Malaysian 'drug mule' pleads guilty

A Malaysian man accused of being a "drug mule" has pleaded guilty to importing drugs into New Zealand.

Ewe Hoe Ong, 40, appeared in the Manukau District Court today along with nine co-accused.  

None of the co-accused entered a plea and were remanded on bail to reappear in a month's time.

They had to be heard into two groups of five because they couldn't all fit into the dock at once. Looking bemused, they bowed at the judge and stood quietly.

There was no interpreter, so a lawyer explained what was happening.

The accused, aged from 21 to 61, were part of a Malaysian tour group who were stopped at Auckland International Airport by Customs officers who noticed they were walking strangely.

Police said that large packets of drugs were found in their shoes, with a total of 8.5kg of methamphetamine seized.

At the time Customs said it was the largest number of drug couriers caught in a single incident in New Zealand, although tour-group smuggling was not new.

The eight men and two women were charged with importing Class A drugs under the Misuse of Drugs Act.

The men were Eng Hin Ong, 39, Ewe Hoe Ong, 40, Waihong Leong, 23, Lian Fong Wong, 53, Eng Wan Teoh, 21, Ah Kooi Teoh, 21, Teng-Kim Ooi, 52 and Yuen Fatt Wong, 61.
 
The women were Tan Ah Nya, 51, and Sit Mooi En, 29.
 
All were born in Malaysia.

Ewe Hoe Ong will reappear on August 3 for a callover.
 
Judge Russell Callander said it was a "nominal" date as it was "likely the other co-accused would also plead guilty" and then he could set a group sentencing date at the High Court in Auckland.

Two lawyers requested a Mandarin and Cantonese speaking interpreter.