Mega Merged Drug Bust Thread v2.0

[neversickanymore]

Major drugs lord arrested as €500k of pills seized during raid
Ken Foy
16/07/2014

A MAJOR Dublin drugs trafficker and his right-hand man were in garda custody last night after detectives seized almost €500,000 worth of ecstasy tablets when they raided a highly sophisticated pill-making factory.

In total, five people were being quizzed by gardai after the top-secret operation, which was led by the Garda National Drugs Unit.

Searches took place yesterday in the Tallaght, Inchicore and Crumlin areas of the capital with 45,000 ecstasy tablets being seized at the Hibernian Industrial estate at the Greenhills Road in Tallaght, along with pill-making machines.

It was the biggest ecstasy seizure in Ireland this year.

A senior source told the Herald: "It is very significant that the officers were able to find a pill-making machine when they raided the industrial unit - this was an extremely lucrative operation.

"Yesterday's raids followed a lengthy surveillance operation on a Tallaght criminal who has moved from being involved in serious armed robberies to large-scale drug dealing over the past five years."

The target of the operation was a 38-year-old career criminal who was previously busted with pill-making machines in a large cannabis grow house.

His trusted right-hand man, aged 40, who was also arrested yesterday, was also busted on a previous occasion with his business partner.

The younger man has links to veteran criminal Martin 'The Viper' Foley and he was previously jailed in relation to a bank robbery.

drone

A close relative of the drugs trafficker was one of the main organisers of a drone flight to smuggle drugs into Wheatfield Prison last month.

A package containing the drugs was attached by a rope to the four-bladed device as it hovered over the yard at the west Dublin prison.

It was initially believed that all the contraband was seized by officers, but it later emerged that a "sizeable amount" of drugs got into the jail.
- See more at: http://www.independent.ie/irish-new...uring-raid-30436211.html#sthash.GcENpQOw.dpuf

 

[neversickanymore]

48m in ya ba seized in drugs bust

Published: 20 Jul 2014 at 21.23

SONGKHLA — Police have arrested a man and seized 239,000 methamphetamine pills worth almost 48 million baht, the biggest haul in a single drugs bust in the southern region this year. A provincial anti-drug searched a forest near an isolated shrimp farm in tambon Sating Mor of Singha Nakhon district on Sunday after receiving an intelligence report that a large amount of ya ba was hidden in the area. The team later found the drugs hidden in a shack behind a house and arrested Tawatchai Promsatit, 29, who was inside. Mr Tawatchai allegedly confessed that he was hired by a man named Pradub Tharatako,...

http://www.bangkokpost.com/most-recent/421471/b48m-in-ya-ba-seized-in-drugs-bust

 

[rolodex propaganda]

According to LPD Detective Kevin Smith, on Friday, June 20, Leitchfield police officers observed a vehicle sitting on the side of the off ramp located at the 107 mile marker on the westbound side of the Western Kentucky Parkway.

When officers approached the vehicle to see if the operator needed assistance, officers observed drug paraphernalia and other items in the vehicle, Smith said.

The operator of the vehicle, Carl Gedling, 25, of Brownsville, KY, was arrested and charged with Operating a Motor Vehicle Under the Influence of Alcohol or Drugs, 1st Offense; Possession of a Controlled Substance 1st Degree (Heroin); and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

According to an LPD arrest citation, Gedling allegedly was in possession of 0.01 gram of heroin, valued at $100, at the time of his arrest.

http://gcnewsgazette.com/apps/pbcs....ory=news&lopenr=306289992&Ref=AR#.U9C6u1PLftI

I did not know one gram of dope is worth $10,000!

 

[poledriver]

State Crime Command's Gang Squad charge three people after $400,000 of 'Ice' seized

Police have charged three people following the seizure of $400,000 of methylamphetamines in the Sydney CBD yesterday.

Strike Force Carrs was formed in July 2014 to investigate the large commercial supply of prohibited drugs by an Asian crime syndicate.

The strike force was led by the State Crime Command’s Gang Squad with the assistance of the Australian Federal Police (AFP).

About 10am yesterday (Friday 25 July 2014), detectives arrested a 16-year-old girl and two men, aged 31, at premises in Pyrmont seizing 1.2kg of methylamphetamines (Ice).

A search warrant was also conducted at a unit in Rhodes where police allegedly located a further 500grams of methylamphetamines and cash.

Both men and the teenage girl were taken to Sydney City Police Station where they were charged with the large commercial supply of a prohibited drug.

The men were refused bail to appear in Parramatta Bail Court today while the teenage girl was also refused bail to appear in a children’s court today (Saturday 26 July 2014).

