ECSTASY HIDDEN IN TOURIST'S SUITCASE

A 19-year-old British woman who admitted smuggling Ecstasy worth about $1
million into New Zealand was to be paid $11,250 for her work as a drug courier.

Stacy Mary Hayes, of Essex, pleaded guilty to importing the class B
controlled drug MDMA, commonly known as Ecstasy.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Tim Anderson told the Auckland District Court on
Thursday that the tablets were thought to have a street value of between
$711,900 and $1,139,040, or $50 to $80 a tab.

He told the court Hayes arrived at Auckland International Airport on April
21 on a flight from Amsterdam via Kuala Lumpur and Brisbane.

She aroused the suspicions of Customs officials in Auckland after the
detection of unusual shapes in an x-ray of her suitcase.

Closer inspection revealed a large quantity of blue tablets, which were
later proved to be Ecstasy.

More than 14,000 pills were found packed in plastic bags shaped to fit in
cavities in the base of the suitcase.

Mr Anderson told the court the concealment was professional in its
construction.

He said Hayes denied knowledge of the dance-party drug, telling police she
thought she was carrying skunk cannabis.

Mr Anderson said Hayes had been approached on a number of occasions by
associates and asked to transport drugs to New Zealand.

Initially she refused, but later gave in and agreed.

Hayes flew from London to Amsterdam, where she met an associate known as
Jimmy, who gave her a suitcase for her to pack her clothing in and
transport to New Zealand.

Hayes said a person called Richard was to collect the suitcase and pay her
an unspecified amount of money for her expenses in New Zealand.

After a short stay in New Zealand, she would return to London where she
would be paid UKP 4000 ($11,250).

Judge Barry Morris remanded Hayes in custody for sentencing on June 13. The
offence has a maximum penalty of 14 years' imprisonment.