December 09, 2008

$2000 fines after airport check finds tobacco, pills

A Cheviot sickness beneficiary?s attempt to bring cheap pain pills, cigarettes and tobacco into New Zealand has led to fines totalling $2000.

Mark William Millin, 43, suffered from a lower back injury, his counsel Jonathan McCarthy told the Christchurch District Court at the sentencing session today.

Judge David Holderness told Mr McCarthy a deferred sentence was an unrealistic option for the charges brought by police and customs.

Millin had admitted evading duty when he brought in 22 cartons of cigarettes and 900g of tobacco from Thailand. He also admitted bringing in 7500 codeine phosphate tablets and 3000 Amadol pills, also known as Tramadol ? a charge of importing prescription medicines without a reasonable excuse.

Judge Holderness told him: ?I accept that is expensive medication in New Zealand. You had apparently found a cheap source of this medication while you were overseas.

?I have no doubt that bringing in this quantity of painkilling drugs was directly related to the significant disability and long term consequences of your back injury.?

The court had been told earlier, in doctors? letters, that Millin had a long term history of use of the two prescription drugs he imported. He was found with them when he flew in to Christchurch Airport from Thailand on August 27.

The fines were imposed on the charges of evading customs duty. On the other charges brought under the Medicines Act he was convicted and discharged.