poledriver
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Ex-cop faces drug trafficking charge after raids dismantle syndicate, police say
EXCLUSIVE
A former Victorian police officer who allegedly became a trusted member of a criminal syndicate that traded in drugs and guns has been charged with several offences, including commercial trafficking.
David Lister was allegedly found carrying half a kilogram of ice at an airport within months of resigning from the force. Mr Lister was a senior constable based in the northern suburbs before he was allegedly recruited by the syndicate that supplied ice to Melbourne's north west, central Victoria and the Queensland city of Townsville. Police say he resigned from the force in January.
North West Regional Crime Squad detectives say they have dismantled the cartel, which is linked to shootings and cannabis crop run-throughs in Melbourne's western suburbs, after a series of warrants on Monday and the charging of eight alleged key syndicate members, including its suspected ringleader.
Mr Lister, aged in his 30s, faced a court in Townsville last month after he was arrested on April 3 at the airport allegedly carrying half a kilogram of ice – about half a million dollars' worth – in a backpack.
He was bailed back to Melbourne and on Monday was charged with Victorian offences including commercial trafficking and misconduct in a public office following raids in Melbourne, country Victoria and Queensland.
The raids – in Essendon, Airport West, Kurunjang, Maribyrnong, Caroline Springs, Braybrook, Altona, St Albans, Kings Park, Corop (near Rochester) and Townsville – were the culmination of a seven-month investigation by the crime squad that allegedly uncovered the following:
Sixteen guns including a military grade Theron sub-machinegun, believed to be only one of two found by Victorian police. It was recovered at a house in Rockbank in January.
1.5 kilograms of ice, equivalent to more than a million dollars' worth.
Two clandestine laboratories, a heroin press and a cannabis crop house that was allegedly at the home of the former officer.
Fluoroamphetamine, a rare illegal stimulant, in a bathtub at the Rockbank unit three associates frequented.
The syndicate was initially identified after the crime squad linked it to a wave of dangerous aggravated burglaries, also called run-throughs, that targeted cannabis grow houses in the city's western suburbs last year.
Cont -
http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/e...tle-syndicate-police-say-20160502-gok20y.html
EXCLUSIVE
A former Victorian police officer who allegedly became a trusted member of a criminal syndicate that traded in drugs and guns has been charged with several offences, including commercial trafficking.
David Lister was allegedly found carrying half a kilogram of ice at an airport within months of resigning from the force. Mr Lister was a senior constable based in the northern suburbs before he was allegedly recruited by the syndicate that supplied ice to Melbourne's north west, central Victoria and the Queensland city of Townsville. Police say he resigned from the force in January.
North West Regional Crime Squad detectives say they have dismantled the cartel, which is linked to shootings and cannabis crop run-throughs in Melbourne's western suburbs, after a series of warrants on Monday and the charging of eight alleged key syndicate members, including its suspected ringleader.
Mr Lister, aged in his 30s, faced a court in Townsville last month after he was arrested on April 3 at the airport allegedly carrying half a kilogram of ice – about half a million dollars' worth – in a backpack.
He was bailed back to Melbourne and on Monday was charged with Victorian offences including commercial trafficking and misconduct in a public office following raids in Melbourne, country Victoria and Queensland.
The raids – in Essendon, Airport West, Kurunjang, Maribyrnong, Caroline Springs, Braybrook, Altona, St Albans, Kings Park, Corop (near Rochester) and Townsville – were the culmination of a seven-month investigation by the crime squad that allegedly uncovered the following:
Sixteen guns including a military grade Theron sub-machinegun, believed to be only one of two found by Victorian police. It was recovered at a house in Rockbank in January.
1.5 kilograms of ice, equivalent to more than a million dollars' worth.
Two clandestine laboratories, a heroin press and a cannabis crop house that was allegedly at the home of the former officer.
Fluoroamphetamine, a rare illegal stimulant, in a bathtub at the Rockbank unit three associates frequented.
The syndicate was initially identified after the crime squad linked it to a wave of dangerous aggravated burglaries, also called run-throughs, that targeted cannabis grow houses in the city's western suburbs last year.
Cont -
http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/e...tle-syndicate-police-say-20160502-gok20y.html
