Drugs Flashcards
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
To any other person
Person – gender neutral, proven by judicial notice or circumstantially
It is not necessary to prove the identity of the other person
Age is not relevant for Class A & B
Age is relevant for Class C
Proof of age
R v Forrest and Forrest
The prosecution must prove the age of the victim at the time of the offence, using the best evidence possible.
Proof of age may include the producing birth certificate in conjunction with independent evidence that identifies the victim as the person named in the certificate
R v Forrest and Forrest
The best evidence possible in the circumstances should be adduced by the prosecution in proof of the victim’s age
Possession
R v Cox
R v Cox
Possession involves two elements. The first, the physical element, is actual or potential physical custody or control. The second, the mental element, is a combination of knowledge and intention: knowledge in the sense of awareness by the accused that the substance is in his possession and intention to exercise possession.
Actual custody or control means the person actually has the drug in their custody or control (drugs in the pocket).
Potential possession – (2) for the purpose of this act, a thing which a person has in his possession include anything subject to his control which is in custody of another (storing drugs at friend’s house)
The defendant must also know that the substance is a controlled drug but need not know its exact nature. Physical custody presumes knowledge unless otherwise proven.
To consider whether a person knows the qualities of the substance you need to establish:
• The defendant knows they have the substance
• The defendant knows the nature and quality of the substance
• The defendant intends to use the substance in a way they can be charged with possession
Proof of possession
Both physical (actus reus) and mental (mens rea) elements must be proved.
The Crown must prove that the defendant had:
• Knowledge that the drug exists
• Knowledge that it is a controlled drug
• Some degree of control of it
• Intention to possess it
Knowledge of qualities
It assumed that the person knows the nature of their action unless they produce evidence raising a reasonable doubt about their guilty intent.
Lack of knowledge
A genuine lack of awareness would exclude ‘knowing possession’ and therefore the intent.
A person cannot knowingly possess something they mistakenly but honestly believe they do not possess.
Lack of knowledge caused by memory lapse
If a person forgot about the existence of the substance, they no longer have a requisite knowledge.
Control
To control something – to exercise authoritative and dominating influence over it.
Joint possession
Where two or more found in possession of saleable quantity of drugs, they may be jointly charged with possession, however a shared intention to sell the drugs must be proved.
Attempted possession
It is an offence to attempt to gain possession of the drugs (when a person obtained something in a mistaken belief it was a drug)
Intent
In a criminal law context, there are two specific types of intention.
Firstly, there must be an intention to effect an act.
Secondly, the must be an intention to get a specific result.
Deliberate act – act or omission must be done deliberately and must be more than involuntary or accidental.
Intent to produce a result – aim, object or purpose.
Proving intent
While the offender’s admission is a good evidence, it is a good practice to support these with circumstantial evidence from which the intent can be inferred.
• Action/Words of the offender before/during/after an event
• Surrounding circumstances
• Nature of the act itself
Additional evidence of intent to supply may be inferred from:
• Admission
• Circumstantial evidence (cash, scales, packaging, etc)
• Statutory presumption under 6(6)
Statutory presumption under 6(6)
(6) For the purpose of subsection (1)(f), a person is presumed until the contrary is proved to be in possession of a controlled drug for any purposes in subsection (1)(c), (d) or (e) if he or she is in possession of the controlled drug in the amount, level of quantity at or over which the controlled drug is presumed to be for supply
In summary, if a person is found in possession of specified quantity of any drug, the person will be presumed to have the drug for one of the purposes of s.6(1)(c), (d) or (e) unless they can prove otherwise.
If the charge can not be specified
Charge should be drafted in the alternative
(possession of Class C Controlled drug for a purpose specified in paragraph (d) or paragraph (e) of subsection (1) of section 6 of MODA 1975)
Schedule 5 MODA 1975 presumptive amounts:
- Heroin/Cocaine = 0.5g
- LSD = 2.5mlg / 25 tabs
- Meth / Ecstasy / Cannabis extract = 5g
- Cannabis plant = 28g / 100 cigarettes
- All other drugs = 56g
Conspiring to deal with controlled drugs
6(2A) Every person who conspires with any other person to commit an offence against subsection (1) of this section commits an offence against this Act and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term –
a. Not exceeding 14 years where a Class A controlled drug was the controlled drug or one of the control drugs in relation to which the offence was committed
b. Not exceeding 10 years where paragraph (a) of this subsection does not apply but a Class But controlled drug was the controlled drug or one of the controlled drugs in relation to which the offence was committed
c. Not exceeding 7 years in any other case
Conspiracy
Agreed intention which is common to the mind of the conspirators and a common design to commit the offence, rather than any actual action.
Conspiracy is complete once the agreement has been made.
Conspiracy can be between two people that one will supply drugs to another.
Conspiring to deal
Conspiracy with one or more people to commit drug dealing offence
In case of conspiracy in foreign country, it must be proved that the defendant has done something to complete the conspiracy in NZ for the offence to come under NZ jurisdiction
Supplying Equipment
To charge someone with supplying equipment the following must be proved:
• The defendant has supplied, produced, manufactured equipment, material, precursors
• Those items are capable of being used to produce or manufacture the controlled drugs or to cultivate a prohibited plant
• The defendant knew this items are to be used for such an offence by another person
Equipment
Implements, apparatus of other hardware used in manufacturing/producing/cultivating process
Material
Anything used in manufacturing/producing/cultivating process but cannot be described as an equipment
Capable of being used
It must be proved that the items are capable of being used in manufacturing/producing/cultivating process
Precursors substance
Substance that is the starting point in a chemical process that will result in the creation of a new drug.
Any substance specified or described in Part 1 or Part 2 of Schedule 4.
(Acetic Anhydride, lysergic acid, ephedrine, etc)
Knowing that the equipment is to be used in the commission of an offence
The defendant must have knowledge, mere suspicion is insufficient.
Knowing means knowing our correctly believing, the defendant may believe something wrongly but cannot know something that is false.
Possessing Equipment
To charge someone with possessing equipment the following must be proved:
• The defendant has equipment/material/precursors in his possession
• Those items are capable of being used to produce or manufacture the controlled drugs or to cultivate a prohibited plant
• The defendant has intention for this items to be used for such an offence by either himself or any other person
Intent for the equipment to be used in the commission of the offence
Intent must be proved, but it’s not necessary to prove that the offence was actually committed or attempted
It’s sufficient if the defendant intents the equipment to be used by another person
Dealing offences include:
- Importing
- Producing / Manufacturing
- Supplying
- Administering
- Offering to supply
- Otherwise dealing