6 May 2021

Men involved in New Zealand's largest meth bust given long sentences

12:55 pm on 6 May 2021

Two men have been given lengthy jail sentences for their part in the country's largest meth bust to date.

The High Court at Auckland. Photo:

Auckland man Isaiah John Te Hira and Canadian national The-Hoang Thai were involved in smuggling nearly half a tonne of meth hidden in electric motors in 2019.

The men were caught before the meth - worth $275 million - could be sold and distributed.

Today in the High Court at Auckland, Justice Toogood sentenced Te Hira to 16 years imprisonment and Thai to 20 years and six months in jail.

Justice Toogood called the near half tonne of meth "a virtual mountain of misery" that is capable of ruining lives and families.