The Australian/NZ Drug Busts Mega-Thread Part Deux

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Police seize cash, drugs at drug lab

December 11, 2009 - 11:49AM

A clandestine drug lab has been discovered southwest of Sydney, with police seizing cash and one kilogram of methylamphetamine.

Officers raided five locations on Thursday, after arresting two 59-year-old men during an alleged drug deal in Appin, where one of the men's three-year-old daughter was present.

At an address on Wilton Road, Wilton, police found the drug lab, which they allege is used to manufacture methylamphetamine.

Detectives seized a total of $100,000 and one kilogram of methylamphetamine along with chemicals and drug manufacturing equipment.

As part of the operation, police arrested a 61-year-old man on the Princes Highway at Nowra, on the NSW south coast, and a 65-year-old man at a caravan park at nearby Myola.

The two 59-year-old men were both charged with supplying a commercial quantity of a prohibited drug and will appear at Campbelltown Local Court on Friday.

The 61-year-old was charged with supplying a commercial quantity of a prohibited drug and will appear at Nowra Local Court on Friday.

The 65-year-old was charged with being knowingly concerned with the supply of an indictable quantity of a prohibited drug and was given conditional bail to appear in Nowra Local Court on January 11.

The charges follow the arrest of a 32-year-old man and a 23-year-old woman at Goulburn on Wednesday after they were stopped by police allegedly on their way to South Australia.

http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/police-seize-cash-drugs-at-drug-lab-20091211-kndl.html

 

[kingpin007]

Daughter, 3, present during drug deal: police

BY MEGAN LEVY

11 Dec, 2009 11:39 AM

A man has been charged with drug offences after allegedly supplying 'ice' to another man while his three-year-old daughter was present.

Police have warned of the risk of explosions associated with clandestine drug laboratories after the 59-year-old man was arrested in Appin yesterday.

Detectives from Strike Force Orroroo, comprising detectives from the State Crime Command's Drug Squad and Shoalhaven police, allegedly watched the man supply methamphetamine to another 59-year-old man with his child in tow.

They allegedly intercepted the exchange and seized an amount of drugs and cash before arresting both men.

"Of particular concern to police is the presence of young children at locations where alleged drug-related crime is being conducted," Drug Squad Commander Detective Superintendent Nick Bingham said.

"Locations where drugs are being illegally manufactured or supplied are no place for children."

A short time after the first arrest a 61-year-old man was arrested on the Princes Hwy at Nowra, while a 65-year-old man was arrested later in the day at a caravan park at Myola, near Huskisson.

Detectives also conducted a series raids on properties in southern Sydney and the South Coast yesterday afternoon.

Five search warrants were executed at locations including Wilton Rd at Wilton, Hatfield Rd at Canley Heights, Sanctuary Point Rd at Sanctuary Point, Catherine St at Myola and a tourist/caravan park at Myola.

At the Wilton address police allegedly uncovered a large clandestine laboratory used to manufacture methylamphetamine.

During the operation detectives allegedly seized $100,000 and 1kg of methylamphetamine as well as a quantity of chemicals and drug manufacturing equipment.

The 59-year-old man was charged with supplying a commercial quantity of a prohibited drug, and manufacturing a commercial quantity of a prohibited drug. He was refused bail and will appear in Campbelltown Local Court today.

The second 59-year-old man was charged with supplying a commercial quantity of a prohibited drug and was refused bail to appear in Campbelltown Local Court today.

http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/...-present-during-drug-deal-police/1702661.aspx

 

[kingpin007]

Toddler watches as police arrest drug dealer dad

* From: The Daily Telegraph
* December 12, 2009 11:54PM

A THREE-year-old girl watched as her father was forced to the ground and handcuffed by police after allegedly conducting a drug deal in front of her.

The toddler, dressed in a yellow T-shirt, check shorts and pink thongs, had to be consoled by the Sydney detectives who took her father, 59, away from a carpark in Appin on Thursday and charged him with supplying a commercial quantity of a prohibited drug.

Before he left, the man kissed his daughter goodbye in a heartbreaking exchange captured by police video footage of the arrest.

