Please attribute to Detective Sergeant Brendan Patten, Southern Asset Recovery Unit:
The Police Asset Recovery Unit has successfully taken nearly four hundred thousand dollars in assets from drug smuggler Sami Zagros.
The Christchurch High Court has ordered the forfeiture of assets from Zagros, who was sentenced late last year to 16 years in jail for his role in a sophisticated drug importation ring.
His charges included one of money laundering, eight charges of importation of methamphetamine, three charges of attempted importation of methamphetamine, and one charge of possession of MDMA for supply.
The charges and subsequent guilty pleas followed a joint investigation by Customs and NZ Police into the drug smuggling ring involving Zagros and two others.
The items taken are:
1. 2015 Mercedes-Benz A250
2. 2016 Mercedes-Benz C300
3. 2013 Ducati Motorbike
4. Nearly $180,000 in cash
5. Just under $125,000 from a bank account
6. 5 pieces of jewellery valued at nearly $36,000
The assets have a total value of $380,000. The money and sale of these items will be put into the Proceeds of Crime Fund from which agencies can make application to fund crime prevention as well as drug and alcohol rehabilitation initiatives.
The Asset Recovery Unit is focused on targeting any individuals who think that they will profit off crime and cause harm and destruction in our communities.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre
