Overstayer imported cocaine

An African overstayer was yesterday convicted of importing, possessing and supplying 2.5kg of cocaine with a street value of more than $1 million.

Jumaa Omar Mbawala, 31, was found guilty on 20 charges of importing the class A drug. The jury acquitted him of a further eight counts in the High Court at Auckland.

The jury also found him guilty of one count each of possession and supply of cocaine.

Between January and May 2005, Mbawala used a number of aliases to receive packages of cocaine sent from Tanzania to various Auckland motels.

Police intercepted a package on May 16 last year with 120g of cocaine.

The next day, a similar item addressed to a Howick motel was intercepted. When Mbawala took possession of it, police arrested him.

He arrived in New Zealand in October 1996 as a stowaway on a boat from South Africa. A bid for refugee status failed and by August 2001, he had exhausted all avenues in his attempts to stay.

Mbawala was remanded in custody for sentencing on October 12.

- NZPA