- Friday 30 July 2010
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Four men sentenced after drugs arrests
Four Taupo men, including a gang member with 10 children, arrested during a police undercover drug operation have been dealt with by the court.
Police conducted Operation Macbeth at Taupo and Tokoroa during October last year resulting in a raft of people, including gang members, arrested on serious drug charges of manufacturing and supplying drugs including cannabis, cannabis oil, methamphetamine and ecstasy. Drugs were sold to undercover agents during the investigation.
A Taupo Mongrel Mob gang member and another man have both been sent to jail for one year and 10 months by Judge Phillip Cooper in the Rotorua District Court.
Two teenagers arrested during the investigation were also sentenced.
Raymond Rehua, 43, an unemployed father of 10, who previously pleaded guilty to one charge each of offering to sell cannabis, possession of cannabis for supply, unlawful possession of a firearm and three charges of selling cannabis, was sentenced to one year and 10 months' jail with six months' post release conditions.
Rehua was arrested on the drug charges while on bail on charges of unlawful assembly and assault with a weapon in regard to another incident at Taupo on September 9. Arresting police discovered a sawn-off shotgun hidden in the ceiling of Rehua's home on November 17 as well as nine cannabis tinnies ready for sale.
Father of one, Shaun Douglas Martelli , 27, was also sentenced to one year 10 months' jail. He previously pleaded guilty to one charge of offering to supply cannabis, two charges each of offering to supply cannabis and supplying ecstasy, four charges of offering to sell ecstasy and 12 counts of supplying cannabis.
Meanwhile, Kahu Habib-Davis, 18, who pleaded guilty to one charge of manufacturing cannabis oil, was sentenced to 180 hours' community work and six months' intensive supervision. Patrick Jim Ashby, 17, was sentenced to 250 hours' community work. Police found 29 ready rolled tinnies at Ashby's home when they searched it in November.
