rocketqueen
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What I would really like to know is what those vials are. Any guesses?
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DPMC Moderators: thegreenhand | tryptakid
Mega Merged Drug Bust Thread v2.0
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- Start date
- Status
poledriver
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ill have a guess at steroids? Could be anything tho, might be a liquid substance in them, or a powder who knows.
Looks like a crack / meth pipe a bit below?
Looks like a crack / meth pipe a bit below?
poledriver
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Tentative drug charges for Australian in Malaysia
Tentative drug charges for Australian in Malaysia
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-03-09/tentative-drug-charges-for-australian-in-malaysia/3880462
Tentative drug charges for Australian in Malaysia
An Australian man arrested in Malaysia last week has been tentatively charged with drug use and trafficking, which attracts a mandatory death penalty.
Dominic Bird, formerly from Perth, was arrested allegedly selling methamphetamine to an undercover officer in Kuala Lumpur last week.
A Malaysian Narcotics Bureau spokesman says Bird was charged under Section 39 B of the Dangerous Drugs Act.
The charges remain tentative because police are still awaiting the results of chemical tests on the substance that Bird is alleged to have been carrying.
The purity and weight of any drugs found will have significance because amounts over 50 grams attract a mandatory death penalty.
Bird briefly faced a magistrate on Friday morning and will face court again on May 21.
No bail will be allowed.
Dominic Bird, formerly from Perth, was arrested allegedly selling methamphetamine to an undercover officer in Kuala Lumpur last week.
A Malaysian Narcotics Bureau spokesman says Bird was charged under Section 39 B of the Dangerous Drugs Act.
The charges remain tentative because police are still awaiting the results of chemical tests on the substance that Bird is alleged to have been carrying.
The purity and weight of any drugs found will have significance because amounts over 50 grams attract a mandatory death penalty.
Bird briefly faced a magistrate on Friday morning and will face court again on May 21.
No bail will be allowed.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-03-09/tentative-drug-charges-for-australian-in-malaysia/3880462
poledriver
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Detained Australian in Malaysia 'blindfolded, slapped'
Detained Australian in Malaysia 'blindfolded, slapped'
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-03-10/detained-australian-in-malaysia-blindfolded-slapped/3881310
Detained Australian in Malaysia 'blindfolded, slapped'
The lawyer for an Australian man being held on suspicion of drug trafficking in Malaysia says his client has been subjected to humiliating treatment while in custody.
Dominic Bird, who goes by his middle name of Jude, was arrested in an undercover police sting more than a week ago and has been charged with drug use and trafficking, which attracts a mandatory death sentence.
His barrister, Muhammed Shafee, has told the ABC his client complained of assault aimed at embarrassing and humiliating him.
"They placed a blindfold over his eyes and they put an ... empty inverted box over his head and they were just slapping around the box," he said.
"I was very surprised that this particular technique was used on a foreigner and obviously a case that would blow up into public limelight."
Mr Shafee is still waiting for police to produce the results of tests on drugs that were allegedly seized from his client.
He says access to Mr Bird granted by the courts is being refused by Malaysian police.
"They placed a blindfold over his eyes and they put an ... empty inverted box over his head and they were just slapping around the box."
AUDIO: Barrister Muhammed Shafee (AM)
"The court gave a very specific order allowing visits by the solicitor for two hours a day from yesterday right up to the 15th. And when we requested for the time to us to visit him, yesterday being the first day when the order abides, the police officers have denied us," he said.
"I made the observation, even when he was with me the first time ... I noticed his eyes were darting everywhere. He seemed to be like a frightened bird in a cage, looking everywhere except to us, as though someone is overseeing him.
"From the mouth of Jude, all I know was that of the occasion where one of the three who were arrested was assaulted in front of him and the second complaint he had was when he himself on the 5th was assaulted, not so much for assaulting but rather to embarrass and to humiliate him."
Mr Shafee says his client denies the charges levelled against him.
"He denied that he was trafficking in any drugs. Of course he did not deny that he was there but he was there for some other innocent purpose.
"He did not traffic in the drug that he was alleged to be found with."
"He seemed to be like a frightened bird in a cage, looking everywhere except to us, as though someone is overseeing him."
Barrister Muhammed Shafee
He says if Bird is found guilty, there is no way of getting around the death penalty.
"In terms of the judicial proceeding there is no way around it," Mr Shafee said.
"Of course the discretion of sentencing has been removed from the judiciary because it is a mandatory death sentence.
"I've always held the view that capital punishment is no longer tenable in the modern world and especially mandatory death sentences. It's certainly something that ought to be got rid off."
Dominic Bird, who goes by his middle name of Jude, was arrested in an undercover police sting more than a week ago and has been charged with drug use and trafficking, which attracts a mandatory death sentence.
His barrister, Muhammed Shafee, has told the ABC his client complained of assault aimed at embarrassing and humiliating him.
"They placed a blindfold over his eyes and they put an ... empty inverted box over his head and they were just slapping around the box," he said.
"I was very surprised that this particular technique was used on a foreigner and obviously a case that would blow up into public limelight."
Mr Shafee is still waiting for police to produce the results of tests on drugs that were allegedly seized from his client.
He says access to Mr Bird granted by the courts is being refused by Malaysian police.
"They placed a blindfold over his eyes and they put an ... empty inverted box over his head and they were just slapping around the box."
