Selwyn_Times: July 06, 2022

Selwyn Times Wednesday July 6 2022
10
NEWS
Accused no
stranger to
crime
MCMEEKAN WAS jailed for
seven years nine months in 2015
for his involvement in a drugs
courier operation.
Then aged 34, he was sentenced
on two charges of possession of
methamphetamine for supply,
two of unlawful possession of a
pistol, possession of implements
for using methamphetamine,
dealing in methamphetamine,
and possession of cannabis for
supply.
After he had been arrested at a
motel in Blenheim Rd and bailed,
he arranged for other people
to fly to Auckland and uplift
methamphetamine and bring it to
his address, Court News website
reported.
Two people were stopped by police
at the Christchurch Airport,
and found the drugs on a woman.
When they searched McMeekan’s
house they found a loaded
shotgun, and charged him with
possession of the shotgun, possession
of methamphetamine, and
supplying methamphetamine.
McMeekan also made headlines
in 2009 when he appeared in
court with another man for
what was described as a Dukes
of Hazzard style raid on a
Christchurch car yard where
a car was jumped over the low
perimeter fence.
• By David Clarkson
A TRIBESMEN gang prospect
has admitted his role in
shifting millions of dollars of
methamphetamine around the
country during Covid lockdown.
Police seized a shipment worth
between $2 and $3 million in
May 2020, and in the High
Court at Christchurch last week,
Tamal Edward McMeekan
admitted possession of the drugs
for supply.
The Crown is seeking to seize
$38,834 in cash the police found
in a car and at the Bryndwr
property when they carried out
their search.
Justice Rob Osborne remanded
McMeekan in custody for
sentencing on October 5, but did
not enter convictions because
that would likely stop him attending
anger management and
parenting courses in prison.
Defence counsel Thomas
Harre said he would seek a
cultural report and psychiatric
report on McMeekan ahead of
sentencing. Justice Osborne has
asked for a pre-sentence report
by Community Probation.
McMeekan, 41, admitted
charges of meth possession
for supply, possession of
cannabis, a breach of the Covid
lockdown rules in May 2020,
and failing to assist an officer
doing a search by denying access
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
Guilty plea to meth supply
to his cellphone.
Before his guilty pleas, the
case had been heading for trial.
Crown prosecutor April Mills
said the police’s Canterbury
Organised Crime Unit began
Operation Soul, which was an
investigation into drug dealing
activities by members and associates
of the Canterbury-based
Tribesmen Motorcycle gang in
October 2019.
The investigation showed the
Canterbury-based Tribesmen
and associates were regularly
involved in the purchase of significant
quantities of methamphetamine
from Aucklandbased
supplies. The meth would
be distributed to various South
Island dealers. McMeekan was a
gang prospect.
The Crown said that the
national Covid emergency lockdown
was declared in March
2020, and while the country was
in level 3 lockdown with limits
on travel, movements and associating
with others, McMeekan
arrived in Christchurch from
Wellington on May 3. He had no
legal basis allowing the travel.
The next day, police swooped
in when McMeekan and another
man arrived in a car at a Bryndwr
address. The other man has
already admitted charges and is
due for sentence in August.
At McMeekan’s feet was a
cardboard box containing three
plastic bags with almost 3kg of
methamphetamine with a street
value of $2 to $3 million. Cash
totalling $38,834 was found
in 10 locations throughout the
house and garage, the car, and
in a shoulder bag belonging to
McMeekan.
The shoulder bag also had
cannabis inside.
In the other offender’s bedroom,
the garage, and a sleepout,
35 used Prezzy cards worth
more than $8500 were found.
They are a non-traceable credit
card payment form that can be
used in person, or online.
McMeekan refused to give a
detective constable the PIN code
for his cellphone. He gave no
explanation for his travel during
lockdown.
The Crown said: “The
investigation established the
Christchurch Tribesmen gang
were involved in transporting
significant sums of money to
enable the purchase of up to 3kg
to 4kg of methamphetamine at
a time.
“McMeekan was likely utilised
by the gang due to his expertise
with motorcycles, ability and
flexibility to travel domestically
to facilitate TMC drug offending
around New Zealand, and his
loyalty to TMC.
“It is not believed that the
defendant McMeekan held any
degree of control or influence
in the criminal enterprise,
nor would he have received
significant financial reward for
his involvement.”
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