Drugs appeal dismissed

A man who told police he was carrying $150,000 worth of Ecstasy into the country because of threats against his sister's life has had his appeal against conviction dismissed.

Mazin Sattar Juburi was convicted last July and sentenced to five years in prison after he was caught by Auckland Airport Customs carrying 2606 Ecstasy tablets from Amsterdam via Hong Kong in November 2005.

Juburi told police he had imported the drug because his sister was being held captive in Baghdad and would be killed if he had not agreed to import the drugs.