Drug kingpin learnt from his father, court told

• Author: Kelly Makiha
• Published date: 11 February 2023
• Publication title: Daily Post, The (Rotorua, New Zealand)

Now, Macfarlane Jnr has been jailed for nine years and six months for sophisticated large-scale drug importing and dealing around Rotorua and Tauranga — while Dad — Billy Macfarlane Snr — is a leader turning around the lives of notorious criminals

Macfarlane Jnr, 39, appeared in the High Court at Rotorua for sentencing yesterday after admitting being the kingpin behind a drug dealing ring that aimed to make up to $20 million a year.

He admitted 16 charges relating to the importation and supply of GBL and MDMA and the importation of chemicals used to manufacture methamphetamine.

Macfarlane Jnr’s empire was busted after the theft of 3050kg of iodine from Mainfreight in Tauranga and a subsequent police trail led to his Rotorua home.

The High Court at Rotorua heard how his drug dealing was sophisticated. He would buy the drugs and chemicals using the dark web and pay for them with the cryptocurrency Bitcoin.

Lawyer Mark Edgar said his client learnt the tricks of the trade from his father — a prominent former drug lord now turned good. Macfarlane Snr is behind a tikanga Māori-based programme for ex-offenders called Pūwhakamua.

Macfarlane Snr sat in court yesterday in support — despite being estranged from his son in what was in court described as now being a “toxic” relationship.

Macfarlane Jnr’s mother and other family members sat on the other side of the public gallery, also in support of Macfarlane Jnr.

Macfarlane Snr told the Rotorua Daily Post last year his son wanted to be like him, but unfortunately, he turned out to be the man he was, not the man he is now. He said he had become estranged from his son because he recognised the signs of what he was up to in the criminal world.

In court, Edgar detailed how it was Macfarlane Snr who got his son into drug dealing. At a young age he would use him to buy pills and pay him for his work.

Macfarlane Jnr moved to the South Island with his mother but returned to be with his father at 18 as he knew he could earn more money drug dealing.

It was then he was introduced to methamphetamine.

Macfarlane Jnr was living in a drug grow house run by his father and buying pills on his behalf and selling them, Edgar said.

“He was learning the trade. It was about making money and he was good at it. He had learnt from the best ... He wanted to be the man. The man his father was.”

Justice Mark Woolford said Macfarlane Jnr had previous convictions for drug dealing but lived a crime-free life for a short period before getting back...