Deputy Police Commissioner Dave Owens yesterday condemned the man, who was one of four charged during a string of drug raids across southern NSW last week.

"How can you do a drug transaction and bring your three-year-old along?" he said. "I can't believe I'm standing here saying this, but if you're going to do a drug deal, don't take your kids along."

The arrests appear to have broken a web of organised, large-scale drug supply and manufacture, with detectives seizing $100,000 in cash, a kilo of methylamphetamine and chemicals and drug-manufacturing equipment in the raids.

The other man associated with the Appin incident, also 59, was also charged with supplying a commercial quantity of a prohibited drug. Both men were refused bail and will face Campbelltown Local Court.

Soon after their arrests, another 61-year-old man was arrested at Nowra and charged with supplying a commercial quantity of a prohibited drug.

He was refused bail to appear at Nowra Local Court.

Detectives later executed five search warrants at Wilton, Canley Heights, Sanctuary Point and a caravan park at Myola, in Shoalhaven, where a 65-year-old man was arrested.

He was charged with being knowingly concerned with the supply of an indictable quantity of a prohibited drug and was granted conditional bail to appear at Nowra Local Court on January 11.

At Wilton, police uncovered an alleged large-scale clandestine laboratory believed to be used to make methylamphetamine.

The raids, conducted by Strike Force Orroroo, follow the arrests of a 32-year-old man and a 23-year-old woman at Goulburn last Wednesday.

Drug Squad Commander Nick Bingham said he was concerned by the presence of young children at places where alleged drug-related crime was being conducted and the dangers of toxic chemicals. "Locations where drugs are being illegally manufactured or supplied are no place for children," he said.

http://www.news.com.au/national/tod...-drug-dealer-dad/story-e6frfkvr-1225809792570

 

[kingpin007]

Truck found with more than 20kg of pot

12:52 AEST Wed Dec 16 2009

A well-organised drug syndicate has been dismantled after Queensland police intercepted a truck carrying cannabis and raided eight houses.

The truck was pulled over in the south Brisbane suburb of Salisbury on Tuesday, as part of a police operation targeting the use of heavy haulage trucks to import drugs to Queensland.

Police said detectives found 22.7kg of cannabis inside the truck.

The driver, a 57-year-old South Australian man, was charged with drug trafficking.

Two men from Ipswich, aged 52 and 43, and a 27-year-old man from Oxley were also charged with a string of offences, including drug trafficking, drug possession and possession of the proceeds of crime.

All four men are due to appear in the Ipswich Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

Eight residences were raided at Ipswich as part of the operation, resulting in the seizure of a 16kg of cannabis and $110,000 in cash.

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=984477

 

[kingpin007]

Man charged with alleged cultivation and supply of cannabis – Auburn

Wednesday, 16 Dec 2009 05:12am

A man has been charged with the alleged cultivation and supply of cannabis in Sydney’s south west yesterday.

Police from Flemington Local Area Command executed a search warrant at a home in Killeen Street, Auburn following investigations into the supply of cannabis.

Police will allege they located and seized 40 cannabis plants, worth an estimated potential street value of $200,000. They also allegedly seized an amount of cash, a quantity of green vegetable matter and drug paraphernalia.

A 53-year-old man was arrested at the scene and taken to Auburn Police Station.

He was charged with cultivating a prohibited plant (cannabis), enhanced indoor cultivation of plant for commercial purpose, organised drug premises, supply prohibited drug and dealing with the proceeds of crime.

The man was refused bail and is due to appear at Burwood Local Court today.

http://www.police.nsw.gov.au/news/l...nb3YuYXUlMkZtZWRpYSUyRjkyMDAuaHRtbCZhbGw9MQ==

 

[kingpin007]

Man charged over drug supply – Hunter Valley

Wednesday, 16 Dec 2009 05:14am

A man will appear in court on multiple drug charges after being arrested in the Hunter Valley yesterday.

About 10am police attached to Strike Forces Catleen and Wayfaring executed three simultaneous search warrants at homes in Morrison Drive and Grainger Circuit, and at a business premises in Maison Due Road at Singleton.

Police will allege that quantities of amphetamine were located inside each premise. A quantity of cash was also allegedly located at the Morrison Drive address.

