The Aus/NZ/Asian Drug Busts Mega-Thread El Número Cuatro

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Police concerned about backyard drug mix

POLICE say backyard chemistry was behind a massive scale drug operation running out of a Port Macquarie industrial area motorbike shop.

Three men, including a local business owner and his son are now facing a number of charges, after police raided a Jindalee Road business and seized almost $1 million of drugs.

Police will allege 45-year-old Blair Wylde-Browne, and his 23-year-old son Allen John Wylde-Browne were manufacturing and supplying drugs out of North Coast Quads. It will also be alleged co-accused 49-year-old David Angus Styles was a part of their operations and used his home as a drug “safe house”.

Police searched the local business, and two Port Macquarie homes during three simultaneous raids on Thursday afternoon.

North Coast Quads owner Blair Wylde-Brown was driving away from the shop in a Lexus at 2.30pm when police stopped him.

His son Allen, who is reportedly the manager of the shop, was then found and arrested inside the building.

At roughly the same time, another group of officers raided Styles’ Golf Street home.

Police reportedly found more than 6500 tablets, 15kg of pink precursor base powder which the prohibited drug methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV), and a pill press machine.

Police charge sheets said black pills and powder were found lying on the floor and on benchtops in the home's office area of the business.

A total of $825,000 worth of drugs were reportedly found at Styles' home, including thousands of finished designer pills hidden in a plastic tub.

Port Macquarie Police Chief Inspector Shane Cribb said the large haul will have a significant impact on drug supply not only in Port Macquarie, but across the country.

"It's an extremely large find - it's massive - especially for a regional area," Chief Inspector Cribb told the Port News.

He praised the work of a large group of officers from the Mid North Coast Local Area Command who worked on the investigation "day and night for a considerable time".

Earlier this year, investigators attached to Port Macquarie detectives initiated Operation FOGO to investigate the alleged illegal dealings of the Wylde-Browns.

A number of warrants allowed for the extensive surveillance of their local business.

Police will claim North Coast Quads operated as a bike sales and repair centre, but a major component of its income stemmed from drug manufacture and supply.

Chief Inspector Cribb said the most frightening aspect of the find, was in the way the drugs were made

"They [backyard chemists] mix-up a number of chemicals to form this tablet without any sort of idea what they're doing," Chief Inspector Cribb said.

"It's a concern for the town, and it's a concern for the people who are out there taking these pills."

The three men - all fathers - were refused bail after appearing at the Port Macquarie Local Court on Friday.

http://www.portnews.com.au/story/1793159/police-concerned-about-backyard-drug-mix/?cs=256

 

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Police swoop on gang - South-West Sydney

Police have seized drugs, weapons and cash and arrested 13 men after executing a number of search warrants in Sydney’s south-west this morning (Monday 23 September 2013).

The seizures and arrests follow an 18-month joint investigation by Strike Force Evesson, involving investigators from the Fairfield Local Area Command and the NSW Crime Commission.

NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione, said today’s arrests would seriously disrupt the business dealings of a local organised gang.

“We will allege in court that the men arrested today are members or associates of DLASTHR,” Commissioner Scipione said.

“DLASTHR is a violent, organised gang that has been involved in public-place shootings, vicious assaults, drug dealing and extortion.

“The hard work and unwavering determination of Fairfield Detectives and the NSW Crime Commission has paid off, and we are confident today’s arrests will seriously disrupt the business dealings of this particular syndicate.

“Nevertheless, our work is not yet done and we need the assistance of the local community to help us continue investigations into the rest of the gang.”

Today’s operation commenced at 6am, when dozens of specialist police joined investigators from Fairfield Local Area Command in executing a search warrant at a semi-rural property in Rossmore.

In total, 22 search warrants were executed across Sydney’s south-west at properties in Fairfield, Bonnyrigg, Horningsea Park, Hinchinbrook, Hoxton Park, Campbelltown, Wetherill Park, Liverpool, Warwick Farm, Cartwright, Smithfield, Greenfield Park, Bossley Park, Canley Vale and Rossmore.

In addition to attending numerous residential properties, police also searched two car dealerships and a real estate agency. All three businesses are located in Liverpool.

