up to $65 million from reaching our communities,” Mr O’Brien says.

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