About 10am yesterday police attached to the two strike forces arrested a 32-year-old Singleton man in a rest area near the New England Highway at Belford, near Singleton.

The man was taken to Muswellbrook Police Station where he was interviewed and charged with a range of offences including five counts of supply prohibited drug, three counts of supply commercial quantity of prohibited drug and two counts of dealing with the proceeds of crime.

He has been refused bail and is due to appear at Muswellbrook Local Court today.

Strike Forces Catleen and Wayfaring, comprising officers from the Hunter Valley and Central Hunter Local Commands, and State Crime Command’s Gangs Squad, was formed in August 2009 to investigate the supply of prohibited drugs in the Singleton area.

Since the formation of the strike force, police have seized more than two kilograms of amphetamines and a large quantity of cash.

Inquiries continue and further arrests have not been ruled out.
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http://www.police.nsw.gov.au/news/l...nb3YuYXUlMkZtZWRpYSUyRjkyMDEuaHRtbCZhbGw9MQ==

 

[kingpin007]

Police arrest four people over illegal drug supply - Newcastle and Grafton

Wednesday, 16 Dec 2009 12:29pm



***Editors note: Footage of the operation will be distributed through NBN Newcastle and the Nine Network Sydney as well as the Prime Network Coffs Harbour. Stills can be obtained later this afternoon by contacting the NSW Police Media Unit on (02) 8263 6100***

Police have arrested four people, alleged to be part of a significant drug distribution network, during early morning raids in Newcastle and Grafton.

In July this year, police from the Coffs/Clarence Local Area Command formed Strike Force Welham to investigate the supply of amphetamine (Speed), cocaine and MDMA (Ecstasy) in the Clarence Valley on the state’s north coast.

Inquiries by strike force detectives led to a joint investigation with the Lake Macquarie Local Area Command.

Around 6.30am today, detectives arrested a 24-year-old man at Newcastle.

He was taken to the Belmont Police Station where he was charged with six counts of supply prohibited drugs and two counts of possess prohibited drug.

He was refused bail and ordered to appear today before the Newcastle Local Court.

Just before 7am, simultaneous search warrants were executed at a second address in Newcastle and two homes in Grafton.

A 29-year-old man from Newcastle was arrested and charged with one count of supply an indictable quantity of prohibited drug.

He was refused bail and ordered to appear today before Newcastle Local Court.

Another man, aged 22, and a woman, aged 25, were arrested at separate addresses in Grafton.

They were taken to the Grafton Police Station where they are assisting detectives with their inquiries.

Investigations are continuing.

Anyone with information about the matter is urged to contact either the Coffs/Clarence Local Area Command on (02) 6652 0299 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

http://www.police.nsw.gov.au/news/l...nb3YuYXUlMkZtZWRpYSUyRjkyMDcuaHRtbCZhbGw9MQ==

 

[kingpin007]

Police charge two more over illegal drug supply - Newcastle and Grafton

Wednesday, 16 Dec 2009 05:43pm

Police have laid charges against two people arrested today in Grafton who are alleged to be part of a significant drug distribution network.

In July this year, police from the Coffs/Clarence Local Area Command formed Strike Force Welham to investigate the supply of amphetamine (Speed), cocaine and MDMA (Ecstasy) in the Clarence Valley on the state’s north coast.

Inquiries by strike force detectives led to a joint investigation with the Lake Macquarie Local Area Command.

A man, aged 22, and a woman, aged 25, were arrested at separate addresses in Grafton today.

They were taken to the Grafton Police Station where they were subsequently charged with five counts each of supply prohibited drug.

Both were bailed to appear before the Grafton Local Court on 25 January 2010.

Investigations are continuing.

The Grafton charges follow the arrest of a 24-year-old man at Newcastle today.

He was taken to the Belmont Police Station where he was charged with six counts of supply prohibited drugs and two counts of possess prohibited drug.

He was refused bail and ordered to appear today before the Newcastle Local Court.

A 29-year-old man from Newcastle was arrested and charged with one count of supply an indictable quantity of prohibited drug.

He was refused bail and ordered to appear today before Newcastle Local Court.