At the property in Rossmore, police arrested a 34-year-old man and seized drugs, cash and items that police will allege in court are the proceeds of crime. These items include four jet-skis and a boat. The man was taken to Green Valley Police Station and charged with:

Knowingly direct activities of criminal group;
Recruit other to assist in carrying out criminal activity;
Drug supply; and,
Aggravated robbery.
A further 12 men have been arrested and are in the process of being charged with a range of offences including grievous bodily harm, drug supply and participate in a criminal group.

Today’s 13 arrests take the total number of people arrested by Strike Force Evesson to 33.

Assistant Commissioner Frank Mennilli, Commander of the South West Metro Region, said Fairfield Police and the NSW Crime Commission would continue their investigation into the activities of local organised networks and are hopeful of more arrests in the coming months.

“We want to put this whole syndicate out of business,” Assistant Commissioner Mennilli said.

“As well as allegedly being involved in drug supply, extortion and a number of assaults, we believe the DLASTHR has been involved in more than a dozen public place shootings in Sydney over the last two years.”

Fairfield Local Area Commander, Superintendent Peter Lennon, said police are reliant on the community for information to help them suppress organized gangs.

“We are working around the clock to rid the local area of criminal activity but we need the community’s help in order to succeed.

“Any information you provide, no matter how insignificant it may seem, could help us get violent gang members, guns and drugs off our streets.

“Information can be provided anonymously and it can be provided in languages other than English.

“Please do the right thing. If you have information that may help us stop this sort of behaviour, please share it with us. It could save the life of someone you love.”

Strike Force Evesson, which is supported by the NSW Crime Commission’s Operation Ramsgate, will continue over the coming months.

http://www.police.nsw.gov.au/news/m...vdi5hdSUyRm1lZGlhJTJGMzI3NjMuaHRtbCZhbGw9MQ==

 

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Man arrested for drug and firearm offences - Tweed Valley


Police attached to the Tweed/Byron Local Area Command’s Strikeforce Ensign arrested a 26-year-old man yesterday (Friday 20 September 2013) for drug and firearm offences.

About 2.15pm, police executed a search warrant on the man’s home in Smiths Creek Road, Uki.

They allegedly found 46 cannabis plants, a quantity of harvested leaf, 12 shotgun cartridges and a dismantled 12-gauge shotgun.

Police arrested the man and he was taken to Tweed Heads Police Station.

He was charged with cultivate prohibited plant, supply prohibited drug, possess prohibited drug, possess unlicensed firearm and not keep firearm safe.

The man was granted conditional bail and will appear at Tweed Heads Local Court on Thursday 14 October 2013.


http://www.police.nsw.gov.au/news/m...vdi5hdSUyRm1lZGlhJTJGMzI3MjkuaHRtbCZhbGw9MQ==

 

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Media Release: Joint Adelaide operation seizes gun and drugs

This is a joint media release from the Australian Federal Police, Australian Customs and Border Protection Service and South Australia Police.

A joint Australian Federal Police (AFP), Australian Customs and Border Protection Service (ACBPS) and South Australian Police (SAPOL) operation has resulted in the arrest of two people—including a member of the Gypsy Jokers motorcycle gang—in relation to the seizure of a semi-automatic firearm and approximately seven kilograms of cannabis, 38 cannabis plants and four litres of GBL.

A 31-year-old Glanville man was arrested for importing the border controlled drug, gamma-Butyrolactone (GBL). GBL is commonly known for its use as a 'date rape' drug.

The investigation also resulted in the 31-year-old male being charged with drug importation and firearm offences while a 22-year-old Glanville woman was charged with firearms offences.

The operation began earlier this week when ACBPS officers intercepted a package containing eight bottles of a liquid labelled as cleaning fluid. The liquid was tested and returned a positive result for GBL. The package (containing approximately four litres of the liquid) was referred to the AFP for further investigation.

Yesterday (Thursday) the AFP and SAPOL Serious and Organised Crime Investigation Branch conducted a controlled delivery operation. The man took delivery of the package at a residence in Glanville and was later arrested while in a vehicle with the woman.

A search of the vehicle discovered a firearm and a large amount of ammunition.

A further search conducted by SAPOL at another associated residence in Burton discovered approximately 800ml of GBL, approximately seven kilograms of cannabis, 38 cannabis plants and hydroponic growing equipment.

