New Zealand

Two sailors plead guilty to drugs charges

19:20 pm on 17 February 2020

Two Naval sailors stationed at Devonport have pleaded guilty to 16 charges of obtaining and supplying the class-B drug MDMA.

Photo: 123RF

Ordinary Electronic Technician Ryan Carroll, 23, and Ordinary Weapon Technician Cadell Heney, 20, appeared before a Court Martial at the Devonport Naval Base in Auckland on Monday.

Heney also pleaded guilty to taking pictures with his cell phone of an exam paper a few days before the test.

It was during an investigation into Heney's cheating that links to dealing drugs was found on his phone.

Texts read out in court implicated a number of people including Carroll.

Ryan Carroll. Photo: RNZ / Andrew McRae

The drug dealing took place in 2018 and involved about 60-capsules of the drug.

The court heard that both men joined the Navy in February 2018 and signed up for 15-years.

Sentencing started late Monday afternoon and will continue on Tuesday.

The hearing is before of the Court Martial of New Zealand Chief Judge Kevin Riordan and a panel of three senior military personnel.