Investigations by Strike Force Carrs is continuing.

http://www.police.nsw.gov.au/news/l...vdi5hdSUyRm1lZGlhJTJGMzk1NTguaHRtbCZhbGw9MQ==

 

[poledriver]

Media Release: Sweet Detection - over 5kg heroin found in chocolates

A 41-year old man is scheduled to appear before Sydney Central Local Court today charged with importing heroin into Sydney Airport.

Australian Customs and Border Protection Service (ACBPS) officers selected the New South Wales man for a baggage examination when he arrived on a flight from Singapore on Wednesday, 23 July 2014.

During the examination, ACBPS officers identified a bag within the man’s luggage labelled ‘candy’ that displayed inconstancies when x-rayed. Initial testing returned positive results for heroin.

The exact weight and purity of the heroin will be determined at a later date.

The man was handed over to the Australian Federal Police (AFP) who charged him with the importation of a commercial quantity of border controlled drugs, namely heroin, contrary to Section 307.1 of the Criminal Code Act (Cth) 1995.

ACBPS Regional Commander NSW, Tim Fitzgerald said this was a unique concealment, blatantly aimed to deceive authorities.

“This concealment was carefully thought out and planned, but certainly no match for our highly skilled and dedicated officers on the front line,” Mr Fitzgerald said.

Sydney Airport Police Commander, Darren Boyd-Skinner said the AFP will continue to work with ACBPS officers to stop these harmful drugs from reaching the streets and affecting our neighbourhoods and communities.

The maximum penalty for this offence is life imprisonment.

http://www.afp.gov.au/media-centre/... Release Sweet-Detection-over-5kg-heroin.aspx

 

[poledriver]

Media Release: 40kg of methamphetamine seized and one man arrested

This is a joint media release between the Australian Federal Police and the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service.

Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Australian Customs and Border Protection Service (ACBPS) have seized more than 40 kilograms of methamphetamine and arrested a Taiwanese national in a joint operation.

The operation began last month when ACBPS officers at the Sydney Container Examination Facility intercepted a shipment of LED down lights when they arrived from China.

Further examination of the shipment found that each LED light concealed one small package of methamphetamine each weighing 40 grams.

In total, approximately 40 kilograms of methamphetamine was intercepted. The matter was referred to the AFP for further investigation.

The total street value of the methamphetamine seized is approximately AUD$32 million.

AFP members conducted a controlled delivery yesterday (Monday 21 July) where the consignment was delivered to an address in Riverwood. Subsequently a 32-year-old Taiwanese male was arrested in Haymarket.

He will face court at the Sydney Magistrates Court later today (Tuesday 22 July) charged with attempting to possess a commercial quantity of an unlawfully imported border controlled drug, namely methamphetamine, contrary to subsection 307.5(1) by the virtue of section 11.1 of the Criminal Code Act (Cth.).

This crime carries a possible penalty of life imprisonment.

Manager Crime Operations, Commander Jennifer Hurst, said this operation is an example of Australian law enforcement agencies cooperating effectively to target illicit drug importations.

ACBPS Regional Commander NSW, Tim Fitzgerald said this seizure was the result of the commitment and skill of Customs and Border Protection officers.

“This was an elaborate attempt to breach our border and deceive Australian authorities,” said Mr. Fitzgerald.

“This seizure is another great example of the work that our officers and our law enforcement partners do every day to maintain the integrity of our borders and to protect our community.”

http://www.afp.gov.au/media-centre/...hamphetamine-seized-and-one-man-arrested.aspx

 

[poledriver]

Media Release: Two charged with drug and proceeds of crime offences

Two Mexican nationals have been charged with drug possession and dealing in the proceeds of crime, following a joint investigation between the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and the Australian Crime Commission (ACC).

A 49-year-old man and a 32-year-old man were arrested in the Neutral Bay area on Friday night. They are scheduled to appear in Parramatta Local Court today (Saturday 26 July, 2014).

The operation began as a result of intelligence provided to the AFP by the ACC through its Eligo National Task Force, which is tracking illicit money flows via alternative remittance and informal value transfer systems.

On 25 July 2014, AFP members executed search warrants in Manly, Pennant Hills and Moore Park (NSW).

Several items were seized including approximately 30 kilograms of a substance believed to be crystal methamphetamine, approximately two million dollars in Australian currency suspected to be proceeds of crime and two firearms.

ACC National Manager Investigations Richard Grant said the two men were allegedly part of a Mexican cartel targeting Australia.

He said the drugs seized as part of the investigation represent 300,000 street deals of methamphetamine, and have a street value of up to $30million.

