Rotorua man accused of making and importing hallucinogenic drug DMT

A Rotorua man accused of making and importing a class-A hallucinogenic drug is also facing a charge that he didn’t pay a sex worker. Jonathon Johan Koppe, 47, appeared in the Rotorua District Court today and did not enter pleas to seven charges, some relating to a drug known as DMT. The charges include allegations that he possessed equipment intending to produce a controlled drug; possessed chemicals to produce a controlled drug; possessed precursor substances intending to produce a controlled drug; importing class-A drug DMT to New Zealand and producing class-A drug DMT. The charges are brought under the Misuse of Drugs Act, with the possession charges stemming from alleged offending in February. They carry a maximum prison sentence of five years. The charges relating to DMT each carry a maximum fine of $1000. He faces two other charges under the Crimes Act, including that he obtained by deception control over a service, namely sex, on January 28. He is further charged with failing to allow police to search his data on his computer or storage device. The charges carry maximum prison sentences of one year’s jail and three months’ jail, respectively. Koppe’s lawyer, Moana Dorset, said police estimated it would be at least 10 weeks before they could provide more information from forensic testing, meaning her client was not yet able to plead to the charges. Judge Melinda Broek remanded Koppe in custody until May 29, when he must plead to the charges. Kelly Makiha is a senior journalist who has reported for the Rotorua Daily Post for more than 25 years, covering mainly police, court, human interest and social issues.

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