A New Zealand court has sentenced a 26-year-old Tongan, Malachi Tuilotolava to 24 years’ imprisonment for his commanding role in a drug trafficking haul last year 2016. Malachi was found guilty of supervising the unloading 501 kilograms of Methamphetamine from a boat on a beach in the Northland region of New Zealand. The haul is reportedly the largest importation of drugs into New Zealand.

According to prosecutors, on June 4 last year Malachi was in charge of a group of six people who allegedly bought a boat for $40,000 and launched it off Ahipara beach in Northland. The boat was launched despite warnings from the locals that the seas were too rough. The group told the locals that they were spreading the ashes of cremated relatives. Ignoring local wisdom, the group returned from the sea on a badly damaged boat.

Justice Downs of the Whangarei High Court told Malachi prior to his sentencing “Your group told the locals that the purpose of the launch was to scatter the remains of relatives at sea. The ruse was accompanied by a brief ritual on the beach."

On June 11, the group returned again to the same beach where they launched a new boat that had been brought for $98,000 in cash. This time the group returned from the sea with half-a-tonne of bagged Methamphetamine estimated to be worth over USD $200 million. Unfortunately for Malachi, the suspicious locals informed local police who later intercepted the group’s campervan travelling from Northland to Auckland city.

Malachi’s defence lawyer argued that Malachi was “merely a grunt on the ground” who was following orders from a man called Jeremaih Iusitini (of Samoan descent). Justice Downs dismissed Malachi’s defence, citing that Malachi had personally paid for the two boats with cash and had a close relationship with Iustini, having travelled with Iusitini to Thailand prior to the bust.

Justice Downs told Malachi, "Mr Iusitini did not, it appears, ever go to Northland. He did not need to. You were his lieutenant."

It was noted in court, that Malachi was well-educated and intelligent, possessing a diploma in counselling. Justice Downs ordered that he serve a minimum period of 10 years in jail before he was eligible for parole.

So far, three of the group have been convicted and sentenced; Ka Yip Wan (26) was sentenced to 23 years imprisonment, Amoki Matoto Fonua (32) and of Tongan descent, was sentenced to 22 years imprisonment, and an unidentified man was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment.

The other members of the group including Jeremiah Iusitini, Ulakai Fakaosilea (26) and of Tongan descent, Stevie Cullen (34) and another person with name suppression have pleaded not guilty and will undergo trial by jury.