Christchurch resident Kim Michael Dozier was jailed for four years and one month at the Christchurch District Court on 3 March for possession of LSD, cocaine, magic mushrooms, ketamine, MDMA and cannabis for supply. But prison was only part of the fallout. Justice Jonathan Eaton ordered the restraint of the pinball machines under the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act, meaning his entire collection of 13 arcade machines has now been confiscated and will be sold.
Following a May police raid on his garage arcade in Christchurch where drugs were found in various rooms within his house with $45,500 packed in 11 bundles, police also found his collection of arcade pinball machines, collectively worth between $150,000 and $172,000. The irony is stark: the drug haul amounted to roughly $125,000, but the confiscated machines are now valued higher.
Dozier had been running the garage arcade as "Kimzone" for several years. It was a genuine community space; the venue hosted neighbours, family, pinball competitions, and tournaments. But it also provided perfect cover for a distribution operation. Drugs were zip-locked or vacuum-sealed throughout the house and under pinball machines, with scales, measuring spoons and a mirror divided into four squares, each labelled with a different drug to consume, found in the arcade corner.
Judge Stephen O'Driscoll was direct about Dozier's scheme. "You were running a relatively sophisticated operation to support your lifestyle and deal in drugs," the judge said, "particularly in later stages when you were unemployed." The arcade gave Dozier a legitimate reason for traffic in and out of his home, making it easy for customers to arrive and leave without drawing suspicion.
Dozier's lawyer Andrew McKenzie didn't oppose the application and said his client accepted ownership of the machines. However, police said Dozier had arranged for some associates to clear his belongings, including the 13 machines from the address, while he was in custody. McKenzie told the High Court he understood police had identified the buyers and contacted them.
The International Flipper Pinball Association website shows Dozier ranked 30th in New Zealand. Despite his conviction and the loss of his collection, his standing within the pinball community remains intact. Members attended court proceedings to show support, and the competitive ranking reflects a genuine skill in the game, one entirely separate from his crimes.
The use of arcades as fronts for illegal activity is not new. Dark and noisy game halls have historically provided cover for drug trafficking, offering busy spaces where people flow through constantly. Dozier was operating within a tradition far older than contemporary barcades might suggest. Justice Eaton was satisfied that both the cash seized during the search and the pinball machines were tainted property and that Dozier had unlawfully benefited from significant criminal activity.