Model faces long jail term

Anna Ngo is a former Auckland rugby cheerleader who said she loved to perform in front of thousands of people. Photo / Supplied

A model and former Auckland rugby cheerleader is facing a lengthy stint behind bars after being convicted of buying and selling P from a drug "supermarket".

Anna Ngo, 36, was this week found guilty of supplying methamphetamine after a trial in the High Court at Auckland. The crime carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

The professional dancer was charged after police bugged the phones of Robbie Haarhaus, the self-described "Legend of Kohi" who had a $250,000 Mercedes-Benz parked in the driveway of his Kohimarama home.

The residence was described as a drug "supermarket" where wholesaler Haarhaus would sell large amounts of methamphetamine, Ecstasy and GHB.

Intercepted text messages revealed Ngo had been purchasing P from Haarhaus to sell to unknown buyers.

One text from Ngo on August 2, 2007, said: "I heard thru the grapevine that it might be good time to catch up. Let me know."

A few weeks later, she texted: "Hey I know that I may be too late but you never know until you ask so can I come over for my usual or whatever that's possible at this stage?"

In a phone conversation, Haarhaus told her that he did not have her "usual" and had only a "quart" left at "3750" if she was keen.

The price of $3750 is consistent with the street level price of a quarter ounce of methamphetamine.

Later that day, detectives watched a 2001 Volkswagen Polo registered to Ngo arrive at Haarhaus' home.

When she left an hour later, Detective Andrew Dunhill followed the vehicle and stopped Ngo on Tamaki Drive.

Insider her handbag, he found a sealed plastic bag containing 6.8 grams (about a quarter ounce) of methamphetamine and three smaller "point bags" of P. Another bag of 1.5g of the drug ketamine was found. Ketamine is known as "Special K" and is used in the nightclub scene.

A search of Ngo's Mt Eden home also found a drug dealer's "tick list" of buyers and a pot of glucose, which contained traces of methamphetamine.

Ngo had been a professional dancer since 1992 - a part of Auckland rugby's cheerleader squads - and a model.

Her boyfriend is patched Headhunters gang member Joseph "Fish" Hill.

In 2002, Ngo said, "Apart from the fitness, I love performing. There's nothing like performing in front of a stadium where you've got thousands of people watching you."

Her conviction for methamphetamine supply is the latest success for Operation Texas, run by police officers from the Auckland metro and organised crime squad.

Detectives kept round-the-clock surveillance on Haarhaus, as loud music boomed from his $800,000 bachelor pad and luxury cars came and went at all hours.

He came to police attention when questions were asked about how, as a failed second-hand car dealer and nightclub owner, he could afford such a lavish lifestyle a few years after being bankrupted.

He was sentenced to 12 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to possession for supply of the class A drug methamphetamine, as well as class B drugs MDMA (Ecstasy) and GHB, or Fantasy. The sentence was appealed against this week.

Five others, including Ngo, have been convicted as a result of Operation Texas inquiries.

Detective Sergeant John Sowter, officer in charge, said Haarhaus' home was under intense surveillance for six weeks.

"It was different to what we would normally deal with. Outwardly, these guys were the young 'in' crowd, driving flash cars, going to night clubs, mixing with models and business people. Not what you'd expect from your average drug dealer."

Ngo will be sentenced in the High Court at Auckland next month.

OPERATION TEXAS

Robert Benjamin Haarhaus: Convicted of methamphetamine, Ecstasy and GHB charges.

Giuseppe Catalogna: Convicted of Ecstasy charges.

Stanley Leone: Convicted of GHB charges.

Paul Lawrence Campen: Convicted of Ecstasy charges.

Jason Austin: Convicted of methamphetamine charges.

Anna Ngo: Convicted of methamphetamine charges.