Prisoner Ran $15M Drug Ring From Jail: Elijah Daveron Sentenced 28 Years
A Modern Zealand gang member already serving a lengthy prison sentence for attempted murder has been sentenced to an additional 28 years in jail for orchestrating a large-scale methamphetamine and drug importation operation from behind bars. Clinton Elijah Daveron, a patched member of the Bloods gang with ties to the Mongrel Mob, Head Hunters, and Nomads, was sentenced on Friday in the High Court at Wellington, bringing his total imprisonment to 28 years.
Justice David Boldt described Daveron, 41, as a “critical link” in a “major commercial operation” that saw approximately $15 million worth of drugs imported into New Zealand between August 2021 and July 2024. The operation involved smuggling drugs concealed within everyday items, including meth-soaked book pages, hockey balls, car seats, washing machine drums, and truck mirrors, destined for distribution across the country.
Daveron was initially jailed in November 2021 for attempted murder, receiving a sentence of nine years and four months. However, the drug importation scheme continued whereas he was incarcerated, relying on smuggled mobile phones to coordinate shipments and direct associates. According to a 19-page summary of facts presented to the court, Daveron ordered drugs from an overseas contact identified as “Blakman,” providing delivery addresses and managing a network of “catchers” responsible for collecting the packages or handling cash transfers.
The imported drugs included 35kg of methamphetamine (valued at approximately $13 million), 684g of cocaine, 5.3kg of pseudoephedrine, 6kg of ephedrine, and 2.46kg of MDMA (ecstasy), sourced from countries including Namibia, India, Afghanistan, and the United Arab Emirates. Police and Customs officials uncovered the operation through two separate investigations, intercepting several shipments.
Despite accepting a sentencing indication of 21 years in April 2024, Daveron attempted to vacate his guilty pleas, arguing he was misled by previous legal counsel regarding the nature of the charges. He claimed he believed the 23 original charges were being reduced to five, and was unaware the five charges would be representative of the broader offending. Justice Boldt dismissed his application on Friday, stating Daveron’s attempts to delay proceedings were unconvincing and that he had not demonstrated genuine remorse. The judge noted Daveron’s refusal to cooperate with a pre-sentence report writer and his claims of limited understanding of legal terminology, despite reportedly studying law through the Open Polytechnic.
Justice Boldt acknowledged Daveron’s difficult childhood – including the death of his father at age seven, a struggling mother, and early involvement in drug dealing to support his family – as mitigating factors. He also noted Daveron began drinking at age nine and using cannabis by age twelve. However, the judge determined the severity and scale of the drug operation, coupled with its execution from within prison, warranted a starting point of life imprisonment, later reduced to 18 years and eight months for the methamphetamine charge, to be served cumulatively with his existing sentence. Additional sentences for other charges were imposed concurrently.
Justice Boldt estimated Daveron will be eligible for parole in approximately five years, after serving a third of his total sentence. He emphasized that Daveron’s commitment to rehabilitation would ultimately determine his length of incarceration. The court also ordered the forfeiture of $15,000 in cash and the destruction of the seized drugs, phones, and SIM cards.