AUDIO: Barrister Muhammed Shafee (AM)
"The court gave a very specific order allowing visits by the solicitor for two hours a day from yesterday right up to the 15th. And when we requested for the time to us to visit him, yesterday being the first day when the order abides, the police officers have denied us," he said.
"I made the observation, even when he was with me the first time ... I noticed his eyes were darting everywhere. He seemed to be like a frightened bird in a cage, looking everywhere except to us, as though someone is overseeing him.
"From the mouth of Jude, all I know was that of the occasion where one of the three who were arrested was assaulted in front of him and the second complaint he had was when he himself on the 5th was assaulted, not so much for assaulting but rather to embarrass and to humiliate him."
Mr Shafee says his client denies the charges levelled against him.
"He denied that he was trafficking in any drugs. Of course he did not deny that he was there but he was there for some other innocent purpose.
"He did not traffic in the drug that he was alleged to be found with."
"He seemed to be like a frightened bird in a cage, looking everywhere except to us, as though someone is overseeing him."
Barrister Muhammed Shafee
He says if Bird is found guilty, there is no way of getting around the death penalty.
"In terms of the judicial proceeding there is no way around it," Mr Shafee said.
"Of course the discretion of sentencing has been removed from the judiciary because it is a mandatory death sentence.
"I've always held the view that capital punishment is no longer tenable in the modern world and especially mandatory death sentences. It's certainly something that ought to be got rid off."
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-03-10/detained-australian-in-malaysia-blindfolded-slapped/3881310
poledriver
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Drug man in Kiwi bar staff plan
Drug man in Kiwi bar staff plan
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10791260
Drug man in Kiwi bar staff plan
A businessman charged with smuggling 5kg of cocaine earlier bought a quarter share in a Colombian bar and promised to staff it with Kiwis.
Tony Wilkinson, 42, and his girlfriend Kirsty Harris, 25, were formally charged in a federal court in the US last week with possession of cocaine to distribute after being arrested on the Aurora cruise ship in San Francisco on January 25. They entered not guilty pleas but have indicated they may change their pleas.
Wilkinson, who formerly owned bars in Ponsonby, went into partnership with Colombian Luis Alberto Rodgers Barrios last May.
Speaking from Colombia, Barrios said Wilkinson approached him to buy a 25 per cent stake of his Balcon De La Salsa bar in the resort town of Cartagena, a notorious spot on drug trafficking routes.
Barrios said Wilkinson promised to bring bartenders from New Zealand to work in the bars.
Tony Wilkinson, 42, and his girlfriend Kirsty Harris, 25, were formally charged in a federal court in the US last week with possession of cocaine to distribute after being arrested on the Aurora cruise ship in San Francisco on January 25. They entered not guilty pleas but have indicated they may change their pleas.
Wilkinson, who formerly owned bars in Ponsonby, went into partnership with Colombian Luis Alberto Rodgers Barrios last May.
Speaking from Colombia, Barrios said Wilkinson approached him to buy a 25 per cent stake of his Balcon De La Salsa bar in the resort town of Cartagena, a notorious spot on drug trafficking routes.
Barrios said Wilkinson promised to bring bartenders from New Zealand to work in the bars.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10791260
poledriver
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Police search storage facility after cocaine bust
Police search storage facility after cocaine bust
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10790518
Police search storage facility after cocaine bust
Police are trying to track the activities of an Australian couple allegedly linked to an international cocaine syndicate who are believe to have stored "items of interest'' somewhere in Auckland.
Beaumont Basil Blake and Kathryn Anne Iorfino have been located by police - Blake has been arrested and police are speaking to Iorfino - but police want to know about their activities in the Auckland area from February 28 until March 4.
Detective Senior Sergeant Chris Cahill confirmed they were suspected to be linked to a drug bust last week in which 2kg of cocaine destined for Australia was found on a "drug courier'' in Auckland.
"They were in Auckland all of last week basically and we believe they have stored items which are of interest to us somewhere in Auckland,'' he said.
Last week's cocaine seizure and arrest followed a series of busts in Australia over the past few months in which over 18kg of cocaine originating from the syndicate was seized.
As a result of investigations undertaken on both sides of the Tasman, three other men were arrested in New Zealand.
Charges laid range from importing a Class A controlled drug, Conspiracy to export a Class A controlled drug, and possession and supply of a Class A controlled drug.
Australian police said the syndicate was using New Zealand as a "staging point'' to coordinate distribution of cocaine into Australia.
Mr Cahill said he was confident the New Zealand arrests would spell an end to the New Zealand side of the operation.
"We're comfortable we've successfully dealt with the New Zealand side. The Australians have had very good success but they may have further success as well.''
It was not thought any of the drugs seized had been intended for the New Zealand market, "but it was probably only a matter of time before the lucrative price that cocaine can fetch in New Zealand would have led to some being sold here,'' Mr Cahill said.
The New Zealand bust was the result of a joint operation involving the Organised Financial Crime Agency of New Zealand (OFCANZ), Australian Federal Police, Queensland police and Australian and New Zealand Customs.
The 2kg of cocaine would have been worth over $1.5 million once it was cut and distributed on the streets, police said.
The cocaine seizure is the latest in several recently with links to New Zealand.
Last month an American man was caught at Auckland International Airport with up to $1 million-worth of liquid cocaine hidden in tequila bottles.
