KEY POINTS:
A man who told police he was carrying $150,000 worth of ecstasy into the country because of threats against his sister's life has had his appeal against his conviction dismissed.
Mazin Sattar Juburi was convicted last July after he was caught by Auckland Airport Customs carrying 2606 ecstasy tablets when he flew into the country from Amsterdam via Hong Kong in November 2005.
When he was told by officials he was going to be searched he volunteered that he was carrying the concealed drugs.
Juburi told police he had imported the drug because his sister was being held captive in Baghdad and would be killed if he had not agreed to import the drugs.
In fact, he said in evidence his sister had already been killed at that stage.
He agreed to help police to catch the intended recipients of the drug, but despite a controlled delivery being organised, nobody was apprehended.
Jurubi was found guilty of importing the class B drug and intending to use it for supply and was sentenced to five years in prison.
The Court of Appeal today dismissed Juburi's appeal of his conviction.
- NZPA
