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Kelvin Bruce Wisely (51) was jailed for eight years on a series of drug charges when he was sentenced in Dunedin District Court in March 2018.
The agreement, the court heard, was that a Hamilton-based associate would send him several ounces of methamphetamine each week, hidden in a thermos.
He would wisely send the jar to the supplier with the proceeds from the sales inside.
It was an offer “too good to refuse,” said the defendant.
The venture was so lucrative that on one occasion, the man sent $ 39,500 to his North Island accomplice.
While Wisely has been serving his sentence in Rolleston Prison, the battle to seize his assets progressed.
This afternoon, police confirmed that the Superior Court had ordered the forfeiture of $ 225,000 in connection with a lifestyle block near Dunedin.
The property was first restricted in November 2018 after the offender was caught selling methamphetamine and growing cannabis.
“This is a significant success for the Southern District and New Zealand Police,” said Detective Sgt. Stuart McGowan, Officer in Charge of the Southern Asset Recovery Unit.
The Criminal Assets (Recovery) Law allowed the Police to restrict and confiscate assets acquired or derived from the proceeds of crime.
It also allowed the freezing and confiscation of assets used during the commission of the crime.
Since July 1, 2017, about $ 90 million in assets have been lost nationally.
“The intention of [act] is to interrupt, deter and derail crime, especially in the areas of organized crime and methamphetamine crime, ”said Det Snr Sgt McGowan.
“This is accomplished by denying criminals the opportunity to enjoy the benefits of their crime or to reinvest those proceeds in further criminal activities.”
When an asset is restricted, it is controlled by the official transferee.
If a forfeiture order is issued, the Official Assignee arranges its sale, with the funds deposited in the Crime Assets Fund.
With that fund, the Cabinet could approve spending on initiatives to combat the harm caused by methamphetamine.
Wisely was denied parole in April after the board learned that he had exhibited some “rights behaviors and trespassing” while locked up.
He will make his next offer for early release in January of next year.
