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The Australian/NZ Drug Busts Mega-Thread Part Deux

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Loophole keeps heroin dealer in public housing

The Victorian Government says it will review tenancy laws, after a loophole allowed a convicted drug dealer who had sold drugs in a public housing block to stay in the building.

The man was convicted of dealing heroin inside the public housing block he lives in at Flemington in Melbourne's inner-north in 2009.

He pleaded guilty to selling drugs to an undercover police officer in the doorway of his unit and communal areas of the building and was placed on a community-based order for 18 months.

The Office of Housing moved to have the man evicted, but the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) over-ruled the application in November, because it could not be proved that the man dealt drugs inside his unit.

The Minister for Housing Wendy Lovell says she has ordered a review of the Residential Tenancies Act.

"Currently there's 41, 212 families on a waiting list for public housing and I think each and every one of them would think it's unacceptable that someone who has taken part in illegal activity is able to stay in public housing while they remain on a waiting list," she said.

"We'll be looking to tighten up the loophole and get these people into housing.

"VCAT themselves have admitted themselves that their decision may have been different if the Residential Tenancies Act had allowed them to apply the rulings to the common areas [of the building]."

here
 
Pair charged over northern speed haul

There has been a large a drug seizure in Tasmania's north.

Police from the Northern Drug Investigation Squad raided a house in Swan Bay, north of Launceston early this morning.

Police say they found a large amount of cash and more than one kilogram worth of methylamphetamine, also known as speed.

Two men aged 19 and 29 have been charged with trafficking a controlled substance.

Acting Inspector Jonathan Higgins says it's a significant raid.

"It certainly is a common drug, the street value of this particular seizure would be around $500,000, but it wouldnt be the most prevalent drug in Launceston, there is still a lot of cannabis and ectasy as well."

The men will appear in the Launceston Magistrates Court in March.

here


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UPDATE- Video of the drugs
 
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Accused meth smuggler launches defence in Bali

Michael Sacatides, the Australian man accused of smuggling methamphetamines into Bali, has denied the accusation at a court hearing in Denpasar.

Sacatides has been tight lipped since he was arrested at Bali's international airport with 1.7 kilograms of methamphetamine concealed in the lining of his suitcase.

On trial and facing a possible death penalty if convicted, he made his defence on Wednesday saying simply that the accusations from the prosecutor are not correct.

He claims he borrowed the case from an Indian friend before leaving his home in Bangkok.

His lawyer repeated that defence, and said his client had approached the customs officials at the airport without hesitation because he did not know he was carrying the drugs.

He says Sacatides is the victim of a drug syndicate.

here
 
Ex-doctor to plead guilty over illegal prescriptions

A former Bendigo doctor has indicated he will plead guilty to illegally prescribing drugs including morphine.

Prem Bajpe, 44, is facing 208 charges and appeared in the Bendigo Magistrates' Court.

He is accused of prescribing the drugs without the correct permits between December 2007 and late 2009.

Bajpe operated out of a practice in Golden Square and was deregistered in August last year.

here
 
Riverina man charged over $400k cannabis crop

A Riverina man accused of hydroponically growing cannabis will face the Griffith Local Court today.

Acting Commander Paul Smith says detectives uncovered the crop at a property at Yenda during a search yesterday.

"[We] located quite an elaborate hydroponic set-up with approximately 200 cannabis plants," he said.

"We're actually still in the process of examining that crime scene, but the cannabis seized has an estimated value of $400,000."

The 37-year-old Yenda man was arrested and refused bail and is facing four drugs charges including the cultivation of a large commercial quantity of cannabis.

Police say they also expect to charge the man with electricity theft.

here
 
Pills on the menu at A-list bar

THE head chef at an exclusive inner-Sydney bar allegedly supplied shopping bags full of ecstasy from his kitchen as part of a multimillion-dollar drug syndicate.

In between serving up $34 plates of pork belly braised in orange, soy and cinnamon and salmon confit at Balcony Bar at Erskine St in the CBD, executive head chef Grant Michael Richardson was allegedly passing bags of ecstasy and speed to his drug runner.

The 31-year-old, of Darlinghurst, catered for several celebrity-studded social events during his 12 months at Balcony Bar, which was opened under Clover Moore's small bar program with an $18,300 grant.

