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Podcast: The Front Page
Episode: Who is Xavier Valent? The story behind the Kiwi kingpin's drug empire
Description: Last week, 34-year-old Xavier Valent was sentenced to life in prison for importing drugs into New Zealand. It is only the third time someone has received a life sentence in this country for meth-related charges – but Valent was not your ordinary drug dealer. His six-week-long trial revealed details of the major global drug syndicate he sat at the head of, with dozens of ‘minions’ working for him as he travelled the world living a life of luxury. NZ Herald crime reporter George Block was the only media present in court for the whole trial an...