Key Takeaways:
- A Wellington methamphetamine dealer, Wayne Namana, has been ordered to forfeit $653,000 in assets due to his involvement in organized crime.
- The assets being seized include a property, cash, vehicles, and other valuables.
- Namana’s children and other associates also face seizures and have been convicted for their involvement in the criminal syndicate.
- The seizures are part of a larger effort by police to target organized crime and reduce the temptation to commit crimes for profit.
- The Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act allows police and courts to seize assets from individuals involved in significant criminal activity.
Introduction to the Case
The Wairarapa community has been affected by the actions of a methamphetamine supplier, Wayne Namana, who has been found to have profited significantly from his involvement in organized crime. A court order has been granted, allowing for the seizure of over $650,000 in assets from Namana, including a property, cash, and other valuables. This move is part of a larger effort by police to target organized crime and reduce the harm caused by methamphetamine in the community.
The Court Order and Asset Seizure
The court order, granted by Justice Dale La Hood, totals $653,000, which is the amount police calculated as the unlawful benefit Namana received from his offending. So far, Namana has made a settlement valued at around $240,000, which includes forfeiting a property in Masterton, cash, money from bank accounts, seven vehicles, seven motorbikes, and a payment of $91,000. However, he could still stand to lose around $400,000 more if police identify other assets that could be seized. Detective Sergeant Alex Macdonald has stated that Namana had enriched himself at the expense of the community, and the result is a "significant win" against organized crime.
The Impact of Methamphetamine on the Community
Methamphetamine has a particularly harmful impact on smaller communities like Wairarapa, and police are committed to targeting organized crime offenders through both criminal and civil court jurisdictions. Detective Sergeant Macdonald emphasized that methamphetamine causes serious harm to communities and has a devastating impact on users, their families, and the community as a whole. The seizure of assets from Namana and his associates is a significant step towards reducing the harm caused by methamphetamine and sending a message that crime does not pay.
Other Individuals Involved
Two of Namana’s children, Chanel and Merepeka, were also convicted for their involvement in his criminal syndicate. Chanel was sentenced to six years and four months, while Merepeka was sentenced to nine months home detention. Profit Forfeiture Orders have been made against both of them. Another individual, Michael Hanna, who was connected to the operation, has had a $5 million profit forfeiture order made against his assets. Hanna was earlier convicted for supplying methamphetamine to the group and was sentenced to 12 years and eight months in prison.
The Use of the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act
The court orders for seizures were made under the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act, which allows assets to be taken from people proved to have been involved in significant criminal activity. The act grants police and courts the power to reduce criminals’ gains and works to reduce the temptation to commit crimes for profit. Detective Sergeant Macdonald stated that the profit forfeiture orders issued in these proceedings demonstrate the short-sightedness of unlawful benefit received by the offenders. Police will continue to work to strip organized crime groups and their associates of their illegitimate wealth.
Conclusion
The seizure of assets from Wayne Namana and his associates is a significant step towards reducing the harm caused by methamphetamine in the Wairarapa community. The use of the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act is an effective tool in targeting organized crime and reducing the temptation to commit crimes for profit. Police will continue to work tirelessly to identify and seize assets from individuals involved in significant criminal activity, sending a strong message that crime does not pay.
