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Egyptian national runs drug smuggling ring from New Zealand jail cell

Xinhua, October 18, 2016 Adjust font size:

An Egyptian man who oversaw a methamphetamine-smuggling operation from his New Zealand prison cell has had his jail time extended, the New Zealand Police said Tuesday.

Egyptian national Mohamed Soliman Hussain Atta, 42, was sentenced at the Wellington High Court to 13 years and two months in jail after admitting seven charges of importing methamphetamine and one charge of conspiracy to supply the drug, said a statement from the Police.

The statement did not say why Atta was already in Rimutaka Prison, near Wellington, but said he used several cell phones, including one supplied by a prison officer, to organize the smuggling over three months in 2014.

Police Detective Sergeant James Withington said Atta had used his international contacts to run the methamphetamine importation ring before being exposed by the joint Police, Corrections and Customs investigation.

In total 11 people involved with the drug dealing had been sentenced, and three more were yet to be sentenced.

"Those convicted of importing methamphetamine were either patched gang members, or had strong gang associations, which demonstrates gang involvement in this trade," Withington said in a statement.

Radio New Zealand reported that the court was told Atta had facilitated the importation through his contacts in Thailand. Endit