"This is a drug that is ruining lives, wrecking careers and pulling apart families," he said.

"The ACC and AFP are serious about removing these drugs from our streets, and we will continue to work together to stop organised crime groups from harming the Australian population."

AFP Manager Serious and Organised Crime Commander Scott Lee said the operation was a result of close cooperation and intelligence sharing between the AFP and the ACC.

"This joint-agency operation is testament to our combined determination to stopping criminals from profiting from the importation of drugs into Australia", Commander Lee said.

Both men were charged with the following offences:

Possessing a commercial quantity of border controlled drugs reasonably suspected of having been imported, contrary to section 307.8 of the Criminal Code Act 1995; and
Dealing in money reasonably suspected to be proceeds of crime, contrary to section 400.9 of the Criminal Code Act 1995.
The maximum penalty for these offences is life imprisonment.

Further forensic testing will confirm the exact weight and purity of the drugs seized during this operation.

Enquiries are continuing.

http://www.afp.gov.au/media-centre/...with-drug-and-proceeds-of-crime-offences.aspx

 

[poledriver]

Heroin found in alcohol bottles at Sydney Aiport - Approximately 1.5kg of Heroin found in alcohol bottles at Sydney Aiport by ACBPS officers.

 

[S.J.B.]

Two Mexican nationals have been charged with drug possession and dealing in the proceeds of crime, following a joint investigation between the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and the Australian Crime Commission (ACC).

I'm not surprised to see Mexican cartels trying to get a foothold in Australia. It's got to be the most lucrative methamphetamine market in the world per capita.

 

[neversickanymore]

Former police officer accused of attempting to transport drugs
july 28, 2014

FAYETTE COUNTY, Texas -- A former police officer has been arrested and accused of trying to transport drugs, according to the Fayette County Sheriff's Office.

Sheriff's deputies were patrolling on Interstate 10 near Flatonia and stopped a vehicle traveling eastbound toward Houston on Friday afternoon. Deputies say the driver was acting "suspiciously," so they searched the vehicle and found a compartment in the backseat they suspect was used to conceal illegal substances as well as "numerous bundles" of marijuana in a box in the bed of the truck. Deputies say they found more than 100 pounds of marijuana.

Deputies identified the man as 30-year-old Eriberto Briceno of Rio Grande City, Texas. Deputies say Briceno had his law enforcement license and other law enforcement equipment including an officer nameplate, a holster and ammunition. The sheriff's office says Briceno was a police officer from 2010 to 2013 and worked for two different police agencies in the Rio Grande Valley.

Briceno is being held in the Fayette County Jail on a $100,000 bond. He is charged with felony possession of marijuana.

http://www.kvue.com/story/news/loca...ed-of-attempting-to-transport-drugs/13261261/

 

[poledriver]

Arrests, 135kg meth seized in Victoria

MORE than 135kg of crystal methylamphetamine or "ice" worth about $130 million, has been seized during raids in Melbourne.

THE stash was found packed into four suitcases in an inner-city apartment on Tuesday afternoon, in a joint operation between the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and the Australian Crime Commission (ACC).

Four Taiwanese nationals, aged 20 to 29, are due to front Melbourne Magistrates Court on Wednesday charged with a range of drug offences.

Police were still investigating if the drugs came from overseas or were manufactured in Australia, AFP commander Bruce Giles told reporters on Wednesday.

He said he could not yet comment on whether the drugs were linked to an outlaw motorcycle club.

Police believe the quantity of drugs seized would have equalled about 1.3 million street deals.

ACC national manager of investigations Richard Grant said the raids occurred after intelligence was provided through the Eligo national task force, which aims to quash money laundering.

"Crystal methylamphetamine is a nasty, insidious drug and it's considered the most dangerous illicit drug in operation today," he said.

http://www.news.com.au/national/bre...ized-in-victoria/story-e6frfku9-1227007077584

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Media Release: 135kg of crystal methylamphetamine seized in Victoria; four charged
Release Date: Wednesday, July 30 2014, 11:26 AM

This is a joint media release between the Australian Federal Police and the Australian Crime Commission.

More than 135kg of crystal methylamphetamine (more commonly known as ICE) has been seized in a joint operation between the Australian Crime Commission (ACC) and the Australian Federal Police (AFP).

Four suitcases containing approximately 135 kilograms containing the crystal methylamphetamine was located in an apartment in inner-city Melbourne yesterday afternoon (29 July, 2014).

The estimated street value of the seizure is approximately $130 million AUD and estimated to represent approximately 1.3 million street deals.

