Drugs Flashcards
(129 cards)
How the drugs getting imported in NZ:
- By air and sea
- Concealed in a person or in a luggage
- Concealed in the legitimate goods
- Sent by international mail/courier
Importation
In relation to any goods, means the arrival of the goods in NZ in any manner, whether lawfully or unlawfully from a point outside NZ.
Importation starts at the point of origin and continues until the drugs have reached the ultimate destination in NZ. Liability to starts as soon as the drugs cross NZ border (even if intercepted by Customs)
Anyone who knowingly assists in facilitating the process may be liable as a party.
Saxton v Police
R v Hancox
Saxton v Police
To import includes to introduce from abroad or to cause to be brought in from a foreign country
R v Hancox
The bringing the goods into the country or causing them to be brought into the country does not cease as the aircraft or vessel enters NZ territorial limits. Importing into NZ for the purpose of s.6(1)(a) is a process.
The element of the process exists from the time the goods enter NZ until they reach their immediate destination, i.e. when they have ceased to be under the control of the appropriate authorities and have become available to the consignee or addressee.
Mens Rea of importing
Guilty knowledge must exist.
Involve the proof that the defendant:
• Knew about importation
• Knew the imported substance was a controlled drug
• Intended to cause importation
Guilty knowledge will be presumed in the absence of evidence to the contrary.
Defence – Defendant genuinely believed what they possessed was not a controlled drug.
R v Strawbridge
R v Strawbridge
It is not necessary for the Crown to establish knowledge on the part of the accused.
In the absence of evidence to the contrary, knowledge on her part will be presumed, but if there is some evidence that the accused honestly believed on reasonable grounds that her act was innocent, then she is entitled to be acquitted unless the jury is satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that this was not so.
Wilful Blindness
Proof that the defendant deliberately turned a blind eye to the facts will suffice
Exportation
Exportation starts with an act intended to export the drugs from their origin in NZ and continues until the time when the drugs leave NZ for an overseas destination.
Time of exclusion is the time when the exporting craft leaves the last customs place before proceeding to a point outside NZ.
Controlled Drug
Any substance, preparation, mixture or article specified or described in Schedule 1, 2 or 3 of MODA 1975 and includes any controlled drug analogue.
Controlled Drug Analogue
Any substance that has a structure substantially similar to that of any controlled drug but does NOT include:
• Any substance specified in Schedule 1, 2 or 3 of MODA 1975
• Any prescription medicine
• Any approved product within three meaning of PSA 2013
All control drug analogue are classified as Class C drug.
Class A Controlled Drug:
Controlled drugs specified in Schedule 1 and include: • Cocaine • Heroin • LSD • Meth • Psilocybin (magic mushrooms)
Class B Controlled Drug:
Controlled drugs specified in Schedule 2 and include: • Amphetamine • Cannabis oil / Hashish • Fantasy • Ecstasy • Opium / Morphine
Class C Controlled Drug:
Controlled drugs specified in Schedule 3 and include: • Cannabis plant • Cannabis seeds • BZP • Controlled drug analogue
Mistake as to nature of the controlled drug
It is not a defence these the defendant did not know these the substance in question was a particular controlled drug.
Usable quantity
Police v Emerald
Usable quantity
In any drug offence, the drug quantity must be measurable and usable.
Police v Emerald
The serious offence of possessing a narcotic does not extend to some minute and useless residue of the substance
It is not necessary for the prosecution to prove these the quantity was usable unless the defendant the matter in issue.
R v Rua (Producing and manufacturing controlled drug)
The words “produce” and “manufacture” broadly cover the creation of controlled drugs by some form of process which changes the original substance into a particular controlled drug.
Producing Controlled Drug
To produce – to bring something into being, to bring something into existence from its raw material or element.
Producing – changing the nature of the original substance.
To produce includes to compound.
To compound – to create a whole by mixing two or more ingredients.
Manufacturing Controlled Drug
To manufacture – to combine components or to process raw material to create a new substance. It is a process of synthesis.
Manufacturing – creating a different substance from the original substance.
The offence is complete once the new substance is created (whether or not in usable form)
Supply
R v Maginnis
To supply – to furnish, to provide something that is needed or desired.
To supply includes to distribute, to give, to sell.
R v Maginnis
Supply involves more than the mere transfer of physical control. It includes enabling the recipient to apply the thing to purposes for which he desires.
Distributing
To distribute – to supply drugs to multiple people (including distribution of jointly owned property between the co-owner)
The distribution is complete when the defendant has done all that is necessary to accomplish delivery of drugs to others.
Giving
To give – to hand over an item to another person.
The giving is complete when the recipient accepts possession, or when the drugs placed under his/her control (includes allowing others to help themselves with drugs)
Selling Controlled Drug
To sale – to share a quantity of drug for some valuable consideration.
Does not have to be money – anything of value will suffice.
S.6(5) For the purpose of paragraph (e) of subsection (1) of this section, if it is proved that a person has supplied a controlled drug to another person he shall until the contrary is proved be deemed to have sold that controlled drug
Administering Controlled Drug
To administer – to direct and cause a drug to be taken into the system of another person.
Offering to supply or administer
What must be proved
The prosecution must prove:
• The communication of an offer to supply/administer (actus reus)
• The intention that the other person believed the offer to be genuine (mens rea)
The defendant must intent the other person to believe the offer is genuine, but it is not necessary to prove that the defendant was capable of supplying drugs.
There may be more than one person guilty of offering to supply.
Offer includes an offer to arrange for someone else to hand over the drugs.
Offer may be conveyed in any manner (verbally, writing, gesture)
R v During
R v Brown
R v Brown (offer)
R v During
An offer is intimation by the person charged to another that he is ready on request to supply to that other drugs of a kind prohibited by the statute
R v Brown
The defendant is guilty in the following instances:
• Offers to supply a drug that he has on hand
• Offers to supply a drug that will be produced at some future date
• Offers to supply a drug that he mistakenly believes he can supply
• Offers to supply a drug deceitfully, knowing he will not supply that drug
R v Brown (offer)
The making of such intimation, with the intention that it should be understood as a genuine offer, is an offence