The trial of a former top Whangarei police officer on drugs charges has ended abruptly after he admitted stealing and dealing methamphetamine, Radio New Zealand reports.
Former head of Northland's Organised Crime Unit Mike Blowers, 50, was defending charges of stealing meth and cannabis from police storage units and passing them on to a dealer for profit.
But he unexpectedly pleaded guilty on the third day of his trial to the methamphetamine charges, this morning.
His defence lawyer Arthur Fairley said fresh evidence against his client had emerged on Tuesday night and as a result he had advised Blowers to change his plea.
The Crown dropped the charge of supplying cannabis and Blowers was remanded on bail for sentencing on 3 December.