Anyone with information about the matter is urged to contact either the Coffs/Clarence Local Area Command on (02) 6652 0299 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

http://www.police.nsw.gov.au/news/l...nb3YuYXUlMkZtZWRpYSUyRjkyMTMuaHRtbCZhbGw9MQ==

 

[kingpin007]

Pregnant woman to face drug charges
December 17, 2009 - 7:09AM

A pregnant woman is among five people charged following large amounts of the drug Ice allegedly being smuggled between NSW and Western Australia on domestic flights.

Police allege a syndicate relied on "drug mules" to move a large amount of drugs between Sydney, Perth and Kalgoorlie.

Strike Force Royalist was set up in September to investigate the crime.

On Wednesday an eight month pregnant woman, aged 25, was arrested at a Chipping Norton address, in Sydney's west.

Police allege they found 10 kilograms of a substance believed to be Ice at the property, and 600 grams of an illegal precursor powder.

"An Ice seizure of that size would have an estimated potential street value of $6.5 million," Detective Inspector Gavin Wood said in a statement on Thursday.

The woman was charged with supplying a commercial quantity of a prohibited drug.

She was refused bail and appeared at Liverpool Local Court on Wednesday.

At Dulwich Hill, in Sydney's inner west, a 34-year-old was also arrested on Wednesday, and later charged with supplying a commercial quantity of a prohibited drug.

He was refused bail and ordered to appear at Newtown Local Court.

A third person, a 29-year-old Mascot man, was charged with supplying an indictable quantity of a prohibited drug.

He was refused bail to appear at Waverley Local Court.

Police say two more members of the alleged drug syndicate are still being sought by Sydney detectives - a 26-year-old woman believed to be living in either Victoria or Tasmania and a 35-year-old man from Kensington.

Last month Strike Force Royalist officers arrested a 34-year-old from Peakhurst in Sydney's south and a 35-year-old from Tuart Hill in Perth while boarding a plane at Sydney Airport.

They were both charged with supplying a commercial quantity of a prohibited drug.

"This is the result of months of work by this dedicated team of officers which has crushed what we allege to be a significant criminal enterprise peddling large amounts of Ice," Detective Inspector Wood said.

http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/pregnant-woman-to-face-drug-charges-20091217-kxvy.html

 

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Police are continuing investigations into an organised drug syndicate between Queensland and South Australia as 10 men have been remanded in custody

Police say further arrests are likely.

Ten men have already appeared in court charged with trafficking and other drug offences, with all remanded in custody.

Police seized nearly 38 kilograms of cannabis and more than $100,000 in cash at Ipswich, west of Brisbane, in raids this week.

Acting Detective Superintendent Steve Holahan says it appears the drugs were being distributed in the Ipswich region.

"There are parts of the investigation that we are looking at continuing - obviously there are matters that are before the court - but it has taken a number of months," he said.

"There will be parts of the investigation that will continue.

"We have got no information that suggests outlaw motorcycles gangs were involved."

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/12/17/2774161.htm?site=idx-qld

 

[kingpin007]

Drugs, weapons found on highway

* From: AAP
* December 17, 2009 6:44AM

HANDCUFF sets, capsicum spray and about 50 rounds of ammunition for a handgun are among several items seized from a unit on a busy highway in Sydney's south, police say.

Police allege they located the items at a unit on the Princes Highway, Sutherland, about 2pm (AEDT) yesterday, following an ongoing investigation into the supply of prohibited drugs.

Three sets of handcuffs, capsicum spray, a quantity of cannabis, a quantity of methylamphetamine, and about 50 rounds of ammunition for a handgun were allegedly seized.

A walking stick with a concealed blade, stolen credit cards, cash, a live explosive device, and about 1000 CDs suspected of being the proceeds of crime, as well as a large amount of drug paraphernalia, were also allegedly located.

A 39-year-old man was arrested at the scene and taken to Sutherland Police Station.

He was charged with offences including six counts of possessing a prohibited weapon, three counts of possessing instructions for the manufacture of a prohibited drug and two counts of receiving stolen property.

