Drug dealer hired as NZ policeman...
July 9th 2010 09:00
Drug dealer hired as NZ policeman...
A drug dealer who bought P from a multimillion-dollar crime syndicate run from SkyCity Casino was hired as a policeman two months later.
Chee Kent Tan was on full pay as a constable for three years until he was found guilty of two methamphetamine supply charges in May, after detectives cracked a drug ring that laundered at least $11 million through the Auckland casino.
Tan was not a police officer when he was caught in bugged conversations buying 420g of P - with a street value of up to $420,000 - in August 2006 during Operation Ice Age.
Detectives were unable to identify his voice at the time, but the following month he applied for a job as a police officer.
He passed a urine drug test and was inducted as a probationary constable in October 2006.
Six months later, he was arrested and charged for the two August purchases. He was suspended on full pay for three years until convicted this year.
This week, Tan was sentenced in the High Court at Auckland to 7 years in prison.
Three other men were also handed lengthy jail stints.
Barrister Graeme Newell said his client was not making money as a member of the crime syndicate, but was rather a P smoker who dealt to pay for his expensive habit.
Mr Newell said becoming a policeman "was the first step on the road to Damascus" for Tan, who wanted to end his P habit and had been clean ever since.
In sentencing Tan, Justice Patrick Keane took his contrition and remorse into account as well as the hardship he would suffer in jail as an ex-policeman.
His police role was a closely guarded secret, and even Justice Keane did not know of it until this week.
Police spokeswoman Ana-Mari Gates-Bowey confirmed that Tan had been employed at Counties Manukau police headquarters as an authorised officer - one with temporary sworn powers to perform duties.
She said there was no evidence to suggest that Tan was leaking sensitive information to his criminal associates.
Police sources were sceptical about Tan buying P just a month before applying to join the force.
"Asian organised crime is well known for trying to infiltrate all levels of government," a senior detective said.
A drug dealer who bought P from a multimillion-dollar crime syndicate run from SkyCity Casino was hired as a policeman two months later.
Chee Kent Tan was on full pay as a constable for three years until he was found guilty of two methamphetamine supply charges in May, after detectives cracked a drug ring that laundered at least $11 million through the Auckland casino.
Tan was not a police officer when he was caught in bugged conversations buying 420g of P - with a street value of up to $420,000 - in August 2006 during Operation Ice Age.
Detectives were unable to identify his voice at the time, but the following month he applied for a job as a police officer.
He passed a urine drug test and was inducted as a probationary constable in October 2006.
Six months later, he was arrested and charged for the two August purchases. He was suspended on full pay for three years until convicted this year.
This week, Tan was sentenced in the High Court at Auckland to 7 years in prison.
Three other men were also handed lengthy jail stints.
Barrister Graeme Newell said his client was not making money as a member of the crime syndicate, but was rather a P smoker who dealt to pay for his expensive habit.
Mr Newell said becoming a policeman "was the first step on the road to Damascus" for Tan, who wanted to end his P habit and had been clean ever since.
In sentencing Tan, Justice Patrick Keane took his contrition and remorse into account as well as the hardship he would suffer in jail as an ex-policeman.
His police role was a closely guarded secret, and even Justice Keane did not know of it until this week.
Police spokeswoman Ana-Mari Gates-Bowey confirmed that Tan had been employed at Counties Manukau police headquarters as an authorised officer - one with temporary sworn powers to perform duties.
She said there was no evidence to suggest that Tan was leaking sensitive information to his criminal associates.
Police sources were sceptical about Tan buying P just a month before applying to join the force.
"Asian organised crime is well known for trying to infiltrate all levels of government," a senior detective said.
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