Operation Gem: Surveillance photos of drug deal released

Desmond Sharp arrives in his Porsche Cayenne to meet Witness Y after ordering 22 sets of pseudoephedrine.

A woman who admitted her role in a drug ring running from an Auckland restaurant has now turned to give evidence for the Crown against the others charged.

Witness Y, whose identity cannot be revealed, told the jury at the High Court at Auckland today that she was charged with supplying pseudoephedrine, a Class-B drug, after being arrested in Operation Gem.

Hui Zhang. Photo / Brett Phibbs

More than 340kg of pseudoephedrine was seized in the covert inquiry and police allege another 142kg shipment slipped through the border to be distributed by a supply chain the Crown alleges was controlled by Hui Zhang.

Zhang has admitted supplying pseudoephedrine, as "simply a link in the chain", but denied three charges of smuggling large importations into New Zealand.

Witness Y said she would help organise drug deals between Zhang, as his English was poor, and customers such as Desmond Sharp.

Audio of bugged phone conversations were played to the jury in which Sharp - who has admitted pseudoephedrine charges but denied manufacturing methamphetamine - asked Witness Y to book a table for 22 people for breakfast at the restaurant.

Desmond Sharp. Photo / Brett Phibbs

"This means he wants 22 sets," she explained was the code.

A "set" is 223g which is how pseudoephedrine is sold for around $8000 in the criminal underworld.

She would then call Zhang with the order, whom she alleged passed the message to his "driver" Zigeng Ma. He would then meet Witness Y at the meeting place and give her a shopping bag of newspaper wrapped parcels, which in turn were handed to Sharp.

Desmond Sharp arrives in his Porsche Cayenne to meet Witness Y after ordering 22 sets of pseudoephedrine.

Desmond Sharp opens the passenger door of Witness Y's car.

Desmond Sharp walks away with shopping bag with parcels of pseudoephedrine wrapped in newspaper.

Witness Y said Zhang always referred to the drugs as "the stuff" and these secretive conversations were held on a cellphone she was only allowed to use for drug deals, not daily life.

On one occasion, Witness Y alleged Zhang talked about "his stuff arriving in New Zealand". On another occasion, she alleged Zhang said "stuff coming into New Zealand" had been seized by the authorities and he would "lose a lot of money".

She was also shown surveillance photographs taken by the police, which she confirmed showed one of these drug deals taking place in east Auckland.

Hui Zhang's lawyer Ron Mansfield will cross-examine Witness Y this afternoon.

The intercepted drugs. Photo / supplied