AFP Manager Adelaide Office Mick Calatzis warned anyone thinking of importing drugs through the mail to think again.

"If you try to bring in drugs through the mail system you face the combined efforts of a number of law enforcement agencies," Commander Calatzis said.

"This wasn't a small amount for personal use. GBL is a prohibited drug and four litres of this equates to thousands of doses and any one of those could have tragic outcomes for the user."

"The AFP will continue to work with our border and state counterparts to stem the supply of drugs such this."

ACBPS National Manager Cargo Operations Jagtej Singh commended the officers involved in the initial seizure and subsequent arrests.

"Our solid partnerships with the AFP and SAPOL are paramount in disrupting criminal activity of this nature," Mr Singh said.

The 31-year-old Glanville Man was charged by the AFP with Import a Commercial Quantity of a Border Controlled drug. He was also charged by SAPOL with being an unlicensed person in possession of a firearm.

The 22-year-old Glanville woman was charged by SAPOL with possess a firearm without a licence and possess an insecure firearm.

Further charges for both people are being considered.

The maximum penalty for importing border controlled drugs is life imprisonment and/or an $825,000 fine.

Inquiries into this matter are continuing.

http://www.afp.gov.au/media-centre/...-adelaide-operation-seizes-gun-and-drugs.aspx

 

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Media Release: International drug syndicate dismantled after 274kg ephedrine seizure
Release Date: Wednesday, September 25 2013, 09:30 AM

A multi-agency investigation has resulted in a 274kg seizure of ephedrine hidden in a shipment of rice from India into Melbourne.

This is one of the largest single seizures of ephedrine in Australian history and resulted in a joint operation involving the Australian Federal Police (AFP), the Department of Agriculture and the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service (ACBPS).

It is estimated 274kg of ephedrine could be used to manufacture up to 200 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine. Dependent on purity this would have an estimated potential street value of up to $200 million.

Four people have been charged for their alleged involvement in the importation and intended distribution of the ephedrine.

The operation began on 16 July 2013 following the examination of a consignment that arrived into the Port of Melbourne from India containing bags labelled as ‘basmati rice’.

The consignment, containing an estimated 3,600 bags of rice, was subjected to a physical biosecurity examination by Department of Agriculture biosecurity officers who identified a crystalline substance loosely distributed throughout the rice in some of the bags. The ACBPS subsequently confirmed the substance was ephedrine.

On Wednesday, 24 July 2013, the AFP commenced a controlled delivery of the consignment to a storage facility in the Melbourne suburb of Springvale. On Monday, 5 August the consignment was transported to a storage facility in the Sydney suburb of Fairfield.

On 23 September 2013, AFP officers executed nine search warrants in Melbourne and Sydney. Evidence seized included $255,000 in cash. As a result three people were arrested and three subsequently charged.

Following these arrests, Indian authorities, acting on information provided through the AFP International Network, arrested an Indian national. This individual is alleged to be responsible for organising the ephedrine and sending the consignment to Australia.

AFP National Manager Crime Operations Ian McCartney said this operation is a testament to the combined efforts of the AFP, international and domestic partner agencies in stopping criminals from importing drugs into Australia.

“The AFP and partner agencies have dismantled this multinational syndicate and significantly stemmed the flow of narcotics on to Australian streets. The syndicate is indicative of the nature of criminal enterprises that exist only to make a profit, regardless of the harmful effect these drugs will have on Australians once they hit our streets,” National Manager Crime Operations McCartney said.

“Our best weapon in combating these multinational syndicates is close collaboration between partner agencies here and overseas. This operation is a fantastic example of how these collaborations can lead to great results that deliver for the community.”

Department of Agriculture First Assistant Secretary for Border Compliance Tim Chapman said the seizure demonstrated the cooperative approach border agencies took to combating illicit activity.

“While the Department of Agriculture’s focus is on safeguarding Australia from exotic pests and diseases, we always watch for illegal activities and share intelligence,” Mr Chapman said.

ACBPS National Director Compliance and Enforcement, Karen Harfield, said the success of this investigation sends a strong message to both Australian-based and international drug syndicates.

“Once again this highlights the ongoing work conducted by partner agencies at the border. I would like to thank all of the officers involved in this investigation,” Mrs Harfield said.

