Officer cadets admit drug-sale plan

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Two aspiring army officers have admitted planning to sell hundreds of Ecstasy tablets to their military friends for a New Year's Eve party.

Shane Michael McHaffie and George David Anthony Steele were caught with nearly 210 pills by Auckland police while sitting in a car on Galatos St at 11pm in December.

The pair said the blue pills were a "big order" from their "mates", including other army cadets who had given them money to buy Ecstasy.

But the drugs, bearing the stamp "Mitsubishi", were not Ecstasy. Testing by Environmental Science and Research scientists showed McHaffie and Steele were sold another stimulant drug, 4-MEC, a controlled substance.

A Class-C drug, this gives a high similar to Ecstasy. But as the 19-year-olds thought the pills were Ecstasy, both were charged with attempting to supply a Class-B drug.

McHaffie and Steele pleaded guilty in the Auckland District Court this week and were remanded on bail to be sentenced in May. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.

The pair are trainee officers at Linton Army Camp and have completed half of the four-year course. McHaffie has a message posted on his Facebook page, saying: "I used to be such a clean, wholesome boy until I joined the Army."

Spokesman Major Kristian Dunne said the army does not tolerate drug use. "Their behaviour is against the values and standards that we expect of our people. Their actions have put their employment in jeopardy and it will be reviewed after the judicial process has concluded."

Despite revelations the party drugs were for other cadets, Major Dunne said the army had not conducted an inquiry. "Once the police and judicial process has finished we will then determine what other actions will need to be taken."

Major Dunne said one in three Defence Force staff were randomly drug tested last year.

Linton Camp is where three soldiers were convicted of assaulting another in a torture and interrogation session after an evening drinking.

The torture victim, Ethan Hall, died in October after a fall from a building in Palmerston North. His mother, Freda Smith, said he regularly used drugs and partied hard with Linton army mates.

What is 4-MEC?

* A "designer drug" of the amphetamine family.

* Similar effects to MDMA (Ecstasy).

* Sold by websites as "plant fertiliser" but has no such use.

* Banned in NZ as an analogue to Ecstasy.