In December, five people - including two men who were contractors helping to rebuild Christchurch - were arrested after more than $1 million of the drugs was found hidden in the suitcase of a man who arrived on a flight from Chile.
That cocaine haul came three months after a 37-year-old Colombian woman died in Auckland Hospital after an internally concealed package of cocaine burst inside her.
And two New Zealanders, Tony Wilkinson, and Kirsty Harris, were arrested along with an Australian man after nearly 6kg of cocaine was found during a search of a P&O cruise liner docked at the Port of San Francisco last month.
Police would like to hear from anyone who has information about Blake, who is an Australian citizen and may have used Australian identification, or Iorfino, who may have used either Australian or Italian identification.
Beaumont Basil Blake and Kathryn Anne Iorfino have been located by police - Blake has been arrested and police are speaking to Iorfino - but police want to know about their activities in the Auckland area from February 28 until March 4.
Detective Senior Sergeant Chris Cahill confirmed they were suspected to be linked to a drug bust last week in which 2kg of cocaine destined for Australia was found on a "drug courier'' in Auckland.
"They were in Auckland all of last week basically and we believe they have stored items which are of interest to us somewhere in Auckland,'' he said.
Last week's cocaine seizure and arrest followed a series of busts in Australia over the past few months in which over 18kg of cocaine originating from the syndicate was seized.
As a result of investigations undertaken on both sides of the Tasman, three other men were arrested in New Zealand.
Charges laid range from importing a Class A controlled drug, Conspiracy to export a Class A controlled drug, and possession and supply of a Class A controlled drug.
Australian police said the syndicate was using New Zealand as a "staging point'' to coordinate distribution of cocaine into Australia.
Mr Cahill said he was confident the New Zealand arrests would spell an end to the New Zealand side of the operation.
"We're comfortable we've successfully dealt with the New Zealand side. The Australians have had very good success but they may have further success as well.''
It was not thought any of the drugs seized had been intended for the New Zealand market, "but it was probably only a matter of time before the lucrative price that cocaine can fetch in New Zealand would have led to some being sold here,'' Mr Cahill said.
The New Zealand bust was the result of a joint operation involving the Organised Financial Crime Agency of New Zealand (OFCANZ), Australian Federal Police, Queensland police and Australian and New Zealand Customs.
The 2kg of cocaine would have been worth over $1.5 million once it was cut and distributed on the streets, police said.
The cocaine seizure is the latest in several recently with links to New Zealand.
Last month an American man was caught at Auckland International Airport with up to $1 million-worth of liquid cocaine hidden in tequila bottles.
In December, five people - including two men who were contractors helping to rebuild Christchurch - were arrested after more than $1 million of the drugs was found hidden in the suitcase of a man who arrived on a flight from Chile.
That cocaine haul came three months after a 37-year-old Colombian woman died in Auckland Hospital after an internally concealed package of cocaine burst inside her.
And two New Zealanders, Tony Wilkinson, and Kirsty Harris, were arrested along with an Australian man after nearly 6kg of cocaine was found during a search of a P&O cruise liner docked at the Port of San Francisco last month.
Police would like to hear from anyone who has information about Blake, who is an Australian citizen and may have used Australian identification, or Iorfino, who may have used either Australian or Italian identification.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10790518
rocketqueen
Bluelighter
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NICE SPOTTING! That is, indeed, a standard issue meth pipe. A new one or one that has been thoroughly cleaned, that is. Well, not to generalize meth users, but some of my more extreme brethren DO have a HUGE affinity for weapons. The reason for it is paranoia is my guess.
rocketqueen
Bluelighter
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- Oct 4, 2011
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Just curious, but what does "tentatively" being charged with a crime? When they file charges on me, there is no hesitation or tentativeness; it is done with a certainty. lol
poledriver
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Yeah ur right about it being a meth pipe, some people over here call them crackies or crack pipes even tho its for meth smoking, some silly slang we use. We dont generally have crack over here in AUS afaik, maybe because we are so far away and coke is so expensive, not too sure. Crack pipes are just the stem part tho right, with a dirty end on it. From what i've seen on shows/docos/movies/pictures anyway. crackheads gone wild. hehe.
The 'tentatively' part may be because the drugs are still being tested for purity and weight from what the 1st article says, and that he might be facing the death penalty which it says is mandatory if its illegal drugs and over 50 grams by what i read i think. Wonder what happens if its salt crystals or something. They guys fucked anyway tho. Long time in jail or death by the sounds of it. Even if it is or was bunk product he'd still get done with some crime I would imagine. I'll update if I see anymore on it.
The 'tentatively' part may be because the drugs are still being tested for purity and weight from what the 1st article says, and that he might be facing the death penalty which it says is mandatory if its illegal drugs and over 50 grams by what i read i think. Wonder what happens if its salt crystals or something. They guys fucked anyway tho. Long time in jail or death by the sounds of it. Even if it is or was bunk product he'd still get done with some crime I would imagine. I'll update if I see anymore on it.
poledriver
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NZ - Businessman on drugs charges
NZ - Businessman on drugs charges
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/crime/news/article.cfm?c_id=30&objectid=10791083
NZ - Businessman on drugs charges
A wealthy businessman has been charged with smuggling enough drugs from Thailand to cook up to $17 million of methamphetamine.
