The Australian/NZ Drug Busts Mega-Thread Part Deux

[SilentBob]

Huge steroids cache found in Thai parcel - Monday, 31st March 2008

Customs investigators in Sydney have executed warrants in a major investigation into an attempt to smuggle more than 2,000 prohibited steroid ampoules.

Customs National Manager for Investigations Richard Janezcko said today that the agency was "continuing to detect and investigate increased attempts to smuggle prohibited and restricted performance enhancing drugs into Australia."

Customs officers at Australia Post's Gateway Facility at Clyde in Sydney found the 2 378 ampoules of 'Sustanon 250', 'Stanozol' and 'Nandrolone' in plastic bags when they examined a parcel, said to contain glass figures, sent from Thailand.

The steroids are classed as performance and image-enhancing drugs and cannot be imported into Australia without a permit from the Therapeutic Goods Administration.

The maximum penalty for this offence is five years imprisonment and/or a $110,000 fine.

As a result of the mail detection on 19 February, Customs investigators executed search warrants on premises in south western Sydney last Friday (28 March) where they seized evidentiary material.

Investigations into this major Customs seizure are continuing.

Mr Janeczko said the attempt to smuggle such a large quantity of steroid substances had the potential to cause serious health risks to a large number of people in Australia.

"Customs will continue to take seriously those who flout the law and will investigate and prosecute those who are found trying to get round Australia's border controls," he said.

Customs Media Release

 

[SilentBob]

Steroids seized at Perth airport
Wednesday, 2nd April 2008

Customs is investigating an attempt to smuggle prohibited performance and image enhancing drugs into Australia.

Customs officers at Perth International Airport started the investigation when they allegedly detected the steroids in the luggage of a 26-year-old Australian man who arrived aboard a flight from Singapore on Tuesday 01 April 2008.

Customs officers found 606 Dianabol tablets .

Dianabol is considered to be a performance and image enhancing drug and cannot be imported into Australia without a permit from the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).

Customs National Manager Investigations, Richard Janeczko, said there had been an increase in such smuggling attempts and continued to protect Australian borders from prohibited imports including steroids.

"Customs will investigate and seek to prosecute anyone who tries to bring steroids into this country without a permit," Mr Janeczko said.

Customs investigations are continuing. The maximum penalty for importing prohibited goods of this type is five years imprisonment and/or $110,000.

Customs Media Unit

 

[hoptis]

More arrests in Golden Gun case
April 10, 2008 08:10am

FIRST there was the golden gun, $10 million hidden in a roof and a Versace-furnished mansion.

Now two Sydney men who hire out luxury Hummers, Harley-Davidsons and limousines have been accused of being senior members of a cocaine syndicate.

Zolten Mato, 34, and Marius Rusu, 31, were arrested at 7am yesterday following ongoing police investigations into the "golden gun" case.

Two alleged syndicate kingpins - nicknamed "Fathead" and "Fatboy" - were charged with more offences, this time the importation of "hundreds" of kilograms of cocaine.

Alen "Fathead" Moradian, Luke "Fatboy" Sparos, John Youkhana, Jason Johnson and others were arrested last year in raids that found $10 million in cash stashed in the roof of a Wollongong home, as well as a loaded gold-plated .357 Magnum Desert Eagle pistol.

Mr Mato and Mr Rusu, who appeared together in the dock at Central Local Court yesterday, were the latest arrests stemming from Operation Schoale.

Police said Mr Mato and Mr Rusu - who run a limousine hire firm - conspired to import up to 300kg of cocaine.

Their barrister, Michael Ainsworth, told the court police were relying on the testimony of a witness identified in court documents only as "Mr X", who was involved in the drug cartel and was trying to save his own skin.

"He has everything possible to gain by incriminating as many people as he can," Mr Ainsworth told the court.

The men were refused bail by magistrate Peter Bugden and will face court again on June 4.

At a court mention last month, Mr Moradian and Mr Sparos were both handed fresh commonwealth charges of importing cocaine.

Police will claim the haul was brought to Australia from Mexico.