But police allege Richardson was supplementing his $1000-a-week income by selling drugs in a "top of the tree" drug syndicate.

Court documents said Richardson kept drugs in "grey-coloured shopping bags" in the kitchen of Balcony Bar.

Alleged drug runner Paul "Robbo" Robinson, 42, from the Central Coast, collected the drugs from the kitchen and other locations before delivering them to an undercover officer on four occasions - at St George Sailing Club and McDonald's at Sans Souci and Mascot. They discussed another deal at Sans Souci Primary School, documents said.

Police also tapped Richardson and Robinson's phone calls when they heard them talking in code about being concerned about the quality of the drugs they were supplying to the undercover officer.

"I've had three people say that they weren't that happy with the food," Robinson was recorded saying.

"I just had another one then ring and tell me that ... he didn't taste anything all night," he said.

A police fact sheet said that Robinson also told Richardson "he was worried that he didn't want to lose the 'booking' of the 'corporate group' ", referring to the officer.

Court documents said that police infiltrated Richardson's part of the syndicate after an undercover officer befriended an alleged drug runner.

In three months, the group allegedly sold $20,000 worth of speed and ecstasy pills to the officer who was wearing a listening device.

Richardson faced court and was granted bail over the Christmas period after being charged with 12 drug-related offences. Ex-judo Olympian Warren Richards was also allegedly involved in the syndicate and was charged with nine drug-related offences.

In total, 30 people were arrested by Strike Force Domino, which saw 500 officers raid 37 premises in Sydney, Mudgee and the Central Coast in December.

Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione said the arrests had cracked the kingpins of the State's drug trade.

Mark Kratz, 39, of Manly, was also arrested after he was heard on phone taps allegedly organising deals with Robinson and Richardson. He faces 11 drug-related charges.

The case continues.


here
 
Sydney man arrested at NT airport

Nhulunbuy police have arrested a Sydney man who allegedly tried to smuggle 23kg of kava into the town last night.

The man spent the night in police custody and is expected to apply for bail when he faces court today.

Duty Superintendent Louise Jorgensen says he was arrested at Nhulunbuy airport.

"Yesterday evening about 7.30 Nhulunbuy police were at the airport conducting routine checks of passengers," Supt Jorgensen said.

"They noticed the male acting suspiciously with two large bags. They approached him, his bags were searched, 23kg of kava was found."

"The male is a 48-year-old from Sydney, (he) was charged with possess and supply a trafficable quantity of kava."

The kava seizure is the second in Nhulunbuy in the space of a week. In the the first bust 76kg of kava was seized.

from here
 
Woman faces court over playground needlestick injury

A South Wollongong woman accused of discarding a needle in a fast food outlet play area has faced court.

42-year-old Terri Ryan has fronted the local court for the first time after being charged with aggravated littering a month ago.

She's accused of discarding a needle in the play area of a fast food restaurant on Corrimal Street in Wollongong.

A 6 year old girl was stabbed with the needle while playing on the equipment in July last year.

It's understood the needle had to be physically removed from the child's thumb.

Ryan with a court attendance notice after reviewing CCTV footage and analysing DNA evidence.

She remains on bail to face court again later this month.

here
 
Police investigate possible drug lab

Police are investigating the discovery of a potential clandestine drug laboratory at a house in Wanneroo.

Organised Crime Squad officers were called to the Dundebar road property yesterday after there were fears the chemicals may explode.

Inquiries are continuing.


here
 
Two charged over heroin haul

Two men have appeared in the Perth Magistrate's Court this morning charged with importing a marketable quantity of heroin into Western Australia.

The Australian Federal Police say the pair flew in from Bangkok yesterday and were detected by customs officials in the Perth airport.

The men, aged 24 and 25, were not required to enter a plea and were remanded in custody.

They will appear in court later this month.

here
 
Drug bust in Ferntree Gully

POLICE uncovered a clandestine drug operation in Ferntree Gully this week, seizing more than 44kg worth of cannabis.

A 50-year-old Kingsville man was arrested and charged after 93 cannabis plants were discovered at the property in Bonnie Court, Ferntree Gully, just after 7.30pm on Tuesday.

