AUCKLAND (Sachin Sharma): An Indian origin man of Canada, who had confessed of smuggling drugs into New Zealand, which was linked to largest – ever seizure of drugs by customs last year, has been sentenced for nine years jail.
Justice Ailsa Duffy sentenced Lidder in the High Court at Auckland. Canadian national Harpreet Lidder, 24, had pleaded guilty last month for smuggling Methamphetamine and Methylenedioxy-Methamphetamine (MDMA), known as Ecstasy. He had pleaded guilty of four charges of smuggling methamphetamine and MDMA and possessing drugs for supply.
Lidder claimed he was "duped" into the offending and had no idea of the dangers of methamphetamine in the community. He had confessed of smuggling 14kg of Methamphetamine and 2kg of MDMA across the border. The maximum sentence for smuggling such drug is life imprisonment.
Lidder was one of three people arrested after Customs seized 469 kg of Methamphetamine, worth $235 million, in one of the largest recoveries of drugs by customs. The drugs were smuggled in the shipment of electric motors from Thailand. The recovered Methamphetamine was roughly equal to half of New Zealand’s yearly drug consumption.
Following this recover, police had conducted searches at nine locations in Auckland and recovered 15 kg of methamphetamine.
The court heard that the consignment that came to Lidder was the fifth in the major drug operation. Earlier in the hearing Crown prosecutor Henry Steele said in the court that even though Lidder is not the “head of the snake” but offending is significant, which was Lidder’s calculated decision.
“His role goes beyond the catcher as he was to receive this consignment, unpack it… store it over a number of months and then repackage it for distribution within New Zealand.”
"Given the seriousness… the main purpose of your sentencing is to denounce your (Lidder’s) conduct," Justice Duffy said.
"You were indeed a link in a much larger chain… a cog in a bigger wheel.”
"I am satisfied you were not aware… I am satisfied you possessed little autonomy of your role."
However, she said she was skeptical of Lidder's remorse and claims he was unaware he was bringing Methamphetamine into New Zealand.
She set a starting point of 15-and-a-half years jail for Lidder.
She gave a 10 per cent discount to reflect mitigating factors including prior good character and no previous convictions. Five percent discount was given for Lidder's "young" age, naivety and lack of life experience, remorse and difficulties he may face in prison being a foreign national with no personal support - made more difficult by COVID-19 border restrictions. A 25 per cent discount was also given for Lidder's guilty plea. His total sentence was nine years and three months in prison.