Summary of charges:

Two Canadian nationals and one Australian man have been charged with supply a commercial quantity of a prohibited drug contrary to section 25 (2) of the Drugs Misuse and Trafficking Act 1985 (NSW).
A fourth man was also arrested and is currently assisting police with enquiries.

Investigations into the importation are continuing.

Questions relating to arrests in India should be directed to the Indian authorities.

http://www.afp.gov.au/media-centre/...dismantled-after-274kg-ephedrine-seizure.aspx

 

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Rebels nominee charged with drug offences after car stop - Strike Force Raptor

Police from the Gangs Squad’s Strike Force Raptor have charged a Rebels nominee with drug offences after more than six kilograms of cannabis was located in a car in Sydney’s west.

About 6.40pm yesterday (Tuesday 24 September 2013), Middle Eastern Organised Crime Squad Highway Patrol stopped a four-wheel-drive on Mamre Road, Orchard Hills.

A search of the vehicle led to the seizure of 6.9kg of cannabis in the boot of the vehicle. Police also located more than $11,000 cash and about 30g of amphetamine in the car.

The driver and sole occupant, a 40-year-old Rebels nominee, was arrested and taken to Penrith Police Station where he was charged by Strike Force Raptor officers with two counts of supply prohibited drug greater than an indictable quantity, and one count of dealing with the proceeds of crime.

He was given conditional bail to appear at Penrith Local Court on Thursday 24 October 2013.

Strike Force Raptor was established by State Crime Command’s Gangs Squad in 2009. It is a proactive and high-impact operation targeting outlaw motorcycle gangs and any associated criminal enterprises.

http://www.police.nsw.gov.au/news/m...vdi5hdSUyRm1lZGlhJTJGMzI3OTQuaHRtbCZhbGw9MQ==

 

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Couple arrested for drug supply; stolen luxury car and firearms seized - Middle Eastern Organised Crime Squad

Middle Eastern Organised Crime Squad (MEOCS) detectives have arrested a man and a woman for drug supply, and seized a stolen luxury car and prohibited firearms after investigations in Sydney’s north-west.

On Friday 20 September 2013, officers executed search warrants at a garage in a block of units at Westmead and a unit in Greystanes.

In the garage at Westmead, police located a stolen Mercedes C63 sedan valued at $169,000. Inside the vehicle was a Glock pistol with an extended 30-round magazine, balaclavas and gloves.

At the Greystanes address, police located in excess of 120g of methylamphetamine (‘ice’), $34,685 in cash, a .45 semi automatic pistol with two magazines and 13 rounds of ammunition, and other items associated with the supply of prohibited drugs.

A 27-year-old woman was arrested that day and charged with supplying prohibited drugs, possession of a prohibited firearm, and knowingly dealing in the proceeds of crime. She remains in custody to appear at Parramatta Local Court on Thursday 3 October, 2013.

About 8.30pm yesterday (Monday 23 September 2013), a 21-year-old man was arrested when he attended Merrylands Police Station.

He was also charged with drug and firearm offences and knowingly dealing in the proceeds of crime, and was refused bail to appear at Fairfield Local Court today (Tuesday 24 September 2013).

Inquiries into the items seized are continuing.

http://www.police.nsw.gov.au/news/m...vdi5hdSUyRm1lZGlhJTJGMzI3NzkuaHRtbCZhbGw9MQ==

 

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Cocaine seized at Sydney Airport valued at $450,000 - 25 September 2013

A 26-year-old American national is scheduled to appear in Sydney Central Local Court today charged with importing 1.5 kilograms of cocaine into Australia.

Australian Customs and Border Protection Service (ACBPS) officers selected the man for a baggage examination when he arrived at Sydney Airport yesterday on a flight from Argentina.

ACBPS officers x-rayed the man’s bag during the examination and noticed anomalies in the lining. When officers further inspected the bag’s lining they found a black resin. Initial testing of the resin gave a positive result for cocaine.

“This is a significant hit for the airport environment,” ACBPS National Director Passengers, Jeff Buckpitt said.

“The seizure made by our officers has stopped a dangerous drug with an estimated street value of up to $450,000 from reaching our communities.”

