A man has changed his plea midway through a High Court trial in Christchurch, after admitting he imported 8kg of methamphetamine into New Zealand

Open Justice reports 32-year-old Sami Zagros was characterised by the Crown as the head of a drug syndicate, with a lavish lifestyle, flash car, stun-gun, and a high sum of cash at his home.

He is now in custody awaiting sentencing on July 6th, on charges that carry possible life prison sentences.

Zagros had denied the charges at a trial which began in March. but ran into trouble after three days.