P dealer hands himself in to police

A Taranaki drug dealer's desire to be arrested was answered when he handed himself into New Plymouth police with $2000 worth of methamphetamine.

Leith Castle requested the media join him while he handed in 10 $200 bags of the drug, a glass pipe used to smoke it and two bags of cannabis, the Taranaki Daily News reported.

"I want it recognised so it doesn't just get taken off me and I get thrown out of the door," he said.

When Detective Sergeant Greg Gray, head of the CIB drug squad, asked Castle what he wanted to happen, Castle replied that he wanted to be arrested and face trial for drug dealing.

Mr Gray was astounded by the confessions.

"As strange as it is, we don't often have drug dealers come in and offer themselves up," he said.

Castle said he believed police had been following him hoping he would lead them to a big supplier.

After a police interview, Castle was arrested and charged with possession of methamphetamine for supply.

He will appear in the New Plymouth District Court today.

- NZPA