The matter was referred to the Australian Federal Police, who later charged the man with importing a marketable quantity of a border controlled drug, namely cocaine, contrary to section 307.2 of the Criminal Code Act 1995.

Further forensic testing will be undertaken to confirm the exact weight and purity of the substance.

The maximum penalty for this offence is 25 years imprisonment and/or an $850,000 fine.

http://www.customs.gov.au/site/130925mediarelease_cocaine-seizure.asp

 

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$2m meth haul actually sports supplement

ORGANISED-CRIME police in Perth who believed they had found a $2 million haul of methylamphetamine have been thwarted by drug tests showing the cache of white powder was actually a popular, but controversial, sport supplement.

The bizarre circumstance was revealed during the court appearance in Perth of Rissa Maree Hewitt, the wife of former armed robber Brett Maston - who was once dubbed Australia's most wanted man.

Hewitt was appearing charged with possession of methylamphetamine with intent to sell or supply, after being arrested following a raid on an apartment in East Perth earlier this year.

The raid on the flat, belonging to Maston's friend Martin Seroka, turned up the haul of around 3.5kg of what police believed was methylamphetamine, worth around $2 million on the streets.

A 7.8 gram packet of the same substance was found in the pocket of Hewitt's jeans, and she was subsequently charged.

However, chief magistrate Steven Heath was on Thursday told subsequent tests on the substance in Hewitt's pocket, and on the bigger quantities in the flat, showed it was in fact dimethylamylamine, commonly known as DMAA.

DMAA is widely used as an ingredient in sports and bodybuilding supplements, but had also been linked with potential adverse effects including increased heart rate and blood pressure, psychiatric disorders, brain haemorrhages and strokes.

In August 2012, it was made illegal to possess DMAA in Western Australia under the state's Misuse of Drugs Act.

The court was told Hewitt, the mother of a two-year-old son, was kept in jail for four nights following her arrest, despite the small quantity of the drugs found on her.

Magistrate Heath fined Hewitt $300, and ordered the drugs be destroyed.


Read more: http://www.news.com.au/breaking-new...nt/story-e6frfku9-1226727663850#ixzz2fyY2n3zS

 

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Police seize ice, guns in northern raid

Police have seized guns, cash and a significant amount of drugs in raids in Tasmania's north.

Tasmania Police raided a property at Swan Bay, outside Launceston yesterday afternoon and seized a utility they allege was stolen from Tasmania's south earlier in the day.

Police say they found 400 grams of methylamphetamine, the drug commonly known as ice and nearly $45,000 in cash.

It is alleged two pistols, a rifle and ammunition were also found at the property.

A 31-year-old man from Swan Bay and a 21-year-old from the Launceston suburb of Summerhill have been charged with drug trafficking, theft and firearms offences.

The men will appear in court this morning and the woman has been bailed to appear in court in November.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-09-27/police-seize-drugs2c-guns-in-northern-raid/4984236

 

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Brighton man arrested in connection with large drug trafficking syndicate

A Victoria Police taskforce has arrested a man in Melbourne's south-eastern suburbs in connection with a large drug importation and trafficking syndicate.

The 46-year-old Brighton man was arrested at 7:35am (AEST).

He is expected to face the Melbourne Magistrates Court today, charged with trafficking a commercial quantity of drugs.

It is the third arrest for the Trident Taskforce, which was set up in 2012 to investigate criminal activity around Melbourne's docks.

The taskforce is working to reduce organised crime including theft, money laundering and the importation of drugs, tobacco, stolen goods and firearms.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-09-...onnection-with-large-drug-trafficking/4980050

 

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Pair avoids jail over drug importation from Bali

Two young women have been spared jail over drug importation from Bali.

The Adelaide District Court was told they accepted an all-expenses-paid trip to Indonesia in exchange for getting pseudoephedrine back into Australia.

Morgan Smith, 19, and Emily Page, 20, pleaded guilty to importing a marketable quantity of a controlled precursor drug.

The court heard they went to Bali about a year ago and last November Smith was stopped by customs officers in Sydney, a search of her suitcase revealing drugs in tablet and liquid form.

Days later, six parcels of tablets were intercepted by customs.

Chief Judge Geoffrey Muecke said Smith naively thought she could make easy money and get a trip to Bali.

