William Anthony Tauu Dave, a 45-year-old New Zealand-based Cook Islander, has been sentenced to 20 months in prison for his role in bringing cocaine and cannabis into the Cook Islands, marking the first significant case of its kind in the country.
The New Zealand DJ, who was arrested last year for smuggling drugs into Rarotonga, was convicted on multiple charges, including possession and importation of a Class A controlled drug (cocaine), possession and importation of a Class C controlled drug (cannabis), and making a false declaration.
The court heard that Dave had been invited to the Cook Islands to perform as a DJ at a birthday party in September 2022. He was also asked to bring items for people who were to contact him upon his arrival. Upon landing at Rarotonga International Airport, Dave was questioned by border security officers. During a search, they discovered a large container of protein powder, which Dave claimed was intended for someone else.
Upon further investigation, authorities uncovered a small zip-lock bag containing 31.9 grams of cocaine, four packages of cannabis wrapped in cling film, 836.5 grams of coffee powder concealing the drugs, and eight blue Viagra pills hidden within the protein powder.
The drugs were sent for analysis and confirmed to be cocaine and cannabis. While the Crown did not present evidence to suggest Dave was aware of the substances, Judge Colin Doherty emphasized the substantial quantity of drugs involved and noted Dave’s reluctance to implicate others in the crime.
Dave, who had pleaded guilty and shown remorse, was sentenced to 20 months for the drug importation charges. He also received an additional six months for making a false declaration, to be served concurrently. The court further ordered the destruction of the confiscated drugs.
In his probation report, it was revealed that Dave had been facing personal hardships, including the tragic loss of his daughter in a car accident in 2020. He had been living with his cousin and working in construction in Rarotonga when the drug smuggling incident occurred.
Defence counsel Mark Short argued for a lenient sentence, pointing out that Dave had pleaded guilty early on and was a victim of naivety. The judge acknowledged the significant harm caused by the importation of cocaine, a Class A drug, and stressed the need for deterrence in future cases.
The case serves as a warning to others, ensuring that drug smuggling and related crimes will not be tolerated in the Cook Islands.
