The Australian/NZ Drug Busts Mega-Thread Part Deux

[hoptis]

Police swoop on drug lab
September 17, 2008 07:54am

POLICE have swooped on a drug manufacturing laboratory in the kitchen of a house in Melbourne's west.

A 40-year-old man was last night arrested about 8.20pm at his Avondale Heights home, police said.

He was later charged with trafficking and manufacturing amphetamines.

He is due to appear in the Melbourne Magistrates' Court today.

Herald Sun

 

[hoptis]

Woman 'caught with cocaine in wig'
September 24, 2008 02:55pm

AN American woman has been charged with importing more than one kilogram of cocaine into Australia hidden under her wig.

Customs officers at Sydney airport stopped the 54-year-old for baggage examination after she arrived on a flight from Amsterdam via Singapore yesterday.

She was referred to police after they found white powder hidden under a wig sewn into her hair.

Testing revealed the powder contained cocaine.

The woman is due to appear in Sydney Central Local Court today.

The maximum penalty for the offence is 25 years imprisonment and/or a $550,000 fine.

The incident follows a number of charges of cocaine importation into Sydney in the last two weeks.
Two US teenagers appeared in court last week charged with importing cocaine on a flight from Los Angeles on September 17.

A New Zealand man and an Australian man were charged with importing cocaine in 59 packages concealed internally on a flight from Los Angeles on September 10.

News.com.au

 

[hoptis]

Raids uncover 'Aladdin's cave' of drugs and cash
Marika Dobbin
September 25, 2008 - 1:55PM

Police discovered an "Aladdin's cave'' of luxury goods, cash and the drug ice during a raid on a house in Melbourne's west this morning.

Drug taskforce detectives, with police drug dogs, raided a home in Braybrook and four other properties as part of a three-month operation to wipe out a Melbourne drug syndicate specialising in ice.
Drug raid seizes cash and handbags

Police seize drugs, cash, designer handbags, credit card-making facilities, and a car from a Braybrook residence.

They discovered a commercial quantity of ice, credit card making machines and more than $45,000 in cash.

Police also seized a 2008 model Lexus worth more than $80,000, and a dozen Louis Vuitton and other designer handbags worth about $1000 each, expensive designer suits and plasma televisions.

Investigators are questioning a 45-year-old Braybrook man and a Camberwell man in his mid-30s.

Detective Inspector Doug Fryer said the raid uncovered an "Aladdin's cave".

Officers carried away clothing in Versace dust jackets, bags, cash and other goods from the house at 10.30am this morning, with a police truck expected later to remove larger items.

Detective Inspector Fryer alleged the two men in custody worked together supplying Melbourne dealers with ice.

"We'll continue to target those who cause misery on our society in an attempt to disrupt illicit drug activity.''

He said there may be further arrests to come, with investigators focusing on the credit card making machines.

The Age

 

[mushi mushi 88]

Why would you deal drugs if you had a credit card making machine...?

Wouldn't you just use them to buy whatever you wanted seeing as that's why people usually deal drugs to make money... Although nothing beats hard cold cash I guess.

 

[belarki]

An unsuspecting mother drove her teenage son to an alleged drug deal rendezvous in Sydney on Thursday where police were waiting.

The 19-year-old man from Bondi was arrested in the Ramsgate Street car park at North Bondi about 10.30am (AEST) during an alleged deal for 1,000 ecstasy tablets, police said.

Three men sitting in a nearby car were questioned but later released without charge.

His mother is not believed to have known about the alleged deal and is not facing any charges.

Following the teenager's arrest, a 26-year-old man, alleged to be a source for the drugs, was taken into custody at a house in Westmoreland St at Glebe.

He will face Newtown Local Court later Thursday, charged with supplying a commercial quantity of a prohibited drug and supplying an indictable quantity of a prohibited drug.

The 19-year-old has been charged with large commercial supply of a prohibited drug, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years.

He is expected to face Waverley Local Court later Thursday.

Strike Force Dooley was established by the Surry Hills Region Enforcement Squad in May to investigate the supply of ecstasy in the eastern suburbs and distribution to inner-city club-goers.

During the operation, officers have seized ecstasy pills with an estimated street value of $110,000.

Surry Hills Region Enforcement Squad Commander Detective Inspector Gavin Wood said the investigation was continuing with further arrests likely.

"We are constantly targeting those people engaged in dealing illicit drugs and taking them off the streets," he said.

"Every drug arrest we make further disrupts the supply network and I can assure the community that we will only continue to step up our activities."

