Drug importer has change of heart and pleads guilty

An Australian said to be part of an international drugs syndicate yesterday pleaded guilty to importing cocaine at the start of the second day of his trial.

Abdalla Ali, 21, also admitted in the High Court at Auckland a charge of having the drug for supply.

His admission relates to 80 envelopes sent from Canada to post office boxes at various Post Shops in Auckland.

The Crown says that a total of 259 envelopes were sent to 35 Post Shops or agencies in the Auckland region.

They held around 2.5kg of cocaine with a street value of $3.6 million.

Ali was charged with a second Australian, Lei Cai, 25, who denies importing the drug and having it for supply.

After Ali's change of plea, Justice John Laurenson warned the jury that it had no bearing on Cai's trial.

"He remains innocent of the charges at this point and will remain innocent until such time as you, if you do, find that the Crown has proved the charges beyond reasonable doubt."

Ali has been remanded in custody for sentencing.