Gary John Read is to be committed to trial next week on 16 charges, including importing pseudoephedrine, possession of methamphetamine for supply, conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine, participating in an organised crime group and recklessly firing a gun.
The party pill king is alleged to be the head of an international drug dealing syndicate, who obtained pseudoephedrine - the main ingredient of P - from overseas, supplied it to meth cooks, then sold the finished product at wholesale level.
Read owns a $1.5 million mansion in Thailand and police have seized three homes in Tauranga and several cars, original artworks worth $100,000, and are examining an antique gun collection.
However, Read's prized Harley-Davidson motorcycle is missing.
The Weekend Herald can now reveal details of the evidence police gathered against the 44-year-old.
Detectives from the Organised and Financial Crime Agency say Read organised 77 packages of pseudoephedrine to be smuggled into New Zealand between June 2009 and last September.
Family and friends in Auckland, Waihi, Tauranga and Hamilton acted as "catchers" for the drug packages from Thailand.
Some of them believed the parcels were herbal products.
Read is the director of NZ Party Pills Ltd and internet Sales Ltd, a company which specialised in herbal supplements and legal highs.
Read allegedly smuggled more than 32kg of pseudoephedrine over that time.
Police estimate between 16kg and 24kg of P could be manufactured from the amount.
At $700 a gram, it would have been worth up to $17 million.
When the armed offenders squad swooped on Read's home in Tauranga last September, he was allegedly found in the kitchen with a package of 1.8kg of pseudoephedrine.
The arrest was made soon after the precursor drug was upgraded from class C to class B, lifting the maximum prison sentence from eight to 14 years.
But Read has also been charged with conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine and possession of the Class-A drug for supply, a charge which carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
Police say that shortly before his arrest, he was seen in a garden area near the intersection of 15th Ave and Cameron Rd in Tauranga.
They later found a plastic container buried in the undergrowth. It held seven bags of methamphetamine each weighing an ounce (28.5g). An ounce is sold at wholesale level for $10,000 to $15,000.
Bugged phone conversations and text messages revealed a close relationship between Read and his 24-year-old daughter, Kahsharn.
She became embroiled in a dispute with another young woman in Tauranga and turned to her father for help.
Read allegedly enlisted a third woman to intimidate her. She placed a hose through an open window and caused nearly $10,000 of damage.
She also visited the woman several times and warned her to stay away from Kahsharn Read - who has been jointly charged with her father with burglary and importing pseudoephedrine.
A dispute between Read and another man also emerged from the intercepted phone conversations.
While waiting to pick up a woman from an address, Read became involved in an altercation with her partner and allegedly fired a pistol. He has been charged with discharging a firearm with reckless disregard.
Read is in custody, while his daughter and another woman Jade Brady, 29, were released on strict bail conditions.
Brady is charged with possession of methamphetamine, cannabis and benzylpiperazine (BZP) for supply, a joint charge with Read of the supply of methamphetamine, and possession of a stun gun.
Three others - Veronica Mirindi, 44, Sivakumar Thuraichamy, 45, and Brian Dereck Read, 43 - are charged with importing pseudoephedrine and participating in an organised crime group.
All six are to be committed for trial next week.
Gary John Read
* 16 charges
* Accused of importing 32.5kg of pseudoephedrine ...
* ... enough to cook 16kg to 24kg of methamphetamine.
Gary John Read is to be committed to trial next week on 16 charges, including importing pseudoephedrine, possession of methamphetamine for supply, conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine, participating in an organised crime group and recklessly firing a gun.
The party pill king is alleged to be the head of an international drug dealing syndicate, who obtained pseudoephedrine - the main ingredient of P - from overseas, supplied it to meth cooks, then sold the finished product at wholesale level.
Read owns a $1.5 million mansion in Thailand and police have seized three homes in Tauranga and several cars, original artworks worth $100,000, and are examining an antique gun collection.
However, Read's prized Harley-Davidson motorcycle is missing.
The Weekend Herald can now reveal details of the evidence police gathered against the 44-year-old.
Detectives from the Organised and Financial Crime Agency say Read organised 77 packages of pseudoephedrine to be smuggled into New Zealand between June 2009 and last September.
Family and friends in Auckland, Waihi, Tauranga and Hamilton acted as "catchers" for the drug packages from Thailand.
Some of them believed the parcels were herbal products.
Read is the director of NZ Party Pills Ltd and internet Sales Ltd, a company which specialised in herbal supplements and legal highs.
Read allegedly smuggled more than 32kg of pseudoephedrine over that time.
Police estimate between 16kg and 24kg of P could be manufactured from the amount.
At $700 a gram, it would have been worth up to $17 million.
When the armed offenders squad swooped on Read's home in Tauranga last September, he was allegedly found in the kitchen with a package of 1.8kg of pseudoephedrine.
The arrest was made soon after the precursor drug was upgraded from class C to class B, lifting the maximum prison sentence from eight to 14 years.
But Read has also been charged with conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine and possession of the Class-A drug for supply, a charge which carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
Police say that shortly before his arrest, he was seen in a garden area near the intersection of 15th Ave and Cameron Rd in Tauranga.
They later found a plastic container buried in the undergrowth. It held seven bags of methamphetamine each weighing an ounce (28.5g). An ounce is sold at wholesale level for $10,000 to $15,000.
Bugged phone conversations and text messages revealed a close relationship between Read and his 24-year-old daughter, Kahsharn.
She became embroiled in a dispute with another young woman in Tauranga and turned to her father for help.
Read allegedly enlisted a third woman to intimidate her. She placed a hose through an open window and caused nearly $10,000 of damage.
She also visited the woman several times and warned her to stay away from Kahsharn Read - who has been jointly charged with her father with burglary and importing pseudoephedrine.
A dispute between Read and another man also emerged from the intercepted phone conversations.
While waiting to pick up a woman from an address, Read became involved in an altercation with her partner and allegedly fired a pistol. He has been charged with discharging a firearm with reckless disregard.
Read is in custody, while his daughter and another woman Jade Brady, 29, were released on strict bail conditions.
Brady is charged with possession of methamphetamine, cannabis and benzylpiperazine (BZP) for supply, a joint charge with Read of the supply of methamphetamine, and possession of a stun gun.
Three others - Veronica Mirindi, 44, Sivakumar Thuraichamy, 45, and Brian Dereck Read, 43 - are charged with importing pseudoephedrine and participating in an organised crime group.
All six are to be committed for trial next week.
Gary John Read
* 16 charges
* Accused of importing 32.5kg of pseudoephedrine ...
* ... enough to cook 16kg to 24kg of methamphetamine.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/crime/news/article.cfm?c_id=30&objectid=10791083
rocketqueen
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Meth is not $700 a gram. AT BEST $150 but usually around $80. Where do they get these prices from? And, more importantly, when I bury my deceased pets in the yard, why can't I ever come across a couple of ounces of meth??? Life is not fair.
Ya, the meth pipe has a bubble on the end. I am not sure why a person could not smoke crack with a meth pipe, though. The pipe you refer to that is straight is called a "straight shooter" here in the States. One or both ends are black from the carbon deposits from the heat source used, usually a lighter. Sometimes resin, too, from the crack.
I wonder if you can smoke crack with a meth pipe and smoke meth with a crack pipe? I know the reasons why it is done the way it is done, but is it possible that technically speaking the two pipes are interchangeable?
rocketqueen
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Sorry about the double post, but I have been unsuccessful in my attempts to quote from two different posts.
Anyhoo, to answer you question, my understanding is that you will still be charged accordingly, even if it is just salt crystals. Here in the US when you sell a $20 of crack to a law enforcement officer, even if it turns out to be chips of drywall, you are still charged with distribution if you have the dope already on you. If you go score the shit from someone else while the undercover officer waits, you are charged with TRAFFICKING! OUCH! I saw a dude get popped on COPS doing what I just described, and they charged him with trafficking. They sure did. Does anyone know if my interpretation is correct?
poledriver
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The prices they come up with are a joke most of the time.
Yeah I imagine you are right about getting busted even if the drugs are or were bunk.
Yeah I imagine you are right about getting busted even if the drugs are or were bunk.
Last edited:
poledriver
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AUS VIC - Police catch Future drug offenders
AUS VIC - Police catch Future drug offenders
here
AUS VIC - Police catch Future drug offenders
A Passive Alert Detector (PAD) dog operation at the Future Music Festival today has resulted in more than 40 people being apprehended for drug offences.
Of the 45 people arrested, 36 were referred to a drug diversion program while four people were interviewed in relation to possession of a drug of dependence and, charged and bailed to attend court at a later date.
Drugs seized at the Flemington Racecourse event included more than 90 ecstasy tablets, a quantity of amphetamines, cocaine, cannabis, GHB and a small amount of prescription drugs and steroids.
Members from the Traffic Drug and Alcohol Section also conducted drug testing of drivers outside the event.
Of the 45 motorists drug tested, six of those returned a positive sample, revealing drugs such as methylamphetamine and cannabis in their system.
The drivers, all male and aged between 20 and 35 will have to await further results to determine the status of their driver licenses.
Seven other drivers were fined for a number of offences including a 24-year-old Footscray woman who was detected driving an unregistered vehicle with false number plates whilst being unlicensed.
A P-Plater was also fined for driving a high-powered Holden sedan as well as failing to comply with his passenger restriction.
Of the 45 people arrested, 36 were referred to a drug diversion program while four people were interviewed in relation to possession of a drug of dependence and, charged and bailed to attend court at a later date.
Drugs seized at the Flemington Racecourse event included more than 90 ecstasy tablets, a quantity of amphetamines, cocaine, cannabis, GHB and a small amount of prescription drugs and steroids.
Members from the Traffic Drug and Alcohol Section also conducted drug testing of drivers outside the event.
Of the 45 motorists drug tested, six of those returned a positive sample, revealing drugs such as methylamphetamine and cannabis in their system.
The drivers, all male and aged between 20 and 35 will have to await further results to determine the status of their driver licenses.
Seven other drivers were fined for a number of offences including a 24-year-old Footscray woman who was detected driving an unregistered vehicle with false number plates whilst being unlicensed.
A P-Plater was also fined for driving a high-powered Holden sedan as well as failing to comply with his passenger restriction.
here
poledriver
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hehe. Nah it's just cos i'm adding most of the atm. And i'm from Australia. I'm trying not to add smaller ones, altho that one above your post from the festival is pretty shit, a festival with 45,000 odd people and that's all they caught? Not worth posting. I was hoping others might come across some busts from their countries and add them here too sometime.
