Bodybuilder's fantasy ends behind bars

Justin Rys

Former Mr New Zealand bodybuilder Justin Rys was sentenced to jail for 10 years yesterday.

Rys, 29, of Wellington, was described in the High Court at Wellington as the "mastermind" behind New Zealand's largest importation ring for the drug Fantasy.

He earlier pleaded guilty to 11 charges of importing a total of 207 litres of the class-B drug gamma-butyrolactone - also known as GBL, GBH and rinse - in 98 shipments to New Zealand between October 2003 and December 2004 and a charge of money laundering.

The drugs, which the Crown estimated to be worth between $1.8 million and $2.1 million, were smuggled from Romania and Moldova in wine bottles and cans of vegetables. Crown prosecutor Grant Burston said Rys was the mastermind behind a sophisticated drug operation that involved the drugs being sent by international courier to fictitious names and addresses.

The movement of the packages was monitored on internet tracking systems.

Defence lawyer Paul Paino disputed Rys was the mastermind.

His associate and fellow Wellington bodybuilder Robert John Stark was sentenced to jail for four years in April for his involvement.

Stark had made a "self-serving statement" to police about Rys' involvement, he said. "It's not surprising his co-offender tried to maximise Rys' responsibility and minimise his own."

Rys - who also held the titles of Junior Mr Australasia, Mr Gold Coast and Mr Oceania - initially took Fantasy to further his career, not as a recreational drug, Mr Paino said. Fantasy was legal until May 2002.

"At the point of the law change, he was addicted to it."

Mr Paino disputed police estimates that the drugs were worth between $5 and $10 per millilitre and said $3 per millilitre was more likely because of the large quantities involved.

However, Justice Alan MacKenzie said quantity was a more important factor than value because it was a new drug. The total drugs imported - including 9kg in powder form - was the equivalent of more than 53,000 doses.

"These drugs are very harmful substances," he said.

Fantasy affects the central nervous system and overdoses can be fatal. The drug has also been used in date rapes.

- NZPA