Eligo National Task Force members executed search warrants across Victoria, arresting four male Taiwanese nationals. A 23-year-old, 29-year-old, 20-year-old and a 24-year-old have been charged with a range of drug related offences.

ACC National Manager of Investigations Richard Grant said intelligence was provided to the AFP through the ACC-led Eligo National Task Force, which tracks illicit money flows through alternative remittance and informal value transfer systems.

"Crystal methylamphetamine is a nasty, insidious drug and it’s considered the most dangerous illicit drug market in operation today," he said.

"This is a massive blow to the illicit drug trade in Australia. With continued cooperation between law enforcement on operations such as the Eligo National Task Force, we’ll continue to smash apart the illicit drugs."

AFP Manager Melbourne Office Commander Bruce Giles said that the operation is a testament to the collaborative work between law enforcement agencies to keep the community safe.

“Methamphetamine is a dangerous drug, and one that poses a very serious threat to the health and safety of our community,” Commander Giles said.

“The large quantity of the seizure and the extreme health risks associated with this drug makes it vital that we continue to target criminals who attempt to put these drugs on our streets.”

All four men will face the Melbourne Magistrates Court today (Wednesday 30 July), charged by the AFP with possessing commercial quantities of border controlled drugs or border controlled plants reasonably suspected of having been unlawfully imported, section 307.5 of the Criminal Code Act (Cth.) 1995.

Two of the men will also face additional drug trafficking charges.

The maximum penalty for these offences is imprisonment for life.

http://www.afp.gov.au/media-centre/...hetamine-seized-in-Victoria-four-charged.aspx

 

[neversickanymore]

State police find $2.4m in drugs in suitcase
BY AMANDA CHRISTMAN
August 5, 2014


State police at Hazleton found $2.4 million in drugs in a suitcase stashed in the vehicle of a Pittsburgh man Saturday morning.

When two troopers attempted to stop a speeding vehicle on Interstate 80 westbound around 5:25 a.m. in Dennison Twp., the driver put on a chase. Rashod R. Clark, 38, turned onto Route 309, ditched the car at a gas station and fled on foot. Troopers eventually caught him.

Mr. Clark, who had about $2,000 on him, said he was trafficking a “suitcase full of heroin,” troopers said.

The suitcase found in his vehicle’s trunk had 48 blocks of 50 bricks of suspected heroin. Each brick contained 50 individual bags.

The heroin has a market value of $20 per bag in Pittsburgh, Mr. Clark told troopers, leaving troopers to estimate the total value of the seized drugs at $2.4 million.

State police charged him with manufacture, delivery or possession with intent to deliver, among others.

He was jailed in lieu of $500,000 bail.

http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/state-police-find-2-4m-in-drugs-in-suitcase-1.1730815

.................................................................................................................................

How was Mr. Clark manufacturing herion?

 

[poledriver]

State police charged him with manufacture, delivery or possession with intent to deliver, among others.

or... so he was doing the delivery and possession part of that and not the manufacture. I think?

 

[neversickanymore]

^ your totally right pole, kinda a large grouping in that charge.. its all made up by them anyway right.

 

['medicine cabinet']

They get you on manufacture for making into smaller nags or repackaging it a certain way.

 

[neversickanymore]

$1.6 million in drugs seized at AZ borders in 6 daysAugust 15, 2014

 

[poledriver]

Sophisticated drugs lab capable of producing 10,000 pills a day and weapons including a submachine gun found in Blacktown raids

SEVERAL homes in Sydney’s west are being raided by the drug squad with officers discovering half a tonne of illicit substances as well as submachine gun.

Police say the raids were carried out early this morning and the operation is ongoing.

One of the homes is in Sullivan Street, Blacktown.

Five homes have been raided in the Blacktown area and three men have been arrested, the Seven Network says.

Officers are also raiding two storage units at Wentworthville.

A large sophisticated drug lab, which could produce 10,000 pills per day, was reportedly found in a garage at Blacktown.

Officers also located three firearms including a Mac 11 submachine gun with a silencer, a .338 calibre sniper rifle and an AR15 military style assault rifle.

Drugs found included 25 kilograms of MDP2P (a prohibited drug used in the manufacture of MDMA), and more than 10,000 MDMA pills.

A neighbour said the Lebanese-Australia family had lived at the Sullivan St home for more than 10 years and the couple, aged in their 40s, had several young children.

He said he was shocked to learn a suspected dug lab had been operating so close by.

“Christ. He’s just a normal; bloke. I am pretty shocked. He is a bloody good tiler,” he said.