Mr Rusu, Mr Mato, Mr Sparos, Mr Moradian and others face charges including conspiring to import a commercial quantity of a prohibited drug.

Daily Telegraph

 

[hoptis]

Ex-Olympian in drug bust
April 17, 2008 04:28pm

RETIRED Olympic swimmer Scott Miller and the son of a Wallabies rugby union legend have been charged over a major drug bust on Sydney's northern beaches.

Miller, 33, was arrested at his unit in Dee Why yesterday as police swooped on an alleged ecstasy drug ring.

The other man charged is Mark Catchpole, son of former Wallabies skipper Ken Catchpole.

Police allegedly found steroids in his Miller's bedroom, with Miller allegedly claiming they were for use on horses.

Police allegedly also found capsicum spray in the former butterfly swimmer and 1996 Atlanta Olympics silver and bronze medallist's home.

Police raided a storage unit believed to be rented by Miller’s mother, at Brookvale. Inside the storage unit they allegedly found a pill press capable of producing up to 27,000 pills and hour and a pill counter.

Miller's stunned father is desperately trying to contact his son and will advise him to fight the charges.

"I don't know anything about it mate," Barry Miller said.

"The first I heard about it was on the news. I rushed in and tried to call him but he is not answering the phone.

"I expect he's inundated. I haven't spoken to him, but if I did, I would advise him to fight the charges."

Miller was granted police bail and is due to face Manly Local Court on May 7.

Catchpole, 40, was arrested at a Seaforth address at the same time as Miller.

Both he and the former pin-up boy of Australian swimming have been charged with possession of a tablet press.

Miller is also charged with two counts of possessing a prescribed restricted substance and possessing an offensive weapon (the capsicum spray).

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

Catchpole, 40, is also charged with four counts of possessing a prohibited drug, firearms offences, possessing ammunition, possession of equipment to administer a prohibited drug, supply a prohibited drug and deal with proceeds of crime.

He elected not to appear in court during a brief mention of his matter, and a bail application was foreshadowed for his next appearance on April 22 at Sydney's Central Local Court.

His father, Ken Catchpole, played 27 Tests for Australia - 13 as captain - and is widely regarded as one of rugby union'sgreatest scrum halves.

In 1961, he became one of only nine players to make their Test debut as captain when, aged 21, he led the Wallabies in the three-Test series against Fiji.

A medal in his name is awarded annually to the best and fairest player in Sydney club rugby.

Mark Catchpole won that award twice - in 1994 and1998.

- with AAP

Herald Sun

 

[hoptis]

Speed charges for alleged Tony Mokbel man
April 17, 2008 12:00am

AN alleged associate of drug dealer Tony Mokbel briefly appeared in court yesterday charged with trafficking and manufacturing large quantities of amphetamines.

Zlate Cvetanovski, 41, of Avondale Heights is also charged with possessing more than $70,000 in alleged crime proceeds.

Cvetanovski, was remanded to reappear in Melbourne Magistrates' Court in July.

Herald Sun

 

[lil angel15]

Woman busted with drugs in bra
April 22, 2008 10:36am

A FRENCH woman has been arrested after customs officers allegedly found half a kilo of cocaine in her bra and under her wig when she arrived on a flight from Hong Kong.

The 25-year-old had her bags searched after she arrived in Sydney yesterday morning.

She was then frisked and packages of cocaine were allegedly found in her bra.

Another package of drugs was allegedly found stitched into a wig which she was wearing.

The woman is due in Sydney's Central Local Court today charged with importing a marketable quantity of a border-controlled drug.

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

www.news.com.au

 

[lil angel15]

Man charged, illicit drugs seized following joint Drug Squad / New England LAC operation
Thursday, 01 May 2008 09:00am


A Queensland man is due to face court today following a joint operation in the state’s Northern Tablelands which resulted in the seizure of illicit drugs worth approximately $200,000.

The arrest was made as part of an operation involving detectives from the State Crime Command’s Drug Squad and New England Local Area Command targeting interstate drug trafficking.

