Alleged drug ring ‘errand boy’ joins accused cannabis syndicate bosses on remand

AN alleged foot soldier in an organised crime syndicate charged over the importation of more than 1.5 tonnes of cannabis into the NT has joined his alleged co-conspirators on remand after being denied bail

Police allege Tama Kirikino was in possession of three empty drums similar to those found containing large quantities of cannabis

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AN ALLEGED foot soldier in an organised crime syndicate charged over the importation of more than 1.5 tonnes of cannabis into the NT has joined his alleged co-conspirators on remand after being denied bail.

Tama Nicholas Kirikino faced the Darwin Local Court on Friday charged with supplying a commercial quantity of the drug after alleged ringleader Peter Wellman James was also refused bail on Wednesday.

Prosecutor David Dalrymple argued releasing Kirikino could compromise the ongoing police investigation despite many of the key players already being behind bars as there were still a number of people “yet to be brought in”.

“The fact that he’s a soldier rather than a higher up player doesn’t make him any less capable of communicating with those people who police have not yet arrested or charged,” he said.

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Mr Dalrymple said Kirikino had been involved in delivering cannabis for the syndicate and three empty green drums found at his property were an exact match for others used by the gang to import large quantities of the drug into the NT.

In giving evidence, drug and organised crime squad detective Mitchell Stephens said despite being empty, the drums were strikingly similar to another found in a separate raid with 60 pounds of cannabis sealed inside.

“Aside from being the same colour, the drums are quite distinctive in that they’re not your typical 44 gallon steel drum, I’m not sure as to the actual volume of them but they’re longer and narrower than a 44,” he said.

“The drums also had grinding marks on them where it appears that identifying features of what had been in the drum previously had been ground off.”

Senior Constable Stephens said the way the drums had been sealed was also indicative of having been opened and the original contents removed before being resealed again.

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In remanding Kirikino in custody, judge John Neill said he was satisfied that while the evidence was “far from being probative beyond a reasonable doubt” it was enough to link the drums found in his possession to the smugglers for the purpose of refusing bail.

“I’m satisfied that I can take that into account and be of the view, on the evidence so far, that Tama Kirikino had a greater role than simply being an errand boy,” he said.

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