The man was refused bail to appear at Sutherland Local Court today.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/br...found-on-highway/story-e6frf7jx-1225811197823

 

[kingpin007]

Fabian Quaid found guilty on ecstasy trafficking charge in Perth Supreme

# Todd Cardy, court reporter
# From: PerthNow
# December 16, 2009 5:36PM

A SUPREME Court jury has found Fabian Quaid and another man guilty of conspiring to import 44kg of powdered ecstasy.

Quaid, 33, and Dimitrios Papadimitriou, 39, had pleaded not guilty to conspiring with each other and other men to traffic a commercial quantity of MDMA - the drug used to make ecstasy.

The haul at the time was the largest for MDMA in WA’s history.

The WA Supreme Court jury returned the guilty verdicts late today after a six-week trial which heard hundreds of intercepted phone calls.

One included Quaid talking to former Eagle Michael Gardiner about fellow AFL player and confessed drug user Ben Cousins, and whether he was depressed.

The trial heard that Quaid and Papadimitriou were part of an international syndicate, co-ordinated by a man in Montenegro, to import the drug and turn the powder into pills for sale.

The conspiracy was hatched in a meeting between Quaid and another man, at a café in Subiaco in July 2007, and the men had been under covert surveillance until their arrest in May last year.

The jury deliberated for more than two days before returning its verdict.

Quaid will be sentenced at a later date.

Bags found in flat

On, May 8 last year, detectives in a joint operation between WA Police’s Organised Crime Squad and the Australian Federal Police conducted a covert search on a ``granny flat’’ at a property in Morley Drive, Lockridge.

A video of the search screened in court showed three bags were found in the raid, including one which was hidden in a recycling bin that contained the powder.

Later police returned and ``secretly substituted’’ the MDMA with a ``harmless white powder’’ before making a full raid on the property on May 19, when they arrested Papadimitriou and two other men.

Quaid was arrested at his Manly flat in Sydney two days later.

The court heard that in the phone calls the men would speak in code, calling Sydney ``Sarajevo'' and Perth ``Christina'', and using restaurants and menus when discussing drugs.

Defence lawyers argued that the about 500 taped telephone calls had been misinterpreted, and Quaid was looking to buy a cafe in Sydney.

http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/wes...th-supreme-court/story-e6frg13u-1225811129944

 

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Koonawarra drug maker gets 10 years for ecstasy haul

BY PAUL MCINERNEY

17 Dec, 2009 04:00 AM

One of three men who manufactured $3 million of ecstasy in a clandestine drug laboratory at Kanahooka last year has been jailed for 10 years.

Sentencing Christos Agoris in Wollongong District Court yesterday, Judge Paul Conlon said he was satisfied Agoris had played a major role in setting up and running the laboratory, in what he described as a well-planned and organised criminal activity.

Police found more than 67kg of pure dioxymethamphetamine at the laboratory in Linton Court, Kanahooka, which the court heard was generally sold in tablet form.

Its properties were usually more intense and hallucinogenic than ecstasy, which was manufactured from the same chemical precursors.

Judge Conlon said the pure drug was worth about $700,000 if sold in bulk but about $3 million if sold on the street.

Agoris, 34, of Woombye Close, Koonawarra, was arrested on March 20 last year by officers from Strike Force Eale, set up on February 8 to target his involvement in the manufacture of ecstasy.

Agoris' accomplices allegedly drove a black Audi at police during the operation, before mounting the footpath and driving off at speed.

Shortly after, the car crashed through the fence of Lakeside Crematorium and two men ran off.

After his arrest, Agoris had initially denied having any links to illicit drugs, claiming he was just a carpenter fixing up the Kanahooka house for a relative.

His story started to unravel when police searched his residence a short distance away and found chemical precursors used in the manufacture of illegal drugs.

They also found $25,000 in cash stuffed in his underwear drawer.

The police had monitored telephone calls between Agoris and his two accomplices for at least six weeks with the assistance of the NSW Crime Commission and once heard them talking about being "six hours into a 16-hour cook".

On another occasion, Agoris discussed how close he had come to blowing up the laboratory, saying he had been forced to pour water over dangerously smoking equipment.

