But he did not know police had placed a listening device in the home of a Mongrel Mob member where drug deals were being discussed.
One mobster was overheard saying he was waiting for an associate, who had managed to get into Auckland despite Covid restrictions, to return with half a kilogram of meth.
Westrupp’s phone records showed that he was in Auckland between November 30 and December 4, 2021.
CCTV footage showed his Hyundai Santa Fe vehicle was being driven around Auckland suburbs.
He left Auckland on December 5. On December 6, police intercepted a phone call between Westrupp and his associate in which they arranged a meeting in Taradale, Napier.
CCTV footage from nearby businesses showed the Hyundai and a black Ford Ranger belonging to the associate parked side-by-side at the carpark rendezvous.
Westrupp got out of his vehicle and sat in the passenger seat of the Ford.
Immediately afterwards, the associate’s phone records show him contacting customers to let them know he had methamphetamine for sale.
The Crown summary said Westrupp supplied at least 400 grams of the drug.
Westrupp, his partner and two children, aged 2 and 3, were on their way back from another trip to Auckland late in the evening on December 29, 2021, when they were stopped by police at Eskdale, north of Napier.
Police had a warrant to search the vehicle and found a backpack.
Westrupp told them they would find meth in it. In fact, the bag contained N-isopropylbenzylamine, a cutting agent used to adulterate meth.
Police also found another bag containing electronic scales, ziplock bags and about $4000 in $50 notes.
Westrupp, wearing a korowai, appeared in Napier District Court on Friday for sentencing for possessing and supplying methamphetamine, and conspiracy to supply the drug.
The summary of facts said Westrupp had supplied one associate with meth and had been found in possession of what he believed was meth intended for another supply chain.
He had also sought to obtain another kilogram from Port Waikato, but had been unsuccessful.
Westrupp was jailed for three years, although Judge Bridget Mackintosh acknowledged he had made “good efforts and good progress” in a residential rehabilitation programme while on electronically monitored bail.
Judge Mackintosh said Westrupp’s life now was very different from when he was arrested by police two years ago.
His counsel, Matthew Phelps, argued for a sentence of home detention.
Westrupp, a patched member of the Mongrel Mob’s “Mongrelizm” chapter, has had no contact with other gang members in the last two years, other than those coming through the rehabilitation programme.
However, Judge Mackintosh said Westrupp’s crimes amounted to “very serious offending” and the Crown had argued that the end sentence would not come below the threshold of two years in jail, where home detention was an option.
She gave Westrupp sentencing discounts for his guilty plea, his rehabilitation efforts and the time spent on electronically monitored bail, but this still resulted in a three-year prison term.
