Hamilton man Antony Harvey was busted for importing steroids, posting $30,000 worth of cannabis and having more than 300gms of cocaine.
This week, Harvey, also known as Tony, appeared in the Hamilton District Court for sentencing on eight drug charges and one of money laundering.
The court heard that police were granted a surveillance warrant to monitor Harvey as part of police operation Dihydro in mid-2023, and soon discovered “the supply of anabolic steroids and illicit drugs including cocaine was a lucrative enterprise being undertaken by a group of [his] family and associates”.
Police analysed that person’s account and found Harvey had deposited almost $250,000 between July 2020 and July 2023.
The United Kingdom Drug Investigation team advised New Zealand police that an ounce of cocaine would be sold for between $2700 and $3600.
Based on that, police estimated Harvey had forwarded enough money to buy 1.3kg of cocaine.
Only nine ounces (255g) were intercepted by police.
When he was arrested, Harvey was found to have an ANZ cash card in the British resident’s name.
According to the summary of facts, Harvey supplied 17.5g of cocaine to five associates on separate occasions last year.
When arrested at a King St, Cambridge, property, he was found with a satchel containing two small bags, each containing 1g of cocaine. He was also caught with an envelope, bearing a UK postmark, containing 28g of the drug.
According to the summary of facts, Harvey sent a package to an associate in Napier containing 245g of cannabis head, which had a street retail value of $30,600, and was also involved in importing steroids.
Between August 2022 and July 23, 2023, Customs and Medsafe intercepted 11 packages containing anabolic steroids addressed to either a PO Box controlled by Harvey or to properties of his associates.
Harvey, who has previously been involved in the body-building industry, was also caught selling 42 vials of anabolic steroids to 13 associates last year.
When searching Harvey’s property, police found a “rudimentary cooking process” where he produced an injectable anabolic steroid oil from imported, raw anabolic steroid powder that he measured into 10ml vials, selling for about $80 each.
Police worked out he had enough ingredients to make $76,000 worth of the oil.
Officers also found 158 200mg vials of injectable anabolic steroid oil valued at $12,640.
On the money laundering charge, the summary stated Harvey and an associate who owned a business had spoken about him forwarding $30,000 made up of a $15,000 bank transfer and cash deposits of $15,000.
The pair agreed the cash funds would be deposited over three transactions.
In court, Harvey’s counsel, Craig Tuck, said his client had done “everything in his power to take a positive approach to what’s occurred”.
Tuck said Harvey had helped police with their investigation, something Crown solicitor Kasey Dillon was dubious about.
Dillon also pointed out Harvey had a conviction for offending in Australia.
Judge Tini Clark said Harvey had a “long-standing issue with cocaine” but noted he was “clearly making a lot of money out of it”.
However, she said he did have good rehabilitative prospects.
The judge allowed credit for his drug addiction, remorse and rehabilitative prospects, but refused any for co-operating with police, previous good character, or the effect his sentence would have on his children.
Following a start point of eight years and nine months, Judge Clark jailed Harvey for four years and three months.
“It’s clear to me that you are someone who can be hard working and law-abiding ... it’s now just a question of not falling into old habits when you are released from prison.”
Harvey’s co-accused, former professional bodybuilder Kenny O’Malley, was sentenced in the Hamilton District Court in June this year to four months of community detention on charges of possession of cocaine, and supplying and possession of steroids.
Belinda Feek is an Open Justice reporter based in Waikato. She has worked at NZME for nine years and has been a journalist for 20.