Judge Conlon said the courts frequently stressed that people who manufactured drugs deserved stern punishment and in this case it had involved a large-scale manufacture with significant quantities of chemicals being utilised.

Agoris will be eligible for parole on March 19, 2018.

http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/...r-gets-10-years-for-ecstasy-haul/1707094.aspx

 

[kingpin007]

Cannabis accused in Brisbane court

By Jason Rawlins

Posted Mon Dec 14, 2009 6:33pm AEDT

Two people have been granted bail after they appeared in the Brisbane Magistrates Court accused of being part of a conspiracy to import 500 kilograms of cannabis.

Patrick Laurance Barr, 29, from New Zealand and Jacqueline Whitehouse, 30, from Papua New Guinea are accused of conspiring to import the drugs from Papua New Guinea.

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) charged the pair after searching homes at Caboolture and Burpengary, north of Brisbane, at the weekend.

A 27-year-old New Zealand man has also been bailed to appear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court in South Australia following his arrest in connection with the same allegations.

The AFP estimates the drugs have a street value of $10 million.

Barr and Whitehouse have been granted bailed to appear in court again in February next year.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/12/14/2771472.htm?site=news

 

[kingpin007]

Court upholds drug kingpin's conviction

CHRISTINE FLATLEY

December 18, 2009 - 1:39PM

The kingpin of a drugs syndicate that supplied the Rebels Motorcycle Club has failed in a bid to have his conviction overturned.

Michael Paul Falzon, 50, of Ilbilbie, was sentenced to 10 years jail in May after being found guilty in the Queensland Supreme Court of trafficking, producing and possessing a dangerous drug.

During the trial, the Brisbane court was told that between 1999 and 2003 at various properties outside Mackay, Rockhampton and Dalby, Falzon helped produce and traffick methylamphetamine, or ice.

Falzon, who was described by Justice Roslyn Atkinson as the "brains of the operation", made at least $1.5 million profit and with that money bought "massive" amounts of opal mining machinery.

The court heard that the drugs produced in the operation were mainly supplied to the Rebels Motorcycle Club, with some of it travelling as far as South Australia.

Falzon was also automatically given a declaration of committing a serious violent offence, meaning he would have to serve 80 per cent of his sentence before being eligible for parole.

He took his case to the Court of Appeal in Brisbane in October, where his lawyers argued the convictions were unreasonable because of issues with the admission of evidence and directions to the jury.

In a written judgment handed down on Friday, the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal, ruling the convictions were sound.

http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-new...s-drug-kingpins-conviction-20091218-l1km.html

 

[kingpin007]

Bikie jailed over ecstasy haul

Posted Thu Dec 17, 2009 6:14pm AEDT

A former Rebels motorcycle club member has been jailed for trafficking ecstasy worth nearly $300,000.

Guy Anthony Clift, 35, of Flagstaff Hill in Adelaide's south also pleaded guilty in the District Court to having unlicensed guns and the unlawful possession of thousands of dollars in cash.

The Judge said Clift was present in Wright Street in Adelaide's central business district in 1999 when three Rebels members were shot dead, including one of Clift's close friends.

He said it should have convinced Clift of the seriousness of armed confrontations and should have signalled the end of his association with the Rebels.

Clift received a head sentence of more than 11 years but will be eligible for parole in under six years.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/12/17/2775035.htm

 

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$178,000 found in Cairns drug raid

Henry Tuttiett

Friday, December 18, 2009

© The Cairns Post

AN ACCUSED drug dealer has been found with more than $178,000 in his Woree home, much of it stashed in his sock drawer.

Steven Edward Iverach’s Sandown Close home was raided by police on Wednesday, with officers allegedly finding 370g of cannabis, a set of scales and the money.

About $85,000 of the cash was allegedly found in a bedside chest-of-drawers.

Mr Iverach, 45, faced six charges in Cairns Magistrates’ Court yesterday, including possession and supply of a dangerous drug and possession of property suspected of being the proceeds of crime.

Police prosecutor Constable Katie Hall told the court police initially found 370g of cannabis in the home, which Mr Iverach allegedly claimed to own.

He also told police the set of scales was used to weigh 28g bags of cannabis, which were later sold for $200 each.