The man has been charged with cultivation, trafficking and possession of cannabis and will go before court next week.


here
 
AFP officer's son on drugs charges

THE son of an Australian Federal Police counter-terrorism officer has been arrested by police following a seven-month drug investigation in Sydney's north-western suburbs.

Alexei Briouzguine, 23, was charged with the supply and possession of ecstasy after NSW Police raided his parents' Galston home on December 29 last year.

His father, AFP agent Oleg Briouzguine, was at home when officers allegedly seized 50 ecstasy tablets and three vials of steroids from his son's bedroom.

Mr Briouzguine, an AFP officer for almost nine years, told The Sunday Telegraph his family was shocked by the arrest.

"Our family is just devastated," Mr Briouzguine said. "I think it will affect my employment. I called [my superior] on an emergency number while I had police going through my house.

"He told me to talk about it when we get back to work; he's on leave for the moment."


He described his son as a "good boy" who was a part-time student at the University of Technology, Sydney, where he studied mechanical engineering.

Briouzguine's arrest followed a lengthy operation by members of the North West Region Enforcement Squad, targetting the alleged supply of MDMA around the Castle Hill area.

Just hours before the arrest, police executed a separate search warrant on the Castle Hill unit of 20-year-old chemistry student Merhan Dorrani.

Dorrani and Briouzguine - both bodybuilders - met at their local gym, Mr Briouzguine said.

"It's one of the guys he goes to gym with," he said.

Police named Dorrani, who studies at Macquarie University, as the main target of the drug investigation. According to court documents, Dorrani had been under close surveillance by undercover police for months leading up to his arrest.

Officers watched and recorded him allegedly carry out several drug deals around the Castle Hill area before being authorised to make an arrest, the court heard.

He now faces 13 separate drug charges, including at least two counts of supplying a commercial quantity of prohibited drugs, which carry the prospect of a hefty jail sentence.

When police raided his family's home, they allegedly uncovered 3000 ecstasy pills and approximately $17,000 in cash, the court heard.

His 18-year-old girlfriend was also arrested during the raids and was charged with knowingly taking part in the supply of prohibited drugs and dealing with the proceeds of crime.

The Sunday Telegraph approached Dorrani's family last week at their home, but they declined to comment.

here
 
Woman caught with cannabis in laptop

Northern Territory police say a 36-year-old woman has been caught with more than 115 grams of cannabis at Nhulunsbuy Airport.

A drug dog stopped the woman when she got off a flight from Cairns on Friday night.

Police say she was carrying two bags of cannabis and had a third bag in her laptop.

She has been charged with possessing and supplying drugs and is due to appear in court later this month.

here
 
Southern Cross woman to front court on drug charges

A Southern Cross woman in her mid-30s is facing drug charges after her home was searched by police late last week.

Police allegedly found half an ounce of marijuana, several smoking implements and utensils at the woman's home.

Police were acting on information from the public suggesting drugs were being used at the property.

The woman is due to appear at the Southern Cross Magistrate's Court in March.

here
 
Police plan to repeat cross-border crackdown

Gold Coast police say a cross-border crackdown on anti-social behaviour and alcohol-related crime on the weekend will be repeated.

Queensland and New South Wales police arrested 47 people on 50 charges at Tweed Heads and Coolangatta.

Nearly 1,000 random breath tests and 99 drug tests were conducted.

Superintendent Paul Ziebarth says similar operations are being planned for the future.

here
 
Man jailed over airport drug bust

A man has been jailed for seven-and-a-half years for importing a big shipment of cocaine and methylamphetamine to Adelaide from Sydney.

The District Court heard Adelaide man Patrick Kshore Singh, 40, and two accomplices were under police surveillance while trafficking the drugs, worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, in 2007.

Singh and another man, Daniel Rocco Faiello, arranged for courier, Lauren Beth Cullen, to transport the drugs in her luggage in shampoo and baby powder packaging.

Cullen was arrested at Adelaide Airport and the men, who sat apart from her on the same flight, were arrested soon after.

Cullen already has been sentenced but Faiello has absconded.

Singh pleaded guilty to two trafficking charges and admitted other charges of manufacturing and trafficking more drugs while on bail in 2009.