I also add ones from NZ and Asian countries when i come across them. But yeah I mostly find Aussie ones.
I also add ones from NZ and Asian countries when i come across them. But yeah I mostly find Aussie ones.
poledriver
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Here's one from the DEA site...
poledriver
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Gulf Cartel Plaza Boss Convicted in Texas
Gulf Cartel Plaza Boss Convicted in Texas
http://www.justice.gov/dea/pubs/states/newsrel/2012/hou031212.html
Gulf Cartel Plaza Boss Convicted in Texas
BROWNSVILLE, TX– Rafael Cardenas Vela, 38, a plaza boss for the Gulf Cartel has pled guilty to participating in a long-term drug conspiracy, Javier Peña, Special Agent in Charge of the Houston Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration and Kenneth Magidson, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Texas announced today along with Jerry Robinette, Special-Agent-in-Charge for Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations.
During his plea, Cardenas Vela - aka Junior, Commandante 900 and Rolex - admitted he occupied a position as a principal leader of a criminal enterprise, known as the Gulf Cartel, headquartered in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico, which imports, warehouses, transports, and distributes ton-quantities of cocaine and marijuana from Mexico into the United States.
Cardenas Vela is the nephew of Osiel Cardenas Guillen, convicted of federal drug charges by the Southern District of Texas in 2010, and Ezequiel “Tony Tormenta” Cardenas Guillen.
Specifically, Cardenas Vela pled guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine and more than 1,000 kilograms marijuana. Cardenas admitted to being a part of this conspiracy from at least in or about January 2000 until his capture by United States authorities on Oct. 20, 2011.
“The more significant traffickers our agents can lock up and put away in jail, the safer our streets and communities will be in the long run,” said Peña. “Today is a good day for law enforcement across the country.”
“This conviction represents our continuing efforts in working with our law enforcement partners to weaken the cartels influence on drug trafficking and other related criminal activity within our district and along the Southwest border,” said Magidson. “We remain steadfast in our resolve and will continue to vigorously prosecute those individuals that seek to circumvent the laws of the United States.”“Today’s guilty plea by Cardenas is one more example of Homeland Security Investigation’s commitment to partner with the Rio Grande Valley law enforcement community to attack the command and control structure of the Gulf Cartel and to minimize its ability to use our community as a safe haven,” said Robinette.
During his plea, Cardenas Vela further admitted that he and others helped manage and maintain cocaine and marijuana transportation and distribution cells established in the United States that acted as smaller operational units within the larger organization. Cells were located in various cities including but not limited to Houston, Brownsville, and McAllen, Texas, as well as northern cities throughout the United States.
The Gulf Cartel, as led in part by Cardenas Vela, also collected and transported millions of dollars in United States currency which represented the proceeds from the distribution and sale of cocaine and marijuana in the United States. Once the drug proceeds were collected at various points within the United States, the money would be transported to Mexico to further the aims of this criminal enterprise.
Cardenas Vela occupied a position as a plaza boss for the Gulf Cartel over the last several years in various places including San Fernando, Rio Bravo and Matamoros, Tamaulipas. A plaza boss is the lead representative for the Gulf Cartel in a particular region or town and is in charge of maintaining control of the region for to ensure the safe passage of the Cartel’s narcotics. The plaza boss also extracts a “piso,” (payment) by others who want to transport narcotics or operate businesses in that region. To accomplish this, the plaza boss is responsible for making recurring bribe payments to Mexican law enforcement and local officials, as well as recruiting, outfitting and maintaining command and control of the Cartel’s employees in that region.
According to the factual basis in support of his plea today, Cardenas Vela was the Plaza Boss for the San Fernando Tamaulipas region for several years leading up his transfer to Rio Bravo, Tamaulipas in June 2010. San Fernando is an important thoroughfare in Northern Mexico and narcotics commonly pass through San Fernando on their way to Cartel collection points along the Rio Grande River. In June 2010, Cardenas assumed Plaza Boss leadership of Rio Bravo, an area along the Rio Grande River east of Reynosa, Mexico. Rio Bravo’s location on the United States-Mexico border has made it a common collection point for a good share of the Gulf Cartel’s narcotics prior to passage into this country. Cardenas Vela maintained command and control of the Rio Bravo Plaza until March 2011.
The internal struggle for power that began after the death of his uncle, Ezequiel Cardenas Guillen, in November 2010 continued within the Gulf Cartel and Cardenas Vela and elements allied with him began to fight with elements associated with Jorge Eduardo Costilla Sanchez - aka El Cos. It was during this struggle that Cardenas Vela ousted Jose Luis Zuniga, aka Wicho, from leadership of Matamoros and assumed control. During this feud, the Zetas unsuccessfully attempted to gain control of the Control-Ramirez and Reynosa Plazas. Cardenas ultimately fled into the United States in May 2011 to escape the power struggles in Northern Mexico and was able to maintain control of the Matamoros Plaza through the use of daily emails to key leadership within the cartel.
