Pubdate: Sat, 24 Apr 2004 Source: Dominion Post, The (New Zealand) Copyright: 2004 The Dominion Post Contact: http://www.dompost.co.nz Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2550 Note: By Staff Reporter NOMADS JAILED FOR DRUG 'TAXING' The "taxing" of drug associates for perceived losses on deals had become more common and should be deplored, a High Court judge says. In Wellington yesterday, Justice Goddard sent two Nomad gang members to jail, one for four years and the other for 18 months. Wera Henare, 42, a driver, of Otaki, received the longer sentence on charges of offering to supply and supplying the methamphetamine drug P for $8400, and robbing a drug associate of $260. With Wayne Anthony Weston, 35, unemployed, of Feilding, he was also found guilty of threatening to kill, being unlawfully in the victim's home intending to commit a crime, demanding car keys with menaces and kidnapping. The victim was a go-between for Henare to sell P to a gang associate. The victim said he handed over the drug to someone he believed was acting for the associate but was never paid. He said first Henare, and then Weston came after him each wanting $10,000. He also said Henare had wanted him to sign over his Wairarapa farmlet to Henare. Justice Goddard said it was the type of organised criminal activity, known as taxing, that happened when people tried to retrieve perceived losses when drug deals went wrong. Henare's lawyer, Jock Blathwayt, said Henare, who has lost his right arm below the elbow, did not accept he had committed any offences and thought prejudice about his gang connections led to his conviction. He said the victim owed him money for a vehicle and he had been planning to make a legitimate offer for the victim's farmlet. Prosecutor Kenneth Stone said the Crown agreed the victim contributed to what happened but he was entitled to the protection of the law. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake