Police 'ran million-dollar heroin ring'
May 28 2003
By Selma Milovanovic
A husband and wife, both police officers, have been accused of squandering $819,000 of drug money over three years while part of a police heroin ring.
The Melbourne Magistrates Court heard that Detective Senior Constable Ian Ferguson, 34, and two other policemen allegedly sold $1.5 million worth of high-grade heroin to an alleged drug trafficker over more than three years.
His wife, Senior Constable Joanne Ferguson, 36, the mother of three children, was yesterday released on bail amid fears for her safety. If she had been held, she would have been the only policewoman in custody, and would have faced solitary confinement for 23 hours a day, the court heard.
Ferguson faces charges of conspiring to traffic heroin and conspiracy to money launder.
The court heard that Ian Ferguson and his two alleged co-offenders, Detective Senior Constable Glenn Sadler, 37, and former detective sergeant Stephen Cox, 39, became involved in a heroin and bribery ring in April 1999 while they worked in the former drug squad investigating heroin trafficking in the CBD.
The four were charged on Monday following an investigation by Ceja Taskforce, set up by Chief Commissioner Christine Nixon to stamp out corruption in the former drug squad.
The new arrests take to seven the number of serving and former police charged over allegations involving the drug squad, axed by Ms Nixon in 2001. Detective Senior Sergeant John Roger told the court Ceja investigations continue, but could not say whether more arrests related to this case would follow.
Prosecutor Julian Leckie, SC, said that the three policemen began their association with an alleged heroin trafficker when he was granted bail in May 1999 after agreeing to become a drug squad informer.
He said that between August 1999 and December 2002, Ian Ferguson, Sadler and Cox sold 10 kilograms of high-grade heroin to the man for $1.5 million.
Mr Leckie said that Joanne Ferguson was introduced to the conspiracy by her husband and participated in laundering and spending substantial proceeds derived from heroin trafficking.
Ian Ferguson is also accused of stealing $369,000 cash and 700 grams of heroin worth $75,000 during a raid on a Braybrook property in August 2000, Mr Leckie said.
Ian Ferguson and Sadler coached the informer to whom they sold heroin on how to avoid arrest, how to flee Victoria and avoid mandatory financial reporting, Mr Leckie said.
After a warrant was issued for the informer's arrest, Sadler allegedly received a bribe of gambling chips and heroin from him at Crown Casino to ensure he was not arrested.
Mr Leckie said that in 2000, Ian Ferguson bought two Toyota Landcruisers and registered one in the name of Sadler's wife. He also allegedly bought a $30,000 BMW from the informer, paying for it in heroin and cash.
Mr Leckie said the Fergusons had spent $819,000 over three years in untraced deposits, cash deposits and purchases. Detective Senior Sergeant Roger told the court that during a swoop on the Fergusons' Lara home last November, police seized their cars, farm equipment and household electrical items.
Between January and April 2001, Joanne Ferguson allegedly kept an account in her maiden name, into which she and her husband deposited cash and cheques under $10,000. When the account was closed, the money allegedly was transferred to other accounts the couple held to avoid mandatory cash transaction reporting, Mr Leckie said.
Detective Senior Sergeant Roger said that while most of the evidence against the four police came from the informer, Ceja investigators had obtained more than 50 witness statements and expected to get another 30.
Duncan Allen, for Joanne Ferguson, said the "humble uniform policewoman" was on anti-depression medication and would suffer in jail.
He said the delay before any trial - estimated to begin in 2005 - formed part of the exceptional circumstances that warranted his client's release.
Magistrate Noel Purcell released Joanne Ferguson on bail with a $100,000 surety.
He refused bail to Sadler and Cox, ruling they had failed to prove exceptional circumstances. The pair, who have 18 years' police experience each, are charged with trafficking and conspiring to traffic a commercial quantity of heroin, while Sadler also faces charges of conspiracy to money launder, perverting the course of justice, blackmail and bribery.
Ian Ferguson did not apply for bail. He is charged with trafficking a commercial quantity of heroin, conspiracy to traffic heroin, perverting the course of justice and conspiracy to launder money. All four face court again in October.
From:
http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/05/27/1053801392869.html
