An international drug dealer with a long history in New Zealand has been targeted in wide-ranging sanctions imposed on his global business empire today by the United States Government.

Rokas Karpavicius is a Lithuanian citizen who was sentenced to 11 and a half years in prison for importing large shipments of Ecstasy into Auckland, as well as LSD, and laundering more than $2.25 million.

He had been extradited from Europe to stand trial in New Zealand. But the jury was unaware it was the second time that Karpavicius was at the centre of a New Zealand drug investigation.

Suppression orders were later lifted to reveal Karpavicius had been charged with conspiracy to import cocaine in 1999 but escaped overseas two years later while on bail.

Just 21 at the time, he disappeared on a false passport while on a $100,000 bond and evaded authorities until his name resurfaced in Operation Keyboard a decade later.

His fingerprints were found on a Harry Potter book couriered from Spain to Auckland with LSD, a class A drug, hidden in the spine and drug squad detectives also tapped phone calls between Karpavicius and Ronald Terrence Brown, a career criminal who headed the New Zealand arm of the syndicate.

After serving four years of his prison sentence, Karpavicius was released by the Parole Board and deported to his homeland in December 2016.

This morning, the United States Government alleged that Karpavicius and his right-hand man Virginijus Labutis have continued to be involved in the trafficking of cocaine and methamphetamine, money laundering, and corruption.

Labutis was recently arrested in October 2024 on an Interpol Red Notice issued for drug trafficking charges.

“Collectively, they have coordinated significant shipments of narcotics from Central and South America to Europe, Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific Islands and the United States,” the US Department of Treasury alleged in a press release.

“Today’s sanctions are the result of strong collaboration with the Drug Enforcement Administration and a range of international law enforcement partners, including in Colombia, Lithuania and New Zealand.”

The sanctions are issued by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and mean that all property and interests of Karpacius, and related parties, in the United States are frozen.

The sanctions also mean that it is illegal to do business with Karpavicius or any related entities.

Rokas Karpavicius fled New Zealand for Europe in 2001 while on bail for serious drugs charges. Photo / Supplied

The sanctions against Karpavicius also encompass two of his associates with New Zealand links.

David Thackray is an Australian national who was charged in 2014 with importing nearly 1kg of cocaine into New Zealand.

Ho Kai Leung is the director of the two New Zealand-registered companies that are among the eight entities sanctioned by OFAC.

In 2009, Leung was convicted of importing methamphetamine into New Zealand and sentenced to 12 and a half years in prison.

“This is the first time that the OFAC sanction has been applied to people with a New Zealand nexus and sends a clear message that wherever you base yourself you are not out of reach,” said Detective Superintendent Greg Williams, the director of the National Organised Crime Group.

“OFAC’s sanctioning of these individuals and entities sends a clear message that New Zealand is working in unison with its international partners to stop the threats to our borders.”

Among the entities sanctioned overseas is a Switzerland-based company called Dragon Secure GmbH, which US authorities allege operates Kraden, an encrypted messaging application which has been used by drug traffickers.

Jared Savage is an award-winning journalist who covers crime and justice issues, with a particular interest in organised crime. He joined the Herald in 2006, and is the author of Gangland and Gangster’s Paradise.