At sentencing today Justice Sally Fitzgerald opened by flatly rejecting Wan's claims that he didn't know what was in the package he was to receive - he had surmised to Customs he was being sent sports shoes.
Wan told Customs investigators that in order to make some money for future study in Taiwan, he agreed to travel to New Zealand to receive packages, but said he had clarified with the associates that the consignment he was to receive wasn't drugs.
However, during his two months in New Zealand he had used various fake names with prospective office landlords, and referred to his associates in the code names Power King and High Speed.
He had understood the need for secrecy and had hunted out office spaces that weren't on the ground floor, and discussed the merits of having security cameras in the elevators with The Company.
Although Crown prosecutor Tracey Hu asked for a 20-year sentence, characterising Wan as having a pivotal role in the importation, defence lawyer Jonathan Krebs described Wan's job as "perfunctory", having been under the control of the four unknown associates who formed The Company.
"His simple role was to be sent out as an emissary and to do the things he was told. He's certainly not a middle man, no. He's nothing but a catcher," Krebs told the court.
"These drugs were plainly destined for others. His role was to expose himself to the risk of being caught by the authorities. He was the expendable pawn that was no more than the receiver or catcher, whose job in the eyes of those in Hong Kong, was to put himself in the spotlight and pass [the drugs] on undetected. He did all of this in a very naive way."
A pre-sentence report said Wan had grown up an only child and had no previous convictions. He didn't drink or do drugs and his parents, in a letter to the court, described him as "naive and honest".
They had flown to New Zealand for his trial but weren't in court for his sentencing, however maintained their support of their son, Justice Fitzgerald said.
She said Wan had made poor decisions - "the hallmarks of youthful naivety" - but said his lack of remorse was apparent and that he appeared more regretful having been caught, rather than being aware of the harm of his crime.
She jailed him for 16 years and six months noting that with limited English and with no family support in the country, he would serve a difficult sentence.
She declined to impose a minimum period of imprisonment.
Following sentencing Customs investigations manager Bruce Berry said Wan was immediately regarded with suspicion by Customs officers on his arrival in New Zealand, despite not concealing any drugs on his person.
"The methods of drug concealment are constantly changing and evolving across all the importation streams which requires extreme vigilance and hard work by our Customs officers," he said.
"The sole reason for his travel to New Zealand was to receive this consignment of drugs. This was a significant seizure and the result in court today is testament to our targeting systems and quick action by our people."