02.10.08 Nine MSN

 

[hoptis]

Scott Miller faces nine new drug charges
October 8, 2008 - 5:48PM

Former Olympic swimmer Scott Miller is facing nine more drugs charges following police drugs raids in Sydney's northern beaches earlier this year.

Miller was arrested on April 16 after a raid on a storage unit at Brookvale where police uncovered a tablet press capable of producing 27,000 pills an hour, and a professional tablet counter.

They also allegedly seized capsicum spray, the anabolic steroid stanozolol and Stilnox sleeping tablets obtained without a prescription, from Miller's Dee Why unit.

Miller's friend Mark Catchpole, 40, the son of Wallabies rugby legend Ken Catchpole, also was arrested and charged after the storage unit raid.

Miller has previously pleaded not guilty to possessing a tablet press, possessing a prohibited weapon and two counts of possessing a restricted substance.

Today in Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court, police charged the 33-year-old with nine more offences, including seven counts of supplying a prohibited drug and supplying an indictable quantity of a prohibited drug.

Miller remains on bail, and will reappear in the Downing Centre Local Court on November 6.

Catchpole is still before the courts on 13 charges after police allegedly found a loaded gun, $224,000 in cash and various drugs in his Seaforth home.

Miller won a silver medal in the 100m butterfly and a bronze in the men's medley relay at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. AAP

SMH

 

[hoptis]

Teenager charged with pedophilia, drug supply
October 18, 2008 - 6:11PM

An 18-year-old man has been charged with 10 sex and drug offences after an alleged incident at Cunnamulla, 970km west of Brisbane.

Police said the incident, including alleged pedophilia, happened on October 16.

The man has been charged with two counts of rape, four counts of indecent treatment of children under 16, two counts of take minor for immoral purposes and two counts of supply dangerous drugs to a minor.

The man was due to face the Charleville Magistrates Court today.

Menawhile, on the Gold Coast police say they have shut down a drug operation with the seizing of one kilogram of ecstasy powder in an overnight drug blitz.

Three men were charged after detectives from the State Drug Investigation Unit executed a search warrant at a Broadbeach house at 3am today.

Police found two pill presses, one kilogram of ecstasy powder and 200 tablets, believed to be ecstasy.

The house was unoccupied at the time, but two men later found nearby were taken into custody.

A third man was later found and charged.

The three men, aged 21, 22 and 26, have been charged with production of a dangerous drug, possession of MDMA and possession of equipment used in connection with the production of a dangerous drug.

The men will appear in Southport Magistrates Court on Monday.

AAP

Brisbane Times

 

[Klue]

Drug Operation In Western Suburbs A Success

The end of an eight month long Victoria Police drug operation has resulted in the seizure of cannabis worth more than $8.1 million in street value.

The Altona North Regional Response Unit started Operation Plexel in February targeting an international cannabis drug syndicate operating in the western suburbs.

Following investigations, police spent September and October searching 32 properties in several suburbs including St Albans, Sunshine, Hoppers Crossing, Delahey, Deer Park and Roxburgh Park.

Police charged 33 offenders with a total of 179 offences including cultivate, traffic and possess drug of dependence.

Altona North RRU Acting Senior Sergeant Jason Templar said the total street value of cannabis seized had a street value of $8.1 million.

Police also seized 2727 marijuana plants, $40,000 cash, $500,000 worth of hydroponic equipment, 32kg of cultivated cannabis and $1.7 million worth of assets including four residential premises.

Act Sen Sgt Templar said the operation had been a complex and extensive investigation.

“We believe we have shut down a major syndicate of drug traffickers operating in the western suburbs,” he said.

“This investigation has sparked ongoing enquiries in relation to what appears to be a growing trend to use houses for the purpose of cannabis cultivation.”

Media Release

 

[kingpin007]

Three refused bail over drug charges


October 31, 2008 - 7:15AM


Three men linked to an alleged $20 million Sydney drug manufacturing syndicate have been refused bail at court appearances on Friday.

Police seized cash, drugs and guns in 11 property raids across NSW on Thursday, arresting four men.

Officers allegedly found large stockpiles of precursor chemicals at several homes, a clandestine drug laboratory at Blackett, in Sydney's west, and seized a pill press at an industrial unit at Moorebank, in the south-west.

Abdullah Sedat Dogramaci, 60, from Castle Hill, faced Hornsby Local Court charged with one count of knowingly taking part in the manufacture of a prohibited drug.

He was refused bail by Magistrate Leslie Brennan until a November 11 appearance at Parramatta Local Court.

