Auckland meth cook jailed for life

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Wed, 21 Sep 2011 9:21p.m.

Christian Clifton, 48, was caught in 2009 making methamphetamine

Christian Clifton, 48, was caught in 2009 making methamphetamine

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An Auckland methamphetamine cook who made more than $1 million worth of the drug for gangs has been given one of the longest sentences ever for the crime.

Christian Clifton, 48, was caught in 2009 making methamphetamine, or P, while he was on parole after serving an earlier sentence for importing and making the drug.

He admitted cooking the drug on 10 occasions and in March this year, while out on bail awaiting sentence, was also found cooking more in a shipping container near Wellsford, north of Auckland.

He was sentenced in Auckland District Court on Wednesday to life in prison with a non-parole period of 10 years.

It is believed to be the first life sentence dished out by a district court.

Police Operation Royale caught Clifton manufacturing 1.3kg of P in west Auckland in 2009 and supplying it to a network of buyers, including gang members.

Methamphetamine retails for about $10,000 to $12,000 per ounce (28 grams) and prosecutor Daniel Robinson said Clifton was able to produce 2 to 2.5 ounces of methamphetamine per 1000 pellets of the precursor Contact NT, so he was classed as "quite a good cook".

Operation Royale saw 12 people convicted on drugs charges.

NZN

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Comments

22 Sep 2011 04:05p.m.

ivan wrote:

what it means is that if the parole board says he is safe to be back in the community after 10 years then parole is granted with strict condtions. but if he is a high risk to the community life dose mean life. new zealands longest severing prisoner has been in jail for 45years and is likely to be their for life because he is a hight risk to the community

22 Sep 2011 09:01a.m.

Nick wrote:

yes 'life' only 12 people convicted on operation Royale? Better go and arrest more harmless cannabis smokers to make them numbers look better

22 Sep 2011 08:21a.m.

Kiwi wrote:

It's a joke i.e Life in Prison.We hear of a Crim being sentenced to "Life in Prison" for murder and yet it isn't really "Life in Prison".They are out in about 10 years.So not really a true use of the wording.If we applied the sentences in the States which is LIFE IN PRISON then it should be for the REMAINING natural life of the person that committed the crime.Ten years certainly is not LIFE IN PRISON.

21 Sep 2011 10:47p.m.

R wrote:

10 years isn't life

21 Sep 2011 09:38p.m.

Jer wrote:

"Life"? What a joke.