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Two Chinese nationals jailed for more than ten years for their parts in an $8 million methamphetamine bust are likely to be deported after they serve their sentences.
Chun Yu Ng, 24, and Xiaohui Huang, 26, who were linked to one of the biggest drug seizures in New Zealand history were sentenced today in the High Court at Wellington.
After a trial in April both were found guilty of possession of methamphetamine for supply and conspiracy to supply methamphetamine.
Ng was found not guilty of being a party to importing the drug.
Ng was given 11 years' jail for supply, and seven years for conspiracy to supply, the terms to be served concurrently.
Huang was jailed for 12 years on the supply charge, and for seven years for conspiracy.
Her terms were also to be concurrent.
Justice Denis Clifford said in sentencing the pair he accepted their roles in the importation were at the lower end, however both knew they were dealing with a large quantity of methamphetamine.
"In each of your cases your charge was to be an essential link - without you the importation scheme could not have been implemented."
They were likely to be deported after they served their sentences, Justice Clifford said.
Both Ng's Lawyer Greg King and Huang's lawyer Chris Comeskey said their clients had been preyed upon by Asian organised crime, which had a tendency to target young Asian students they perceived as vulnerable.
Neither had previous convictions in New Zealand and had stated they had none in China.
Ng and Huang were arrested last year after customs officials intercepted a courier parcel from China at Auckland Airport.
The parcel containing 8.193kg of methamphetamine, hidden inside water filters.
Police replaced most of the drug with a harmless white powder.
A disguised customs officer delivered the package to Ng, who passed it on to Huang, who was arrested by police.
The drugs were recovered from Huang's hotel room.
- NZPA