Shannon Brett Eckersley, 32, from Hebersham, appeared at Mt Druitt Local Court on two counts of manufacturing a commercial quantity of prohibited drug and two counts of supplying a commercial quantity of a prohibited drug.

He was refused bail and scheduled to appear in Penrith Local Court on January 9, 2009.

Raymond Zammit, 41, from Minchinbury, was charged with manufacturing and possessing a commercial quantity of prohibited a drug.

He was refused bail until November 14 when he is due to appear by audio visual link at Penrith Local Court.

The fourth person arrested, a 37-year-old Blackett man charged with cultivating a prohibited plant, was on Thursday released on bail and is due to appear in Mt Druitt Local Court on November 21

http://www.police.nsw.gov.au/news/m...nb3YuYXUlMkZtZWRpYSUyRjM2NTIuaHRtbCZhbGw9MQ==



I saw this on the news on tele and they actually showed 3 die sets and only one I could make out was the MTV logo.

 

[hoptis]

$1m in drugs, 22 guns seized in raids
AAP
November 28, 2008 06:55am

ABOUT $1 million worth of drugs, $150,000 in cash, 22 firearms, two stolen cars and two stolen Harley Davidson motorcycles have been seized and 13 people charged after police smashed two separate large-scale drug syndicates operating in in Sydney's southwest.

Between them the syndicates had potential to supply up to 10,000 amphetamine and ecstasy drug deals on the streets of Campbelltown every fortnight, police said.

As the result of a five-month covert operation, police have now charged 13 people with more than 60 serious drugs and firearms charges.

A 38-year-old Appin man and his 39-year-old defacto wife and a 41-year-old Ingleburn man were arrested yesterday and variously charged with drug possession and supply offences and firearms offences.

More than $330,000 in drugs, including 5500 ecstasy pills, $122,000 in cash and a shotgun were seized from their properties.

Investigations into the three led police to arrest a 34-year-old Blair Athol man at his home during negotiations involving methylamphetamine with an estimated street value of about $180,000 in the early hours of today.

Search warrants were then executed at eight homes in Campbelltown where officers arrested another eight men and one woman - all alleged drug syndicate members involved in the large-scale supply of amphetamines and MDMA.

In total, more than $150,000 cash, drugs with an estimated street value of $1 million - including ecstasy, speed, ice, cannabis and animal steroids, 22 firearms including two shotguns, two stolen cars, two Harley Davidson motorcycles, stolen jewellery and other property were seized in the raids.

Equipment used in the production of ecstasy tablets were also seized from an Ingleburn home.

The Blair Athol man has been charged with supply commercial quantity of prohibited drug.

A 50-year-old Eagle Vale man, 36-year-old St Helens Park man, 24-year-old Narellan Vale man, 34-year-old Harrington Park man, 23-year old Mt Annan man and a 50-year-old Glenfield man and his 29-year-old de facto have also been charged with drug and firearm offences.
They will face Campbelltown Local Court later today.

The three arrested yesterday have been refused bail to appear in Liverpool Local Court on January 28.

Police said an escalation in violent assaults in licensed premises led them to investigate the source of the drugs on the streets.

"There was more to the puzzle than just alcohol and we began to see a pattern where an apparent combination of hard liquor and drugs seemed to be triggering the violence," Detective Superintendent Stuart Smith said.

"Working backwards from the assaults my officers were able to unravel and identify two complex drug networks operating in the Campbelltown area working separately but between them supplying a variety of drugs.

"Now, not only have we allegedly uncovered those supplying the deals on the streets but also those further up the chain sourcing and manufacturing the drugs."

News.com.au

 

[hoptis]

Three Mexicans arrested over 64kg cocaine haul
December 1, 2008 - 8:23AM

Three Mexican nationals have been arrested over a $16 million cocaine haul.

The joint investigation by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (US ICE) has resulted in the disruption of a transnational syndicate, the AFP said on Monday.

AFP national manager border and international, Tim Morris, said the operation has prevented the distribution of 64.6 kilograms of cocaine onto Australian streets.

"This seizure has saved the Australian community more than $18.7 million in associated health and social costs," Mr Morris said.

On October 10, US ICE informed the AFP it had detected cocaine in cargo from the United States, which was destined for Melbourne.

The cocaine allegedly originated in Mexico and was concealed within four concrete cylinders weighing 210kg each and containing ceramic goods.

American and Australian authorities co-ordinated the transport of the shipment to Australia.

The three Mexicans, a 40-year-old and 28-year-old men and a 39-year-old woman, were arrested on November 28.

