Photo: RNZ/Marika Khabazi
An Auckland builder will spend two years and seven months in prison after supplying a number of guns to the black market.
Mark Colin Palmer was recently sentenced on 10 charges involving firearms, class A drugs, and explosives in Auckland District Court, police confirmed.
Palmer pleaded guilty to charges linked to the supply of 18 guns to unlicensed people, including a pistol made from a sawn-off rifle, and thousands of rounds of ammunition.
He also pleaded guilty to possessing explosives and 13 large-capacity prohibited magazines that should have been handed in during the buyback, Detective Inspector Albie Alexander said, and to supplying methamphetamine and cocaine.
The offending was an example of a firearms licence holders actions overshadowing those of legitimate holders, Alexander said.
"Palmer abused the privilege of holding a firearms licence to purchase and then divert a significant number of firearms to criminals.
"His offending was highly premeditated for financial gain."
Between April and August 2023, Alexander said Palmer purchased a large number of rifles and shotguns - not all the guns were able to be recovered and many remained in the black market.
"Two firearms were found at the home of a patched gang member shortly after Palmer bought them from Auckland gun stores.
"One rifle had been illegally cut down to a pistol and another had its serial number erased, but Police could retrieve it and linked it to Palmer who had purchased the rifle three months earlier."
Palmer's actions would be easier to detect when the registry is fully in place, Firearms Safety Authority executive director Angela Brazier said.
"Firearms dealers and licence holders are now actively recording details of sales and transfers and the movement of firearms is closely monitored for non-compliance."
Editor’s note: Following the publication of this story, Mr Palmer responded by stating there was no finding by the Court that his actions were highly motivated/premeditated for the purpose of financial gain as stated by Detective Alexander on behalf of NZ Police. Mr Palmer said that while such a submission was made by the prosecution during his trial, that submission was not accepted by the Court and the prosecution was (when asked by the trial judge) unable to produce evidence to substantiate the allegation.
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