$7020 found when hedge was trimmed, suspected drug dealer’s cash

A large amount of cash found in a hedge on a property north of Wellington has been confiscated as part of a drug dealer’s stash with ties to the area.

The money, $7020 in $100, $50 and $20 bills, secured with a rubber band and wrapped in plastic wrap, was found when a hedge was trimmed and turned over to police in June 2019.

Drug dealer Michael Hanna, 33, is known to have spent time in a house next to the hedge.

READ MORE:
* ‘Hedge fund’ of drug dealers cut
* ‘Hedge fund’ suspected of drug dealer stays in place for a year
* Auckland methamphetamine wholesaler sentenced to 12 years and eight months

He was thought to make over $5 million from the sale of methamphetamine, but very little of the proceeds of his crimes have been found.

Hanna did not respond to a police request to confiscate the money to the Crown.

In a recent Wellington Supreme Court ruling, Judge Jill Mallon said the court could issue an order for the money to be forfeited if it was likely “contaminated”.

Hanna was convicted of serious drug trafficking and sentenced to more than 12 years in prison. The way the money was pooled and hidden was indicative of cash related to drug trafficking, the judge said.

No one claimed the money that had to lie there for a year before it could be forfeited.

The judge was convinced it was bad money.

Another neighbor said she had also previously found cash tied with a rubber band hidden under some plants.

After Hanna was caught in Auckland in December 2017, police found about $18 million worth of methamphetamine, but only just under $50,000 in cash.

The police received a court order that meant that just over $5 million – Hanna’s estimated profit – could be recovered from him, if it could be found.

Hanna pleaded guilty to charges of having approximately 30 kg of methamphetamine for the supply, and two charges for supplying the drug.