Shortly after 4pm yesterday police stopped a vehicle at Uralla and during a subsequent search of the car it will be alleged 340 grams of methamphetamine was located by detectives.

The methamphetamine has an estimated potential street value of $200,000.

A 29-year-old man was arrested at the scene and taken to Armidale Police Station where he was questioned by detectives and charged with supply commercial quantity of a prohibited drug.

The Bundaberg man was refused bail and is due to appear in Glen Innes Local Court this morning.

police.nsw

 

[lil angel15]

17 arrested in operation targeting drugs – Redfern
Wednesday, 30 Apr 2008 02:25pm


Seventeen people have been arrested by police this morning as a result of a coordinated operation targeting street level drug supply and drug use in an inner city suburb of Sydney.

Operation Strike Force ‘Gildea’, comprised detectives and general duties officers from Redfern Local Area Command, as well as NSW Police Drug Unit, Crime Management Unit, Robbery Squad, Redfern and Surry Hills Region Enforcement Squads and the Dog Squad.

The operation commenced at 10:30am when seven search warrants were simultaneously executed at residences in Everleigh, Vine and Louis Streets at Redfern.

Police will allege an amount of drugs including heroin and cannabis was seized from several of these premises.

The 17 arrested included 11 women aged 20 to 51 and six males aged 16 to 45 who were taken to Redfern and Surry Hills Police Stations for further questioning.

They have all been charged with various offences including the ongoing supply and supply of a prohibited drug, possessing a prohibited drug and warrant offences.

Several of those arrested will be refused bail and they are expected to appear at Central Local Court later today.

Redfern Police Commander Superintendent Mark Walton labelled the operation a success in addressing the problem of drug related crime in the area.

“Strike Force Gildea is part of an operation that commenced in early March to combat the street level purchase and supply of prohibited drugs within the area known as The Block,” Supt Walton said.

“As long as people continue to break the law in relation to drugs we’ll continue to use the resources you’ve seen today to target these offenders.

“Information from the community has been highly effective in assisting us to address the problems arising from drug activity in the area,” Supt Walton said.

Investigations by Strike Force Gildea are ongoing and further arrests are anticipated.

police.nsw

 

[JoeBloggs]

Two more arrested over $40m drug bust


"Two more men have been charged over one of Australia's biggest drug busts - the alleged importation of one million ecstasy tablets.

Customs and Australian Federal Police said they uncovered the shipment of illegal drugs, with an estimated street value of $40 million, in June 2006.

Some 350kg of methamphetamine or MDMA, totalling 1.2 million tablets, was found in vacuum-sealed bags inside a shipping container of ink which arrived in Melbourne from Canada via Hong Kong.

Two men were arrested and charged on Wednesday in connection with the drug haul, bringing to five the total number of people now charged over the matter.

A 53-year-old Australian citizen, living in Hong Kong, was arrested when he arrived in Sydney on an international flight on Wednesday.

A 40-year-old Sydney man was arrested also on Wednesday following the raid of a property at Campsie, in the city's south-west.

Police said a second raid at suburban Strathfield yielded cash and chemicals.

Both men face charges of conspiracy to import and possession of a border controlled drug and is due to face a Sydney court on Thursday."

http://news.theage.com.au/two-more-arrested-over-40m-drug-bust/20080508-2c62.html

 

[Mr Blonde]

Some 350kg of methamphetamine or MDMA, totalling 1.2 million tablets,

When I first read this I though for a second they were saying that methamphetamine is MDMA...I guess they actually mean that it was a mixture of both chemicals.

 

[itsWill]

Public tip-off leads cop to $1 million plus cannabis crop in Blair Athol

May 12, 2008 02:00pm

A PUBLIC tip-off to police has led to a cannabis haul estimated to be worth over $1 million in Sydney's south west.

A call was received by Campbelltown Police who raided the home at The Kraal, Blair Athol, at 8am today with the assistance of the Asian Crime Squad.

