Wilson's current lag is for murdering his former girlfriend Jo-Anne Maree Van Duyvenbooden in her home in Rotorua in August 1999. "I think I have changed my attitude towards criminal behaviour." "I accept that I've got a pretty horrendous record and I take responsibility for that. The former gang member, whose first offence was a charge of animal cruelty in 1974, answers without a beat. "You are a very unusual person," Brinded retorts reminding him of his 90-plus convictions. "I don't think I am a high risk more than anyone else," Wilson says. His proposed plan is to be released to a halfway house for serious offenders in Christchurch.īut Brinded has serious concerns, saying his 2014 psychologist report states Wilson remains a high risk of violent re-offending. Wilson's intentions are clear - he wants parole. "I have no problem talking to them and they have no problem talking to me," he says. He talks confidently about his work at a Fendalton bowling club, where he mingled easily with the club members. I don't think it could be going much better." "In terms of doing work, I think it is great. The reformed gang banger begins to tell the board what he has been doing since his last parole hearing in 2014, most recently it has been maintenance work at Burnham golf course five days a week while under the watch off Corrections staff. "I know this is an anxiety provoking situation," Brinded adds. * Watson challenges report used for hearing * The dilemma of NZ's longest serving prisoner Police cannot rule out further arrests as the Police investigation is ongoing.Appearing via video-link from Rolleston Prison in front of a board of four members, Professor Philip Brinded attempts to make Wilson feel at ease. "We want to send a clear message that those importing or dealing such drugs will be found out, will be arrested and prosecuted." "In this case, thanks to the efforts of a dedicated investigation team who worked around the clock, we were able to identify and disrupt this syndicate’s plans before the drug shipment reached New Zealand shores," he says. NOCG acting Detective Inspector John Brunton says the investigation is another example of Police working collaboratively with New Zealand Customs to prevent the devastating harm created by the sale and supply of illicit drugs. A boat moored in Northland was also searched. Ten properties were searched, including in Rotorua, Te Kaha, Te Puke, Omokoroa, Mt Albert and Auckland Central. The arrests follow an eight-month investigation by detectives with the operation being run by the National Organised Crime Group (NOCG). More than 100 Police and Customs staff, including members of the Armed Offenders Squad, Dog Section, Specialist Search Group, the Police Clandestine Laboratory Team and Bay of Plenty and Northland district staff, were involved in the warrants. Two of those arrested are patched members of the Rotorua chapter of the Filthy Few Motorcycle Club.Īll eight men are due to appear in the Tauranga District Court over the coming days. The eight men arrested, who age between 26 and 62, face multiple drug-related charges, including conspiracy to import a Class A controlled drug, importing a Class A controlled drug, conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine and possession for supply. It's also alleged that some of the group imported a smaller quantity of cocaine from their central American contacts by courier mail to sell and distribute in Aotearoa. Police allege those involved "conspired to import a large quantity of cocaine and methamphetamine into New Zealand via shipping containers". Search warrants were carried out at 11 properties throughout Bay of Plenty, Northland and Auckland on Thursday morning, with Operation Tarpon targeting key players of a drug syndicate operating in New Zealand with links to a Mexican cartel. Police have arrested eight people in a major operation they say has disrupted plans to import hundreds of kilograms of cocaine into New Zealand from Mexico.