He said Page was the drug mule.

Smith was sentenced to 18 months in jail and Page 11 months, but both released on $1,000 good behaviour bonds.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-09-25/pair-avoids-jail-over-drug-importation-from-bali/4979914

 

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Ephedrine hidden in bags of rice

Some of the estimated 3,600 bags of rice from India in which 274kg of ephedrine were hidden, at a storage facility in the Melbourne suburb of Springvale, July 24, 2013. Photo released September 25, 2013.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-09-25/bags-of-rice-in-which-ephedrine-was-hidden/4979670

 

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Broome woman found guilty over drug charges

A jury has found a 27-year-old woman guilty of posting hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of drugs to herself to sell in Broome.

Thi My Huong Do was charged in November last year with attempting to possess prohibited drugs with intent to sell or supply.

The Broome District Court this week heard police intercepted a parcel at the Broome post office containing just under an ounce of methylamphetamine.

They switched the drugs with salt, left it to be collected and later caught Do at her home trying to smoke the salt crystals.

Detectives told the court the drugs had a purity of 74 per cent and could have been sold in Broome for almost $400,000.

Do was found guilty and sentenced to three-and-a-half years jail with parole.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-09-20/broome-woman-found-guilty-of-drug-charges/4971070

 

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'Promising' young footballer jailed for trafficking ice

A court has been told a promising young football player who began dealing in the drug "ice" is a stark example of the way the substance is ruining young lives.

Jak Kennedy-Hunt, 24, of Torquay has been sentenced to more than four years in jail for trafficking methamphetamines.

He was arrested with three other men in Castlemaine last year when police found the drug ice worth a street value of $80,000 in their car.

Kennedy-Hunt pleaded guilty to five charges.

The court was told he was a talented football player who had lost his way.

The judge Jane Campton said he had squandered his potential for the sake of transient highs, and was a stark example of how ice was ruining young lives.

Kennedy-Hunt will be eligible for parole after two years and three months.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-09-...footballer-jailed-for-trafficking-ice/4969564

 

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Police launch coordinated drug raids across Perth targeting suburban drug dealers

Police have seized drugs, stolen property and illegal firearms in a series of coordinated raids across Perth.

The operation targeting suburban drug dealers has resulted in dozens of arrests.

Teams of police stormed nearly 50 properties across the Perth metropolitan area in surprise early morning raids.

Code-named 'Operation Crackdown', the raids were the culmination of months of planning, with intelligence gathered from calls to CrimeStoppers and covert police surveillance.

The raids were aimed at disrupting street-level drug dealers.

Among the haul, illicit drugs, illegal weapons, stolen property and tens of thousands of dollars in cash suspected to be the proceeds of crime.

As police raided a home in the suburb of Willagee, neighbours clapped and applauded the officers.

Residents say the occupants are not only suspected drug dealers, but are also responsible for much of the anti-social behaviour in the street.


At a house in Two Rocks, Clarkson detectives found two WA police badges along with a quantity of amphetamine, unlicensed ammunition and a four-wheel-drive stolen from an address in Floreat two weeks ago.

Earlier this week, detectives attached to Operation Crackdown raided a Mullaloo home and found $250,000 worth of stolen property, including a car, motorcycles and electronics.

Police say Perth's suburban drug trade is a big driver of property crime, with burglary and stealing offences often committed to support drug habits.

Police are tonight interviewing a number of people, as they tally up the quantities of drugs and other items seized.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-09-19/wa-police-launch-drug-raids/4969038

 

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Man fined $6K over cannabis stash

A man caught with nearly half a kilogram of cannabis in his car has been fined thousands of dollars in a Kimberley court.

Police stopped Kobi Neal Drake, 31, last month outside the Fitzroy Crossing service station and searched his car.

They found 455 grams of cannabis and amphetamines.

Drake appeared in the Broome Magistrates Court this week to face nine drug and traffic-related offences.

He was fined just over $6,000.

Meanwhile, a man, who took videos of a woman showering in Broome, without her consent, has been sentenced.

Richard Christopher Lee appeared in the Broome Magistrates Court this week charged with visually recording a private activity.

Police say he used his phone to film through a window of the woman's Chinatown home.

The court heard when the woman spotted Lee and told her partner, the two men got into a fight.

