Anthony Netzler, a 53-year-old martial arts instructor, was sentenced on Monday to 15 years and seven months in prison by a New Zealand court for helping to mastermind the importation of what s been described as the second largest illegal shipment of methamphetamine in the country s history.
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A martial arts expert returned to New Zealand from Japan and joined a security company, but has now pleaded guilty to importing drugs.
Anthony Netzler trained in Japan under a famous ninjutsu grandmaster, but the 2011 tsunami upended his life. He headed home, where he worked as a bodyguard for stars, such as Phil Rudd of AC/DC, before police busted him for a major drugs importation. Tony Wall reports. By any measure, Anthony Charles Netzler has lived an unusual life. Auckland raised and of German-Samoan descent, he moved to Japan as a teenager and became a master of ninjutsu, the strategies and tactics of the legendary ninja, even appearing on Japanese variety shows.