Overseas tourists’ plans to finance their holiday around New Zealand with profits from drug dealing came unstuck when Sven Stephen Harrieder and Justin Christopher Hamilton were convicted of dealing and then had cash confiscated as proceeds of crime.
In July 2020: Harrieder pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis and LSD for supply; Hamilton guilty to cannabis for supply. About $118,000 in cash was seized during a police search of Deco Backpackers in Queenstown, along with cannabis packaged for sale. Justice Dunningham ordered confiscation of the cash as ‘tainted property’ under the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act.
No explanation was provided for the large cash holding. The High Court was told Harrieder had no known legal income during his period of time in New Zealand. Hamilton had legitimately earned some $2600 since his June 2019 arrival.
Commissioner of Police v. Harrieder & Hamilton – High Court (23.10.20)
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