Upon his Oct. 20, 2011, arrest in Port Isabel, Texas, cell phones and ledgers were seized from Cardenas and from searches of residences associated with Cardenas which establish evidence as to his narcotics trafficking. A phone toll analysis demonstrated connectivity with several active and ongoing drug investigations and a ledger was also analyzed that indicated the personnel structure of the armed and unarmed individuals under Cardenas’ control as well as the purchase of weapons, protective equipment, vehicles and gasoline for these vehicles. In an effort to conceal their illegal activities, this organization utilized the vehicles which had hidden compartments to conceal the cocaine, marijuana and currency which was being transported.
The Cardenas elements of the Gulf Cartel would purchase approximately 70-80 kilograms of cocaine a month in southern Mexico. Small vehicles were utilized to transport smaller amounts, between 16-20 kilograms at a time, so as to reduce the risk of large seizures on the way to the Texas/Mexico border.
The members of the criminal enterprise encoded their written and oral drug related and conspiratorial communications to further shield themselves from law enforcement detection. They used aliases and call signs during their communications to protect their identities from law enforcement agencies. In order to further the aims and goals of this criminal enterprise, the aid of law enforcement authorities was solicited to provide information and protection for the organization's criminal activities in exchange for the payment of money and/or gifts. Specifically, Rafael Cardenas Vela directed payments to various individuals related to law enforcement in Mexico. The Cartel also incurs costs to properly equip its members, including the purchase of bullet proof vests, grenades, tactical vests, bullet proof vehicles, weapons, ammunition, cell phones, radios, and salaries.
“Guardias” maintain surveillance on the Mexican Military for the Gulf Cartel and elements of the Gulf Cartel would also maintain video and audio surveillance at key areas throughout Matamoros to maintain surveillance and intelligence of law enforcement and rival gang’s activities. At the time of Cardenas’ arrest, it was discovered he had approximately 500 men equipped and ready to respond to his call.
Cardenas Vela stipulated that during his leadership, Cardenas contributed in excess of 150 kilos of cocaine and 1,000 kilos of marijuana, during which he obtained at least $5 million in drug proceeds as a result of this conspiracy.
U.S. District Judge Andrew S. Hanen, who accepted the guilty plea today, has set sentencing for June 18, 2012, at which time he faces a minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison, a fine of up to $10 million and up to five years of supervised release. Cardenas also agreed to a $5 million money judgment and the forfeiture of his interest in a real property on Bluewing Circle in Brownsville which was purchased with drug proceeds.
Cardenas has been in custody since his arrest where he will remain pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The case was investigated by the DEA, ICE-HSI, FBI and the Port Isabel Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jody Young and Angel Castro.
During his plea, Cardenas Vela - aka Junior, Commandante 900 and Rolex - admitted he occupied a position as a principal leader of a criminal enterprise, known as the Gulf Cartel, headquartered in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico, which imports, warehouses, transports, and distributes ton-quantities of cocaine and marijuana from Mexico into the United States.
Cardenas Vela is the nephew of Osiel Cardenas Guillen, convicted of federal drug charges by the Southern District of Texas in 2010, and Ezequiel “Tony Tormenta” Cardenas Guillen.
Specifically, Cardenas Vela pled guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine and more than 1,000 kilograms marijuana. Cardenas admitted to being a part of this conspiracy from at least in or about January 2000 until his capture by United States authorities on Oct. 20, 2011.
“The more significant traffickers our agents can lock up and put away in jail, the safer our streets and communities will be in the long run,” said Peña. “Today is a good day for law enforcement across the country.”
“This conviction represents our continuing efforts in working with our law enforcement partners to weaken the cartels influence on drug trafficking and other related criminal activity within our district and along the Southwest border,” said Magidson. “We remain steadfast in our resolve and will continue to vigorously prosecute those individuals that seek to circumvent the laws of the United States.”“Today’s guilty plea by Cardenas is one more example of Homeland Security Investigation’s commitment to partner with the Rio Grande Valley law enforcement community to attack the command and control structure of the Gulf Cartel and to minimize its ability to use our community as a safe haven,” said Robinette.
During his plea, Cardenas Vela further admitted that he and others helped manage and maintain cocaine and marijuana transportation and distribution cells established in the United States that acted as smaller operational units within the larger organization. Cells were located in various cities including but not limited to Houston, Brownsville, and McAllen, Texas, as well as northern cities throughout the United States.
The Gulf Cartel, as led in part by Cardenas Vela, also collected and transported millions of dollars in United States currency which represented the proceeds from the distribution and sale of cocaine and marijuana in the United States. Once the drug proceeds were collected at various points within the United States, the money would be transported to Mexico to further the aims of this criminal enterprise.
Cardenas Vela occupied a position as a plaza boss for the Gulf Cartel over the last several years in various places including San Fernando, Rio Bravo and Matamoros, Tamaulipas. A plaza boss is the lead representative for the Gulf Cartel in a particular region or town and is in charge of maintaining control of the region for to ensure the safe passage of the Cartel’s narcotics. The plaza boss also extracts a “piso,” (payment) by others who want to transport narcotics or operate businesses in that region. To accomplish this, the plaza boss is responsible for making recurring bribe payments to Mexican law enforcement and local officials, as well as recruiting, outfitting and maintaining command and control of the Cartel’s employees in that region.
