Wanganui meth case finds 19.3kg of meth produced in lab built in remote wool shed

On 27 February 2023, a group of men used an underground laboratory to produce at least 19.3kg of methamphetamine and a further 7 liters of methamphetamine in a wool shed in a remote area on the Whanganui River, 50km north of Whanganui.

The group included Wayne Malcolm, Hurinuku Malcolm, Frank Rickard and Graham.

On March 1, police stormed the wool shed as the accused were packing their cars.

Graham was running from the police and jumped into the Wanganui River, swimming to the opposite bank.

A police dog and handler were sent after him and he was soon found hiding in a nearby creek.

During Hurinuku’s arrest, Malcolm also threw the rucksack he was carrying into the Wanganui River.

Police later seized it and found it to contain another 81 grams of methamphetamine.

During a search of the area around the vehicles, police found 19 self-sealing plastic bags containing between 500g and 2kg of methamphetamine.

At least 19.3 kg of methamphetamine had a wholesale value of more than $3.5 million.

The police investigation was part of Operation Galium, a large-scale police investigation into the production and supply of methamphetamine in the Waikato region.

In 2022, the Waikato Organized Crime Squad began intercepting private correspondence between Wayne Malcolm and Graham that identified accomplices.

As it became known in court, the police identified Graham as the head of the operation.

The investigation found that Graham’s employees performed support functions, including storing and transporting materials, equipment and methamphetamine to the cooking facilities, as well as providing services such as cooking facilities, protection and financing.

Judge Justin Marynowicz said Graham was a “sensible man” who fully understood the situation he found himself in.

Graham’s long-term addiction to meth, along with the wealth and easy money he was able to make from selling it, were too attractive to ignore throughout his life, he said.

Judge Marynowicz said meth had attracted “significant attention locally” and the amount of meth produced had an impact on the community.

“Whanganui is ravaged by methamphetamine use, it affects every profession, trade and virtually every offense that comes through the courts,” Judge Marynowicz said.

“Methamphetamine use cannot be tolerated in this community.”

Solicitor Mark Ryan said the quantity of methamphetamine “doesn’t qualify as a significant commercial enterprise as we regularly see 500kg being imported into the country”.

“It’s a difficult day for the Malcolm family,” says the lawyer

In court, the tearful grandmother asked the judge Marynovich to take into account the prospects of her grandson’s rehabilitation when passing the sentence.

Wayne Malcolm appeared in Whanganui District Court on October 10, the same day as his nephew Hurinuku Malcolm, and both men faced a number of methamphetamine-related charges.

They both appeared before a full public gallery.

Hurinuka Malcolm was sentenced to five years, one month and two weeks in prison after pleading guilty to seven charges including manufacturing methamphetamine, possessing methamphetamine with intent to supply and being part of an organized crime group.

His grandmother shed tears as she talked about keeping Hurinuku Malcolm connected to his children.

She spoke about wanting to help Hurinuk Malcolm with a place to live, get an education and get a qualification after his release.

“I can provide Hurinuk with adequate rehabilitation in the community and everything he needs for a successful reintegration.”

Judge Marynowicz congratulated the grandmother for having the courage to stand up and speak on behalf of her whānau in the courtroom.

“Her words are certainly not lost on me, nor is her passion or sadness when you see yourself sitting in the position you are in now.”

Wayne Malcolm was sentenced to five years, five months and two weeks in prison pleading guilty to three counts including manufacture of methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine with intent to supply and participation in an organized crime group.

Barrister Emma Priest said Wayne Malcolm had spent the past 18 months building a better life while he awaited sentencing.

“Today is a difficult day for the Malcolm family,” Priest said.

During this time, Wayne Malcolm reconnected with his 83-year-old father, who wrote a letter to the court in support of his son.

Judge Marynowicz said it was one of the best letters he had read in a “long, long time.”

“You hope that an experience like this, as much as possible, will put an end to this for future generations.”

Rickard was a tenant of this area for about 10 years.

His involvement in the production included transporting other team members and equipment by boat across the river to the laboratory.

Police watched Rickard come and go from the lab and remove or burn items. His payment from the group was supposed to be $4,000 a day.

Rickard was jailed for four years in the Whanganui District Court for his role in the operation after pleading guilty to one count of manufacturing methamphetamine.

Eva de Jong is a health and general news reporter for the Whanganui Chronicle. She started working as a reporter in 2023.