WOMAN SMUGGLED CANNABIS INTO PRISON

A young woman who attempted to smuggle 40g of cannabis into Waikato's
Waikeria Prison has been ordered by a judge not to associate with any
gang members for a year.

Cushla Marie Tahana, 27, unemployed, appeared for sentencing in
Rotorua District Court today on a charge of possessing cannabis for
supply.

She faced a maximum sentence of a year behind bars or $1000
fine.

Judge Chris McGuire told Tahana she would have gone to prison - "no
ifs, buts and maybes" - had there not been an alternative of home detention.

"One of the reasons we do not want drugs in jail is that there are a
number of people in there trying to get off drugs," he said.

Describing the sentence as "lenient", the judge imposed six months
home detention, with a rider that she live where directed, have no
association with any gang member or attend any gang
headquarters.

That stipulation was to continue for a further six months once home
detention was finished, said the judge.

Tahana's lawyer, Priscilla Brook, told the court her client had been
under the influence of the Mongrel Mob but was trying to distance herself.

At the time of the offending in May, she was nine months' pregnant and
was now sole caregiver to her five-month-old baby.

Being under pressure from gangs was no excuse for what she did, Judge
McGuire told Tahana.

She had been carrying a "significant amount" of cannabis and the law
assumed that it was for the purpose of supplying others.

According to the prosecution summary, Tahana had been searched when
she visited Waikeria Prison about 3pm on May 24.

Two plugs of cannabis wrapped tightly in Gladwrap were found between
her breasts. One weighed 25g and the other 15g.

She claimed she was bringing it for her boyfriend, who was an inmate,
but gave false details of who the drug was intended for.