KEY POINTS:
In the criminal circles he mixed with, "Granite" was a P-user with gang connections who dabbled in making and selling the drug.
But Grant Trevor Adams went too far and got offside with other methamphetamine manufacturers.
Adams, also known as Grant Trevor Corbett and Grant Trevor Hayes, disappeared more than 18 months ago.
Police said yesterday they now believe he has been murdered.
The 29-year-old was last seen by flatmates in Tauranga in November 2005. He was reported missing by his mother in April last year after failing to show up for Christmas and his daughter's birthday.
Police said Mr Adams was a drug user involved in manufacturing methamphetamine and is believed to have been killed after a "ripoff" of others involved in making the drug.
"We've received information during the course of our investigation from a number of criminal sources that indicate that Adams is dead and this has been the result of foul play," Detective Senior Sergeant Greg Turner said yesterday.
"There will be someone in the criminal underworld who knows what's happened to him."
Mr Adams had connections to the Headhunters gang in West Auckland, the Filthy Few in Tauranga, Waihi and the Waikato, and possible links to the Mongrel Mob, but police had no idea who had killed him or where his body could be buried.
They also did not know who Mr Adams had got offside with but believed he might have had a bad reputation in the drug world.
"It would be fair to say that with his contacts across gang members and others in the top half of the North Island, there are a number of people from different towns and different gangs that could possibly have a motive for wanting to cause him harm."
It is not known how he got his nickname, but Mr Adams had convictions for minor drug offences and assault, and Mr Turner said it was "not unknown for him to use violence" against others.
Before he disappeared there was a warrant for his arrest for failing to appear in Tauranga District Court on an assault charge.
He moved to Tauranga from Napier in October 2005 and was last seen by his flatmates on November 2, when he got involved in a dispute with them at their Hayes Ave house. Police were called but Mr Adams had left by the time they arrived. Mr Turner said the dispute appeared unrelated to his disappearance.
Mr Adams' cellphone continued to be used until December 13 and police were confident he had made the calls. They said it was likely he had been killed some time between then and the end of December.
His bank account was last accessed on November 16, when a modest amount equivalent to his unemployment benefit was withdrawn, draining the account.
Mr Adams failed to keep appointments at Work and Income in November and his benefit was subsequently stopped. Police were confident he had not fled the country.
Mr Turner said the fact his bank account and phone had not been used since late 2005, and the fact he had not been in touch with his family, all pointed to his being killed.
"It's most out of character that he hasn't kept in contact with his mother. He always kept in contact at Christmas, birthdays and other family events."
Mr Adams' daughter is now 10 and his mother, who lives in Auckland, was said to be distressed by his disappearance.
Mr Turner said the investigation had moved slowly because it was difficult locating witnesses in the drug world, and Bay of Plenty detectives had been busy.
"Unfortunately we've had to fit it in with other serious crimes. This case certainly hasn't been seen as less worthy because he was a criminal."
Help Wanted
* Police want to speak to anyone who had contact with Grant Adams in the second half of 2005.
* Those with information are asked to contact Tauranga police on (07) 577- 4300 or 0800 Speak Up.
