Police speculate that a drug-running operation controlled by Christopher Arthur Roger Chase, known on the street as ‘the London Undergound’, raked in $24 million selling illegal drugs. Assets valued at $565,000 were confiscated from Chase as proceeds of crime.
Chase was sentenced to ten years jail in August 2015 after conviction on fourteen charges of importation and supply of class C analogue drugs. The analogues were imported in powder form, pressed into pills and sold to distributors. Class C includes chemical compounds analogous to codeine and amphetamine.
The High Court approved an agreed asset forfeiture settlement under the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act. Police have seized real estate in Fiji and Coatesville, north of Auckland, together with cash and jewellery. Estimated realisable value is $740,000.
Justice Lang ruled $175,000 be handed over to Chase’s former wife as her share of relationship property. Remaining seized assets are to be sold and the net proceeds forfeit to the government. Ms Chase was not charged with any drug offences.
Commissioner of Police v. Chase – High Court (19.03.18)
18.059