Drug maker jailed for 12 years

A drug maker who made well over $1 million profit was today jailed for 12 years.

The High Court in Auckland heard that Michael Joseph Cavanagh bought a collection of Harley Davidson motorcyles, jewellery, gold bullion and bonds with his ill-gotten gains.

Cavanagh, 31, was earlier convicted on a number of charges of manufacturing and dealing in methamphetamine.

He was caught in a police operation code-named Illusion, which saw 19 people being convicted of drugs offences.

After closing down three drug labs in East Tamaki police found large amounts of drugs and drug-making ingredients.

They also found large sums of money, jewellery and expensive watches in Parnell safety deposit boxes.

Cavanagh was calculated to have made well over $1 million over a five year period in addition to a house he bought for for $331,000.

Drugs and drug ingredients found by police had a street value of $500,000 to just under $1 million.

Cavanagh's girlfriend, Shannon Kay Stevens, 23, was jailed for six years after being found guilty of methamphetamine manufacture and supply.

Justice Rod Hansen accepted a submission from defence counsel Chris Comeskey that her culpability was significantly less than Cavanagh's.

The judge said she had unexplained income was over $176,000 and observed that her drug habit was costing her $1000 a day before she quit.

Deborah Anne Henry, 31, who was found guilty of possessing equipment and materials to make methamphetamine and possession of the drug for supply, was given two years with leave to apply for home detention.

Justice Hansen said that she helped hide drug equipment for her friends and was in effect an accessory after the fact rather than a participant who benefited from the enterprise.

- NZPA