Meth dealer says prohibited military-style rifle stashed in caravan was for ‘veterinary’ purposes
Wednesday, 17 June 2026
A methamphetamine dealer who was found to have a military-style rifle sandwiched between his mattress and caravan wall says it was for humanitarian and veterinary purposes.
Police arrested Mark Tansey on October 10 and searched his caravan in Canterbury after he offered to supply methamphetamine on dozens of occasions earlier last year.
According to a summary of the facts, officers found a Colt AR-15 A2 military-style semi-automatic rifle between his mattress and a wall.
A high-capacity magazine was located in the well of the firearm, loaded with multiple rounds of 5.56mm ammunition. Both the firearm and magazine are prohibited.
Judge Gerard Lynch questioned Tansey’s explanation for the rifle at the Christchurch District Court on Tuesday, before adjourning his sentencing to August.
“The weapon, are you suggesting it’s … for humanitarian purposes, or veterinary purposes?” he asked defence lawyer Madeleine Harris.
“Those are my instructions, sir,” she responded, adding there was paper evidence related to a lamb that had been in need of euthanising.
“What’s wrong with a good old-fashioned knife?” the judge questioned.
The prosecution indicated it thought the explanation was unusual and pointed out the euthanisation appeared to have occurred long before the rifle was found.
Police were able to prove Tansey had been offering to supply methamphetamine for months after obtaining multiple production orders for his cell phone.
He offered to supply no less than 65.7g between late February and August, most commonly offering 0.5g or 1g at a time.
Harris applied to adjourn Tansey’s sentencing in the interests of rehabilitation to coincide with a bed becoming available at residential treatment facility Odyssey House.
Judge Lynch adjourned the sentencing as requested.
Tansey’s representative charge of offering to supply methamphetamine carries a maximum imprisonment of life.
Unlawfully possessing a prohibited firearm carries a maximum five years’ imprisonment, while the maximum sentence for having a prohibited magazine is two years.