Drug sentences increased

Four men involved in one of New Zealand's largest methamphetamine smuggling and selling rings have had their prison terms dramatically increased by the Court of Appeal.

The quartet were part of a group of five whose activities unravelled when the final two of six shipping containers from China containing 250kg of methamphetamine and pseudoephedrine were intercepted by police in 2006.

The combined street value of the two consignments alone was estimated at $138 million.

In a decision released yesterday, the court reduced the sentence for one man, Kai Lok Fung, from 10 years jail to five years.

But Chen Ming Chin and Wei Feng Pan had their 12-year jail sentences increased to life.

Deng Guo Wei, who initially got a 17-year sentence with an eight-year and six-month non-parole period, had his sentence increased to 25 years with a 10-year non-parole period.

Li Fan, who initially got 19 years and six months, with a non-parole period of nine years and six months, also got his term increased to 25 years.