There they found a sophisticated hydroponics set-up with much of the two-storey home specifically re-modelled for the cultivation of cannabis.

See our pictures from the drug bust here.

Police are still at the site processing the drugs, with more than 500 individual plants seized ranging in size from seedlings through to 1.5 metre plants. They believe the drugs will total well in excess of $1 million in value.

There was no-one at the home at the time of the raid, but two men have since been arrested and are assisting police with their inquiries into the matter.

Anyone who has information about a suspected drug house or any other crime is urged to report the matter to their local police station or through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Photos -->
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,23684130-5006009,00.html

 

[hoptis]

Hobart drug bust
12/05/08

Three people have appeared in the Hobart Magistrates Court over what police say is a significant drug seizure.

40-year-old Anthony Wayne Coleman, of Newtown, 37-year-old Todd Arthur Smith, of Swansea, and 24-year-old Crystal Donna McKellar, also of Swansea have been charged with trafficking the drug MDMA, known as ecstasy.

They appeared in the Hobart Magistrates Court this morning and have been granted bail to re-appear in July.

It is alleged officers with the Drug Investigation branch arrested the trio during a drug transaction in North Hobart yesterday

Police say they found more than 2,000 ecstasy tablets and $20,000.

Detective Inspector Glenn Frame says the arrests are an example of the police service's commitment to targeting drug suppliers.

"We became aware of a meeting that was likely to take place in North Hobart and as a result of that a search was conducted of some people during an alleged drug transaction and we were fortunate enough to seize the amount of ecstasy and cash that we did," he said.

ABC Online

 

[hoptis]

Sixty-eight bags of heroin in man's stomach: customs
May 14, 2008 - 12:05PM

A South African man has been charged with smuggling 68 packages of heroin into Australia in his stomach.

The man arrived at Sydney airport on Monday on a flight from Singapore.

Customs officers became suspicious he might have been concealing drugs and he was taken to hospital for an x-ray which showed a number of foreign objects in his stomach, Australian Federal Police said.

The man passed 68 packages allegedly containing 500 grams of a powder believed to be heroin, which is undergoing forensic testing to determine its purity.

The 27-year-old man has been charged with the importation of a marketable quantity of a border-controlled drug.

He will appear at Central Local Court later today.

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

AAP

The Age

 

[hoptis]

Cocaine, speed and cash seized after car search
May 14, 2008 - 6:31AM

Cocaine, speed and cash have been seized after police searched a car in Sydney's northern beaches.

Police stopped a 31-year-old Warriewood man driving down Rowan Street at Mona Vale at about 3.20pm yesterday and executed a search of him and his car.

They seized 109 grams of cocaine, 35 grams of speed and over $6700 in cash.

The man was arrested and taken to Dee Why Police Station where he was charged with two counts of supplying an indictable quantity of prohibited drugs and one count of knowingly deal with the proceeds of crime.

He was refused bail to appear in Manly Local Court today.

AAP

The Age

 

[hoptis]

Police sniff out drug den
May 16, 2008 06:39am

POLICE following their noses have sniffed out an illicit drug manufacturing den in Sydney's west.

Officers from the Middle Eastern Organised Crime Squad were visiting a home in Ashcroft Street in Georges Hall yesterday at about 7.15pm (AEST) on unrelated inquiries when they detected the strong smell of chemicals.

They discovered a small-scale illicit drug manufacturing operation in the kitchen, police said.

A 34-year-old Westmead man and two men from Guildford, aged 21 and 22, were arrested at the scene without incident.

The three men were taken to Bankstown Police Station and charged with manufacturing a prohibited drug and conducting a drug premise.

They have been refused bail to appear in the Bankstown Local Court today.

News.com.au

 

[hoptis]

Drug accused escapee to face court
May 16, 2008 06:32am

AN alleged drug dealer who escaped custody at a Sydney court last year will reappear there after returning from Amsterdam, police said.

The 57-year-old man from Heathcote in Sydney's south was arrested in April last year after police found $54,000 worth of methamphetamine, heroin and MDMA tablets hidden near a look-out in the Royal National Park at Heathcote.