The magistrate placed Lee on an eight-month, intensive supervision order.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-09-19/man-fined-6k-over-cannabis-stash/4968656

 

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Acquitted Australian Dominic Bird must stay in Malaysia pending drug trafficking appeal

An Australian man acquitted in Malaysia of drug trafficking has been ordered to surrender his passport and remain in the country pending a government appeal.

Dominic Bird, 33, was acquitted two weeks ago, seemingly ending an 18-month legal ordeal.

But he was arrested five days later as he sought to leave the country for his home in Perth.

Authorities said they would appeal against his acquittal.

Mr Bird's lawyers called his re-arrest unconstitutional, but a three-judge panel today rejected that argument.

"An appeal is a continuation of a trial. Consequently, criminal proceedings against the respondent are revived," the panel's head justice Azhar Mohamed said.

The panel granted Mr Bird bail but ordered him to surrender his passport.

"We order that an early date be fixed for the appeal," Justice Azhar said.

Mr Bird's lawyer Shafee Abdullah said his legal team will continue to argue the unconstitutionality of the re-arrest.

He says it is uncertain when the government's appeal against Mr Bird's acquittal will begin.

Mr Bird, from the southern Perth suburb of Success, was arrested in March last year after allegedly trying to sell 167 grams of methamphetamine to an undercover police officer.

Possession of more than 50 grams of the drug carries a mandatory death penalty in Malaysia.

But a judge in Kuala Lumpur acquitted Mr Bird on September 4, saying the prosecution had failed to prove its case.

The credibility of the police inspector involved in the sting has been repeatedly questioned, and he was charged and fined for contempt for attempting to intimidate and bribe a witness two weeks ago.

Defence lawyers had based much of their case on the assertion that a government chemist had erred when analysing the substance found on their client.

Since 1960 nearly 450 people have been put to death under Malaysia's tough anti-drug laws.

Two Australians were executed in 1986 for heroin trafficking - the first Westerners to be hanged.

The government has not issued a breakdown by nationality of those on death row but it said last year 449 foreigners were among those awaiting trial for offences that could potentially incur the death penalty.

Hundreds of people are on death row, many for drug-related offences, though few have been executed in recent years.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-09-...ered-to-stay-in-malaysia-drugs-appeal/4963248

 

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Man to face court for alleged drug offences - Goulburn

A man will face court next month after he was allegedly found in possession of prohibited drugs.

About 7pm yesterday (Thursday 26 September 2013), police were speaking to an 18-year-old man outside Goulburn Train Station, when he ran away and into the railway corridor.

He was chased by police, and arrested a short time later.

During a subsequent search, the man was allegedly found to be in possession of an amount of prohibited drugs, including cannabis and pills.

He was taken to Goulburn Police Station where he was charged with supply a prohibited drug and possess prohibited drug.

The man was given conditional bail and will appear in Goulburn Local Court on Wednesday 23 October 2013.

http://www.police.nsw.gov.au/news/m...vdi5hdSUyRm1lZGlhJTJGMzI4NDAuaHRtbCZhbGw9MQ==

 

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Trident Arrests 'Rebels' Member, Seize Drugs

A 29-year-old male member of the Darwin Chapter of the Rebels Outlaw Motorcycle Gang (OMCG) has been arrested at a Woodroffe premises occupied by an ex Hells Angels member.
He was arrested in relation to a warrant to attend Darwin Supreme Court in relation to charges for Attempting to Pervert the Course of Justice, and numerous other offences.

Detective Senior Sergeant Mark Stringer from Strike Force Trident said Police tracked the fugitive down to the Woodroffe address and found the Rebels Outlaw Bikie in the ceiling of the house.

“Police also located and seized a quantity of methamphetamine, cannabis, cannabis seeds and a class A clandestine laboratory inside the residence.”

Investigations are continuing in relation to the clandestine drug lab and drugs located.

Detective Senior Sergeant Stringer said, “It was good a good result to finally catch up with this guy. We almost had him last week when he ran from us and ended up in a pile of manure.”

He will appear in Darwin Magistrates Court on Monday 30 September.

http://www.pfes.nt.gov.au/Media-Cen...rident-Arrests-Rebels-Member-Seize-Drugs.aspx