Drugs trial: Ex-senior cop 'had the source'

Michael Blowers in the Whangarei High Court. Photo / Michael Cunningham

A crime partnership run by Northland's top drug cop dealt in hundreds and thousands of dollars worth of methamphetamine and cannabis, a court heard today.

Michael David Blowers, 51, faces one charge each of supplying methamphetamine and cannabis between 1 June 2011 and 31 June 2012, and a charge of stealing methamphetamine from a police exhibit locker on or about October 19, 2011.

The Crown alleges that Blowers encouraged a woman to sell drugs and give him the proceeds.

The trial was about the relationship between them, and how she became a drug dealer for him, prosecutor Phil Hamlin told a jury of seven women and five men in the High Court at Whangarei.

"He had the source, she had the contacts."

Blowers is accused of using his position as head of the organised crime unit to steal drugs from the police drug storage lock-up.

Mr Hamlin said Blowers had taken a portion of a large seizure of methamphetamine and used table salt to make up the weight to try to disguise the theft.

Blowers' alleged partner in crime is giving evidence against him and is subject to wide suppression orders.

Defence lawyer Arthur Fairley said in his opening address that Blowers strongly denied that he stole drugs or supplied the woman.

Blowers had loaned the woman money and "was most interested in getting it back", but it was not drug money.

"He will say he certainly did not give her methamphetamine or cannabis."

Supplying methamphetamine carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

Blowers resigned shortly before he was arrested in April last year. He was investigated after one of his staff came forward with concerns.

The trial, before a jury and Justice Geoffrey Venning in the High Court at Whangarei is set down for two weeks.