Queenstown’s Low level drug importer jailed

The lure of easy money from the Queenstown drug scene has led to a 4 & a half year jail time for Luke Dale, who brings in ecstasy & got caught in the police's Operation Wing investigation.

The 28-year-old roofer was part of a conspiracy that imported drugs with a street value of among $180,000 & $300,000. His co-offenders, Mathew Charlton Lile, 22, Benjamin Robert Briggs, 29, & Reuben Paul Aberdeen, 26, were also jailed next a sentencing in Invercargill 2 weeks ago.

Dale's defense counsel Tony Greig argued in Christchurch region Court today that his client had a lesser level involvement, describing him as the muscle, & the risk taker. "He was a dispatch rider & a mule. He was the one they were prepared to hang out to dry if he had been caught at an airport."