They have been charged with attempting to import and conspiracy to import a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug.

They will appear in the Melbourne Magistrates' Court on Monday morning.

The maximum penalty for those offences is life imprisonment and or a $825,000 fine.

The Age

 

[dnaenterprises1@ya]

Two men arrested after drug lab uncovered in coastal townArticle from: AAPFont size: Decrease Increase Email article: Email Print article: Print Submit comment: Submit comment AAP

December 09, 2008 05:26pm
TWO men have been arrested after police uncovered a clandestine drug laboratory operating in a western Victorian coastal town.

The pair, both aged 27, from Lorne and Geelong were arrested at a house in Deans Marsh Road in Lorne on Tuesday about 9am.

Police found chemicals used to manufacture amphetamines, powder believed to be amphetamine and cannabis plants growing inside the laboratory.

Sen Con Matt Plunkett of Victoria Police said it was surprising to find people allegedly producing drugs in a small town.

"This is a reminder to everyone, regardless of the size of the place in which they live, to look out for the signs such as covered windows, suspicious activity, and the smell of chemicals,'' he said.

The men are in custody being interviewed by Geelong police.


http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,24775460-661,00.html

 

[LSD]

Police uncover alleged DMT lab in Albany

Albany detectives uncovered an alleged clandestine lab where the dangerous psychedelic drug DMT was being manufactured during a raid in Albany yesterday.

Organised crime officers were called from Perth to deal with the find after Albany detectives raided the home in relation to other drug inquiries, police said...

READ FULL STORY

MORE DRUG NEWS


....umm lethal? sensationalist bullshit!

 

[hoptis]

Man charged over heroin in lollies
AAP
December 12, 2008 03:44pm

A MAN has been charged after a kilogram of heroin was found hidden inside packets of lollies posted to Australia from Vietnam.

The 24-year-old from Chester Hill in Sydney man was charged with importing a marketable quantity of a border controlled drug, Australian Federal Police and Customs said in a joint statement.

The investigation began on September 3 when Customs officers at the Sydney International Mail Centre intercepted a parcel sent from Vietnam to an address in Bass Hill, in Sydney's southwest.

About 1080 grams of heroin was found inside 216 individual lollies, police allege.

The powder is undergoing forensic testing to determine its exact weight and purity.

The man is due to face Sydney Central Local Court today.

News.com.au

 

[hoptis]

Cop committed for trial on sex, drugs charges
Article from: AAP
AAP
December 12, 2008 01:25pm

A VICTORIAN policeman charged with five counts of rape and drug trafficking has been committed to stand trial.

Suspended police officer Huy Quach, 34, will stand trial on 26 charges.

It is alleged the offences occurred between 2004 and 2007.

During his committal hearing, the Melbourne Magistrates Court was told a woman woke up to find a policeman performing a sex act on her.

Quach has pleaded not guilty to the offences, which also include two counts of misconduct of a public official and 10 counts of possessing cocaine.

Magistrate Carmen Randazzo ordered Quach to appear at the Victorian County Court in February.

Herald Sun

 

[hoptis]

Heroin pills in women - police
Article from: Herald Sun
Georgie Pilcher

December 16, 2008 12:00am

TWO women allegedly caught arriving in Melbourne with more than 170 pellets of heroin in their stomachs have been remanded in custody.

Funeka Ndibaza, 28, of Pretoria, and Thomakazi Hlanjwa, 31, of Palmietfontein, South Africa, were stopped by Customs officers when they arrived from Hong Kong on December 11.

Police claim Ms Hlanjwa later passed 99 pellets of the drug weighing 495g and Ms Ndibaza passed 77 pellets weighing 385g.

The purity and exact quantity of the drug has not been established.

Australian Federal Police agents say the drugs were wrapped in plastic and then swallowed by the women.

Both appeared in Melbourne Magistrates' Court yesterday charged with importing heroin.

The court heard Ms Hlanjwa was suffering stomach problems and her lawyer made a request she receive treatment while in custody.

No application for bail was made and the pair were remanded in custody to appear in court again on March 17 next year.

Herald Sun

 

[baby boy]

SPEAKING OF THE SUNSHINE COAST THIS HAPPENED LAST WEEK
Bail in cocaine case

12:00a.m. 12th December 2008

| By Rae Wilson
Bail in cocaine case

Darryn Molloy leaves the Maroochydore watchhouse. Photo:Barry Leddicoat/179894.

A Minyama man charged with trafficking $320,000 worth of cocaine has been granted bail to live with his sister near Mackay.

