The first of the 43 Bay of Plenty people charged after police raids in the Bay of Plenty last month entered not guilty pleas to various drug charges when they appeared in the Tauranga District Court.
Twenty of the Kawerau accused appeared today to enter pleas. Another 23 accused are expected to appear in court tomorrow.The appearances follow a raid last month in Kawerau as part of operation Notus, that centred around the Mongrel Mob in the Eastern Bay of Plenty.
A large crowd packed the public gallery and Judge Paul Mabey QC issued a stern warning to remain quiet throughout the process.
James Tomairangi Burgess, 33, Rangitupukiwaho Kevin Burgess, 33, Chad Chisholm, 37, Jason Iopata, 44, Noho Tuhaka, 32, Inia Curry, 47, Charles Drummond, 64, Vania Drummond, Whitney-Lee Drummond, Mark Guptill, 43, Michael Burrell, 43, Demelza Lorrain Chisholm, 37, and Anahera Iopata, 40, each pleaded not guilty to drug charges, electing to stand trial by jury.
Jacqueline Donna Parker, 44, pleaded not guilty to money laundering charges, of which she is jointly charged with husband Trevor Parker, who also faces drug charges.