Woman jailed over helping prison meth ring

A woman has been jailed for her part in helping a methamphetamine importation ring operating from inside Rimutaka prison.

Sara McSweeney, 29, appeared in the High Court at Wellington today for sentence on five charges of importing a Class A drug.

The court was told McSweeney's former partner met a Thai national while in Rimutaka prison and they organised for methamphatamine to be smuggled from Thailand.

She had been one of several contacts outside the prison who arranged payment and collection of the drugs, Radio New Zealand reported.

Justice Warwick Gendall said methamphetamine was a pernicious, dangerous drug which destroyed lives and he jailed McSweeney for eight years, and ordered that she serve at least half that sentence before parole was considered.

- NZPA