Timaru man jailed for running 'drug supermarket' from farm

MYTCHALL BRANSGROVE/STUFF

A Timaru man who ran what was described as a "drug supermarket" has been jailed for six-and-a-half years.

A Timaru man who ran a "drug supermarket" supplying a range of Class A and Class C drugs from a farm has been jailed for six-and-a-half years.

Mark Andrew Edmond, 45, was convicted and jailed on charges of possessing and supplying methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine, LSD, ecstasy, amphetamine, cannabis and hashish, all with intent supply.

He was also convicted of cultivation of cannabis and two charges of receiving.

Judge Joanna Maze said Edmond had been living on a farm near Timaru.

When police executed a search warrant they found a hydroponic cannabis growing set up consisting of 36 mature plants for harvest.

In a second operation they found 46 smaller plants, along with a bag containing 3.65 grams of methamphetamine.

Police also located $3600 in cash, 657 LSD tablets with a street value of nearly $20,000, as well as other quantities of methamphetamine, cannabis, ecstasy and 4.63 grams of amphetamine.

Judge Maze said along with the drugs police also found empty plastic "point" bags, scales, methamphetamine pipes, tick lists, stolen firearms, a smoke grenade and a knife.

"The Crown describe it as a supermarket and it is a valid comparison," Judge Maze said.

"Police found a range of stock on shelves, police found cash had been taken ... you were running a range of stock over a considerable period of time.

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"This was offending totally different from the subsistence offending of an addict in a carpark or on a cellphone trying to get rid of a small amount that had recently come into his or her possession."

Judge Maze said Edmond had "no significant problem with alcohol and drugs".

"The rather unfortunate consequence of that is the conclusion that it was done purely for cash."

Judge Maze said the starting sentence should be seven-and-a-half years, the upper end of the prison term suggested by the Crown, 

She took into consideration the "considerable amount" of money saved to the public purse by Edmond not taking the case to a jury trial, and gave him a 12 month discount for his guilty plea. 

 - Stuff

Source: Timaru man jailed for running 'drug supermarket' from farm