Taking account of time served, he can seek release in 2014.

here
 
Three accused of drug supply face court

Three people arrested on drug supply charges have appeared in Tamworth Local Court

Fifty year old John Brian Johnston was arrested after being stopped by police at Willow Tree in December last year.

A search of the Newcastle man's car uncovered 3.5 grams of methamphetamine, 7 grams of cannabis and $3,400 in cash.

It is alleged he provided almost 500 ecstasy tablets to drug dealers in Quirindi and was a large-scale supplier of drugs to dealers in the north west.

Mr Johnston pleaded guilty to two counts of drug possession but has denied drug supply charges.

He faced court yesterday via video link, along with his two co-accused.

Twenty year old Kirsty Leigh Cassidy and 30 year old Nicolas James Quayle, both from Quirindi, are alleged to have been supplied with drugs by Mr Johnston and on-sold them locally.

The three have yet to enter pleas and have all been refused bail.

All three will face Tamworth Local Court again on the 9th of February.



here
 
Man pleads guilty to making drug

The District Court in Brisbane has heard Anthony Lyle Mayberry was so clever at high school chemistry, he developed his own method of making the dangerous drug, speed.

Mayberry, 40, pleaded guilty to producing a dangerous drug and possessing drug-making equipment.

The District Court heard police caught Mayberry standing over a rudimentary methyl-amphetamine lab when they went to his home at Pialba near Hervey Bay early last year.

Harry Fong, representing Mayberry, said his client had got into drugs after leaving the Navy.

He said Mayberry had been a bright student who had done so well at high school chemistry that he had developed his own way of making the drug.

Mayberry, who appeared via videolink from prison, was given an 18-month sentence and will be eligible for parole in August.

here
 
NZer facing jail in Bali for drugs

Former Gisborne man Willie Rare could tomorrow be sentenced to up to 12 years in a Bali jail after admitting to a charge of possessing cocaine.

The New Zealand-born Melbourne resident appeared in court last month to answer questions from a panel of three judges after being held for six months in Denpasar jail without charges.

Rare, who adopted the old family name Angus McCaskill after moving to Australia about 30 years ago, was charged last month with three offences after he was caught with five plastic pouches containing a total of 3.58 grams of cocaine at a supermarket in Bali's Kuta tourist area on June 30 last year.

He apologised to the court for his actions and admitted to having used cocaine on a previous occasion, Australian newspapers reported.

"I know (it's illegal) and I apologise for that. I used it in 1996...once, but I stopped using it," he told the court.

"But then, there I used it again."

He also admitted to buying a "bong" for smoking marijuana from the same people who sold him the cocaine.


According to a report in the Bali Times, he appeared in Denpasar District Court on Monday, where the prosecution had been due to submit its sentence request.

But the case was postponed until tomorrow when prosecutor Ida Ayu Ketut RetNasari Kusuma Dewi is expected to proceed with his sentence request. Cocaine possession carries a maximum 12 year sentence.

It is not known if Rare has a defence lawyer. The amount of cocaine involved was relatively minor and family members here say Rare has had no criminal or drug track record.

According to Bali media, the 57-year-old had been staying in Seminyak, an upmarket district north of Bali's Kuta Beach, for several months before his arrest.

It is understood he took holidays in Bali while based in Melbourne as a business consultant for many years.

Rare worked as a cellarhand for Montana Wines many years ago before leaving Gisborne for Australia.

- NZPA

here
 
Six charged over $233k kava bust

Approximately $233,550 worth of kava has been seized by police in the Northern Territory following a vehicle search in Emu Springs.

Police stopped the vehicle at Emu Springs Outstation, around 92 kilometres north-east of Bulman on the Central Arnhem Highway.

They found 166 kilograms of kava concealed in luggage in the back of the car.

The kava was divided into 9,342 smaller bags.

Six people have been arrested and charged with possessing and supplying a commercial quantity of kava.

Superintendent Colin Smith says police are active in the region despite wet season road closures.

"This seizure demonstrates that police are active throughout the Top End and will continue to remain vigilant, targeting kava and cannabis traffickers," he said.

"I encourage all community members to report these drug dealers to the police and keep drugs out of your communities."

All six alleged offenders have been bailed to appear in the Katherine Magistrates Court on February 28.


here
 
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