He escaped from custody at Central Local Court two days after his arrest, police said.

The man, who faces a string of charges including possess and supply prohibited drug and escape lawful custody, flew into Melbourne Airport from Amsterdam on Wednesday night where he was arrested without incident.

He was yesterday successfully extradicted to NSW arriving in Sydney at about 4.30pm (AEST) and being taken straight to the Surry Hills police centre.

He was refused bail and is to appear in Central Local Court today.

News.com.au

 

[lil angel15]

NSW drug lab found
29/05/2008 6:30:00 PM.

Seven people face drugs charges after the raid of a property on the NSW Central Coast found a large amount of chemicals and apparatus believed to be used to make amphetamines, police say.

About 1pm (AEST) on Wednesday officers went to a home at Wyongah where they said they found a clandestine drug laboratory.

A man and woman were arrested at the property, while officers chased a car carrying five people, which left the home.

"A short time later the car crashed into a number of vehicles parked near Wyong Railway Station, with officers arresting three men and two females at the scene," police said in a statement.

"During a search of the vehicle police will allege they located and seized chemicals as well as a quantity of a substance believed to be methylamphetamine."

The driver of the car, a 17-year-old female from Bateau Bay, was charged with manufacture commercial quantity prohibited drug, speeding and negligent driving. She was refused bail to appear at Broadmeadow Childrens Court on Thursday.

A Budgewoi woman, 40, was charged with possessing a prohibited drug and being found on drug premises. She was granted conditional bail and is due to appear at Wyong Local Court on 25 June 2008.

The other five people charged - a 43-year-old Wyongah man, a 47-year-old Dundas man, a 40-year-old Bateau Bay man, a 38-year-old Carlingford man, and a Long Jetty woman, 19 - have all been refused bail on various drugs charges and will face Wyong Local Court on Thursday

livenews.com.au

 

[ValeTudo]

Crime fighter in record ice bust
June 02, 2008 06:22pm

ONE of the NSW Crime Commission's top criminal investigator has been arrested for allegedly masterminding a plot to produce Australia's biggest ever haul of the deadly drug, ice.

The Daily Telegraph reported on its website that Mark Standen was arrested at his desk in his Sydney office today.

Mr Standen, responsible for uncovering organised crime and drug trafficking, was arrested for his supposed role in attempting to import enough ephedrine chemicals to produce more than $120 million worth of ice.

It is one of the most serious allegations made in law enforcement history.

The alleged breach may threaten the security and integrity of some of the nation's most sensitive and secret police operations.

The 51-year-old officer had for more than a year allegedly been working with a notorious criminal syndicate in the Netherlands to bring in the chemicals, hidden in a consignment of basmati rice.

He was arrested by Australian Federal Police agents as part of a series of coordinated raids in Europe, Thailand and Sydney.

About 150 police including six SWAT teams raided homes and offices in four cities in the Netherlands and arrested 11 suspected drug lords late last week.

The AFP forced the Crime Commission building to go into lockdown this afternoon as they raided Mr Standen's office, seizing a number of documents and technical equipment.

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,23797478-29277,00.html

 

[Mr Blonde]

A Budgewoi woman, 40, was charged with possessing a prohibited drug and being found on drug premises.

You can be charged with being found on 'drug premises'? That sounds awful vague to me...

 

[hoptis]

30 arrested at dance party
June 23, 2008 06:54am

MORE than 30 people have been arrested for drink driving and drug offences after police targeted a 24-hour dance party on the NSW mid-north coast.

Police made the arrests at a road block set up outside the party, held at Thora near Bellingen on the weekend.

The 22-hour operation, from 6pm (AEST) on Saturday to 4pm (AEST) on Sunday, arrested 15 people for drink driving and 16 for possessing drugs, including cannabis, ecstasy and amphetamines.

A 37-year-old man has been charged with drugs possession and supply and will appear at Bellingen Local Court on July 30.

The 15 motorists arrested for drink driving may face charges at a later date, police said.

Herald Sun