During a search of one of the home’s bedrooms, police found $13,180 in the top drawer of a bedside chest-of-drawers.

Mr Iverach allegedly told police all of the money, except about $5000, was his and used to buy cannabis before on-selling it.

A search of a second drawer then found $55,950 and $16,100 in separate bags, but Mr Iverach said the money was not his and belonged to friends.

Cairns police Tactical Crime Squad Sen-Sgt Jason Chetham said a safe was also seized and taken back to the police station where it was opened. He said it contained more than $93,000 in cash.

"Investigations are continuing into the origins of that money," Sen-Sgt Chetham said.

Defence lawyer Tom Eckersley successfully argued for Mr Iverach’s bail, saying it would likely take up to two years to finalise the cash-related charges, which would be contested.

Magistrate Robert Spencer granted bail and adjourned the case until February 18 for committal mention.

http://www.cairns.com.au/article/2009/12/18/83065_local-news.html

 

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Cairns man caught with 3000 ecstasy tablets

Friday, December 18, 2009

© The Cairns Post


A CAIRNS man has been caught with 3000 ecstasy tablets stashed in a backpack.

Police found the 27-year-old Cairns man at 1.50pm yesterday at the Brisbane Transit Centre at Roma St.
He has been charged with one count of possession of a dangerous drug and is due to appear in the Brisbane Magistrates Court today.

http://www.cairns.com.au/article/2009/12/18/83105_local-news.html

 

[kingpin007]

600 ecstasy tabs found in car during random breath-test
BY STEPHEN RYAN
19 Dec, 2009 04:00 AM
POLICE found 600 ecstasy tablets when they stopped a man for a random breath-test at Heatherbrae on Thursday, Newcastle Local Court heard yesterday.

The tablets were found in a man's jacket, but Joel John Stephen Ayton, 20, told police that the jacket was not his, Magistrate Elaine Truscott said.

Ayton's name was written on envelopes in the jacket and photographs of Ayton were found in at least one of the envelopes, she said.

Ayton, of Heritage Avenue, Medowie, did not enter pleas to supplying a commercial quantity of drugs, possessing drugs and dealing with the proceeds of crime.

Defence solicitor John Anthony said Ayton worked full-time, lived with his parents and faced a lengthy stint on remand if not granted bail.

He said Ayton and his family would struggle to provide a large cash deposit to the court if Ayton was granted bail.

Ms Truscott refused bail and adjourned the case to February.

Ayton was stopped on the Pacific Highway, Heatherbrae, after 4pm on Thursday for a random breath-test when the drugs were found, Ms Truscott said.

Police also found bundles of cash totalling $2180.

Ms Truscott said the evidence pointed to Ayton at least knowing that the drugs were in the vehicle.

"He's provided some explanation that the jacket belongs to someone else," she said.

"But the envelope has his name on it and there are photos of him in [the envelope]."

http://www.theherald.com.au/news/lo...-in-car-during-random-breathtest/1709579.aspx

 

[kingpin007]

Police seize cannabis during vehicle stop – Buronga

Saturday, 19 Dec 2009 03:49pm

A man will appear in court in February on drugs charges after police seized more than six kilograms of cannabis during a vehicle stop at Buronga, in the state’s south-west.

The white Ford panel van was stopped by Dareton Highway Patrol officers on the Sturt Highway, Buronga, about 12.30am today.

Police spoke with the driver, a 32-year-old man from Umina, on the state’s Central Coast, before searching the vehicle.

Officers allegedly located three plastic bags containing cannabis secreted in the van and three small bags containing a small amount of white powder, believed to be cocaine.

The cannabis has an estimated potential street value of $50,000.

A sum of cash was also discovered inside the vehicle.

The man was arrested and taken to Dareton Police Station before being charged with possession of a prohibited drug (two counts), deem supply of a prohibited drug, possession of equipment for the use of administering a prohibited drug and being in possession of property believed to be proceeds of crime.

He’s been conditionally bailed to appear in Wentworth Local Court on 2 February 2010.

http://www.police.nsw.gov.au/news/l...nb3YuYXUlMkZtZWRpYSUyRjkyNzYuaHRtbCZhbGw9MQ==