The first member of a large group of people caught dealing during one of the Bay's biggest undercover police drugs stings last year has been jailed for 15 months.
Michael William Griffin, 46, of Parkvale was nabbed after selling cannabis to an undercover officer during an police operation code named Operation Mantis in November which resulted in the arrest of 20 people.
Police raided 10 properties across the district, seized 25 ounces of cannabis, methamphetamine worth up to $60,000, numerous items of stolen property and $5000 cash.
Griffin was sentenced in Tauranga District Court yesterday after he earlier pleaded guilty to eight charges. That is, three charges of selling cannabis to an undercover police officer, four charges of possession of cannabis plant for supply, and one charge of wilfully obstructing a police constable.
The $1640 cash seized during the raid on Griffin's home on November 15 has been confiscated. Operation Mantis was conducted between November 8 and 23 last year, predominantly in the Tauranga South area, during which two undercover police officers targeted known drug houses and made evidential purchases from the targeted addresses.
That included $20 purchases of cannabis tinnies from Griffin on November 8, 9, and 15.
On each occasion, the police officer involved said he could also see further cannabis tinnies ready for sale inside the container from which Griffin sourced the tinnie he sold.
On November 15 the police searched Griffin's Henderson Crescent home.
Knowing police were at the front door, Griffin tried to destroy evidence by placing a small plastic container into a fire going in the lounge. The container was recovered and the 12 tinnies inside weighed 11g.
Also found was another container with 2g of loose cannabis, and $1640 cash.
When interviewed by police, Griffin admitted selling cannabis and also confessed he tried to destroy evidence.
A raft of other cases involving the alleged drug offenders are still progressing through the courts.