Darryn Molloy, who has no prior convictions, faced Maroochydore Magistrates Court yesterday for the second day in a row in a bid for his freedom.

Mr Molloy, who works in a Sunshine Coast night club, is also charged with possession of dangerous drugs and possession of a mobile phone and motor car allegedly used in the commission of a crime.

Police allegedly found a 1.2kg block of cocaine wrapped in plastic when they searched the 40-year-old’s car on Nicklin Way at Parrearra about 11.30pm on Tuesday.

Magistrate John Parker yesterday granted bail with conditions Mr Molloy live with his Sarina-based sister, who must also provide a $50,000 property surety.

His passport is already in police custody but Mr Parker also ordered Mr Molloy to stay away from international departure points and report to police daily.

Mr Parker said while the quantity of cocaine was “substantial”, Mr Molloy had no criminal history to indicate he would fail to appear in court.

He found there was not an unacceptable risk he would skip court or fail to answer his bail conditions.

In court on Wednesday, solicitor Damon Locantro said his client disputed alleged admissions made to police at the scene, claiming he repeatedly told them “no comment”.

“There may be an argument in the future of admissibility of what are said to be admissions. The case would then become circumstantial,” he said.

Mr Molloy, who spent his 40th birthday on Wednesday in the Maroochydore watchhouse, will be released when the surety is posted.

The case was adjourned until February when Mr Molloy is required to attend.

 

[hoptis]

$48m in ice production stopped
AAP
December 21, 2008 03:05pm

A TASKFORCE targeting dodgy pharmacists has stopped almost $50 million worth of illegal drugs reaching the streets, the Queensland Government says.

Health Minister Stephen Robertson said the Pseudoephedrine Enforcement Taskforce had this year targeted unscrupulous retailers involved in the illegal supply of pseudoephedrine medicines.

Pseudoephedrine is used in the production of methamphetamines - also known as ice.

Mr Robertson said two pharmacists faced criminal charges as a result of investigations.

Seven others had had their endorsements to obtain, possess and supply scheduled drugs
cancelled and are no longer registered as pharmacists.

"By revoking pharmacists' endorsements, we've so far prevented the production of an estimated $48.5 million worth of methamphetamines from becoming available for street use," Mr Robertson said.

The taskforce is part of the Government's Ice Breaker Strategy, which combines education, rehabilitation and law enforcement strategies.

News.com.au

 

[hoptis]

Federal police arrest alleged drug king pin
Article from: AAP
Wires
December 29, 2008 11:25am

FEDERAL police have arrested a man alleged to be the head of a drug trafficking syndicate spanning three continents.

They say a two-year international operation has ended with his arrest.

The man was formally charged on December 26 and is due to face a Melbourne court today after his extradition from the Netherlands.

Australian Federal Police (AFP) allege he headed a drug syndicate operating out of Australia, Canada and the Netherlands by conspiring to import cocaine using a large network of couriers carrying the drug internally.

AFP's national manager border international, Tim Morris, said the effort and persistence of his organisation and its international law-enforcement partners in Canada, Thailand and the Netherlands had disrupted a global drug trafficking syndicate.

“The commitment by these AFP investigators and their international counterparts led to the arrest of a key player in this global drug syndicate,'' Assistant Commissioner Morris said.

“The syndicate targets people who are vulnerable, either financially or because of their own drug dependency, to participate in the extremely risky and dangerous method of swallowing drug parcels for concealment from authorities.”

Police said 12 people connected to the syndicate had been arrested in Australia and overseas so far.

News.com.au

 

[kingpin007]

59 people arrested by police during music festival – Sydney’s Domain
Friday, 02 Jan 2009 05:29am

Police have made 59 arrests during a successful operation at a music festival at Sydney’s Domain.

Officers from Central Metropolitan Region Enforcement Squad conducted ‘Operation Fuzzy Field Day 09’ during the festival which started at 11am yesterday (1 January 2009).

During the festival police located and seized a quantity of MDMA, cannabis, amphetamines, cocaine, LSD, and GHB.

As a result of the operation 59 people were arrested and charged with numerous offences including:
· Supply prohibited drug
· Possess prohibited drug
· Fail to quit
· Resist arrest
· Use false identification.

Detective Inspector Damian Beaufils, the Commander of the Region Enforcement Squad, said he will be running similar operations in the future to target drug supply and use at similar events.

http://www.police.nsw.gov.au/news/l...nb3YuYXUlMkZtZWRpYSUyRjQ1NzguaHRtbCZhbGw9MQ==