Man busted for drug ring 'relieved'

The man sent to jail for 17 years after police busted a multi million dollar drug ring is said to have been relieved when police caught up to him.

Police spent 12 months investigating a drug ring which was manufacturing and selling P throughout the upper North Island.

Members of the syndicate were sentenced yesterday to a total of 114 years behind bars.

One of them, Feng Chih Daniel Hsu was sentenced to 17 years and 3 months in jail.

Justice Toogood described him as being at the top of the distribution pyramid, and motivated by greed.

Drug Detection Agency chief Kirk Hardy says it's a story he's heard all too often.

"It's high risk, it's high reward. You're talking millions of dollars involved here, so greed is certainly a driving factor. You're talking a lot of cash, and a lot of risk, that's for sure."

Mr Hardy says there's been a concerted effort in recent years to crackdown on large drug rings.

Hsu's lawyer Ron Mansfield says his client got involved when his business failed, but was relieved when he was caught.

It's hoped the sentencing will act as a deterrent.

Mr Hardy is pleased the judge came down hard.

"It certainly sends a clear message to those that are involved in the illicit drug industry whether it's manufacturing or dealing. I think these sentences certainly contribute as a deterrent to those wanting to get into that."

Kirk Hardy says police and customs have made some very big busts in the past 18 months and this adds to that.

Photo: The scene in the High Court yesterday (NZ Herald)