Several firefighting crews were assisting police with large batches of chemical precursors being removed by forensic officers.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/ne...-blacktown-raids/story-fni0cx12-1227029433339

 

[poledriver]

Sydney lawyer to face court after being charged with dealing 'ice', GHB

A Sydney lawyer has been charged with dealing the drugs "ice" and GHB, as well as dealing in the proceeds of crime.

Police say they arrested the 34-year-old man on Thursday at an office in Martin Place in Sydney's CBD.

The solicitor is expected to appear in court on Friday morning where he will also face charges of resisting arrest and possessing a prohibited weapon.

Police allege undercover officers bought 500 millilitres of gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB), or "fantasy", and 13.8 grams of methylamphetamine, or "ice", from the man on a number of occasions between late July and mid-August this year.

Investigators say he was in possession of three grams of ice, an ice pipe, scales, numerous resealable plastic bags, and a large amount of cash when they arrested him on Thursday.

They also searched his Newtown home, in Sydney's inner west, where they allege they found a stun gun and 700 millilitres of a liquid thought to be GHB.

As part of the same investigation, police searched a Kings Cross unit where they say they found 40 grams of cocaine, 10 grams of ice, 350 MDMA capsules, 10 grams of ecstasy and a large amount of cash.

At the unit, they arrested a 25-year-old man from Macquarie Park and later charged him with supplying a prohibited drug, among other charges.

Both are expected to appear in Central Local Court on Friday.


Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/sydney-la...ng-ice-ghb-20140821-106zqt.html#ixzz3B3g9fIgn

 

[neversickanymore]

Ecuador seizes 7.8 tons of liquid drugs bound for Spain
QUITO: Ecuador authorities seized 7.8 tons of liquid drugs, likely a form of cocaine, disguised as "disinfectant" due to be shipped to Spain, authorities said Saturday.

The operation on Friday in the port city of Guayaquil, in south-eastern Ecuador, also netted three arrests, including one foreigner, who were ordered jailed, said the prosecutor's office in a post to their Twitter page.

The liquid, which authorities said was liquid cocaine hydrochloride, was declared to authorities as a shipment of disinfectant, prompting the suspicion of police.

"A company making its first export declared 7,000 liters of disinfectant, which it said was bound for Valencia, Spain," said Interior Minister Jose Serrano.

"This amount called the attention of police personnel, who opened the container to verify the product," and found the drugs, he said.

So far this year, authorities have seized 38 tons of drugs, mostly cocaine, Ecuador said.

Drug cartels, including Mexico's Sinaloa and others from Colombia, hire bands to transport the drugs from the border to the coast for shipment.

 

[neversickanymore]

Are drug smugglers getting more creative? Latest bust finds coke in tamales
Aug. 25, 2014 10:51am Pete Kasperowicz

U.S. border agents over the last few weeks have thwarted some very creative attempts to sneak drugs into the country, including by hiding drugs in food and children’s toys.

On Friday, U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced it found seven ounces of cocaine hiding inside tamales.

CBP agents selected a 46-year-old El Salvadoran man for drug screening, and in his luggage, they found a box containing 200 tamales. CBP said none of the tamales were disclosed by the man.

“Upon closer examination, officers found nine separate bags containing a white substance stuffed within some of the tamales,” CBP said. “The substance tested positive for cocaine.”

CBP said the traveler was turned over to the Houston Police Department.

On Thursday, U.S. Border Patrol agents arrested two men in a car, after which a drug-sniffing dog alerted them that drugs were somewhere in the vehicle. After a search, the agents found 19 vacuum-sealed packages of methamphetamine in the car’s gas tank, and another 20 packages inside the car’s rocker panels.

In all, agents pulled about 78 pounds of methamphetamine out of the car, which has a street value of about $780,000.

CBP said the 33-year-old Mexican driver had a visa, but the passenger didn’t have the proper paperwork to travel more than 25 miles away from the U.S.-Mexico border. Both men are facing charges related to possession of a controlled substance, and the passenger faces an immigration charge.

Also last week, CBP reported that it successfully stopped drug smugglers from bringing drugs into the country by hiding them in rocking horses and clothing.

After finding “anomalies” in the wooden horses, agents drilled holes in them and found more than 29 pounds of cocaine worth about $377,000.

Officials also stopped a couple and found hundreds of prescription pills in their clothing worth about $2,700.

Other countries are having similar problems. Just last week, a woman trying to enter Spain from Colombia was found with nearly four pounds of cocaine hidden in her breast implants.

The drugs were found when female officers conducted a body search, and found “certain irregularities and deformations in both breasts.”

http://www.theblaze.com/blog/2014/0...e-creative-latest-bust-finds-coke-in-tamales/