According to the factual basis in support of his plea today, Cardenas Vela was the Plaza Boss for the San Fernando Tamaulipas region for several years leading up his transfer to Rio Bravo, Tamaulipas in June 2010. San Fernando is an important thoroughfare in Northern Mexico and narcotics commonly pass through San Fernando on their way to Cartel collection points along the Rio Grande River. In June 2010, Cardenas assumed Plaza Boss leadership of Rio Bravo, an area along the Rio Grande River east of Reynosa, Mexico. Rio Bravo’s location on the United States-Mexico border has made it a common collection point for a good share of the Gulf Cartel’s narcotics prior to passage into this country. Cardenas Vela maintained command and control of the Rio Bravo Plaza until March 2011.
The internal struggle for power that began after the death of his uncle, Ezequiel Cardenas Guillen, in November 2010 continued within the Gulf Cartel and Cardenas Vela and elements allied with him began to fight with elements associated with Jorge Eduardo Costilla Sanchez - aka El Cos. It was during this struggle that Cardenas Vela ousted Jose Luis Zuniga, aka Wicho, from leadership of Matamoros and assumed control. During this feud, the Zetas unsuccessfully attempted to gain control of the Control-Ramirez and Reynosa Plazas. Cardenas ultimately fled into the United States in May 2011 to escape the power struggles in Northern Mexico and was able to maintain control of the Matamoros Plaza through the use of daily emails to key leadership within the cartel.
Upon his Oct. 20, 2011, arrest in Port Isabel, Texas, cell phones and ledgers were seized from Cardenas and from searches of residences associated with Cardenas which establish evidence as to his narcotics trafficking. A phone toll analysis demonstrated connectivity with several active and ongoing drug investigations and a ledger was also analyzed that indicated the personnel structure of the armed and unarmed individuals under Cardenas’ control as well as the purchase of weapons, protective equipment, vehicles and gasoline for these vehicles. In an effort to conceal their illegal activities, this organization utilized the vehicles which had hidden compartments to conceal the cocaine, marijuana and currency which was being transported.
The Cardenas elements of the Gulf Cartel would purchase approximately 70-80 kilograms of cocaine a month in southern Mexico. Small vehicles were utilized to transport smaller amounts, between 16-20 kilograms at a time, so as to reduce the risk of large seizures on the way to the Texas/Mexico border.
The members of the criminal enterprise encoded their written and oral drug related and conspiratorial communications to further shield themselves from law enforcement detection. They used aliases and call signs during their communications to protect their identities from law enforcement agencies. In order to further the aims and goals of this criminal enterprise, the aid of law enforcement authorities was solicited to provide information and protection for the organization's criminal activities in exchange for the payment of money and/or gifts. Specifically, Rafael Cardenas Vela directed payments to various individuals related to law enforcement in Mexico. The Cartel also incurs costs to properly equip its members, including the purchase of bullet proof vests, grenades, tactical vests, bullet proof vehicles, weapons, ammunition, cell phones, radios, and salaries.
“Guardias” maintain surveillance on the Mexican Military for the Gulf Cartel and elements of the Gulf Cartel would also maintain video and audio surveillance at key areas throughout Matamoros to maintain surveillance and intelligence of law enforcement and rival gang’s activities. At the time of Cardenas’ arrest, it was discovered he had approximately 500 men equipped and ready to respond to his call.
Cardenas Vela stipulated that during his leadership, Cardenas contributed in excess of 150 kilos of cocaine and 1,000 kilos of marijuana, during which he obtained at least $5 million in drug proceeds as a result of this conspiracy.
U.S. District Judge Andrew S. Hanen, who accepted the guilty plea today, has set sentencing for June 18, 2012, at which time he faces a minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison, a fine of up to $10 million and up to five years of supervised release. Cardenas also agreed to a $5 million money judgment and the forfeiture of his interest in a real property on Bluewing Circle in Brownsville which was purchased with drug proceeds.
Cardenas has been in custody since his arrest where he will remain pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.
The case was investigated by the DEA, ICE-HSI, FBI and the Port Isabel Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Jody Young and Angel Castro.
http://www.justice.gov/dea/pubs/states/newsrel/2012/hou031212.html
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$900,000 fine for Australia’s largest importation of kava
$900,000 fine for Australia’s largest importation of kava
http://www.customs.gov.au/site/120313mediarelease.asp
$900,000 fine for Australia’s largest importation of kava
A Tongan national male was sentenced, on Friday 9 March 2012, in the NSW Supreme Court for the illegal importation of almost four tonnes of kava into Australia with an estimated street value of over $2.5 million.
The Tongan national was fined $900,000 for illegally importing kava and making a false statement under the Customs Act 1901 (Cth).
“This is the largest seizure of kava in Australian history and it was a very significant find by Customs and Border Protection officers,” said Kingsley Woodford-Smith, Customs and Border Protection National Manager, Investigations.
“This detection has protected the people in our community from four tonnes of this potentially harmful substance,” said Mr Woodford-Smith.
The operation commenced in November 2008, when Customs and Border Protection officers targeted a consignment for examination at the Port Botany Container Examination Facility. The consignment, from Tonga was declared as ‘frozen vegetables’ however officers identified inconsistencies in the bags of vegetables. Upon further examination, it was discovered that many of the bags contained kava.
Kava is a shrub belonging to the pepper family, Piperaceae with the root or stump of the shrub contains kavalactones, which have sedative and muscle-relaxant effects. Excessive use of kava
is associated with a number of health-related problems including loss of muscle control, shortness of breath and irreversible kidney and liver damage as well as negative physiological and social impacts.
The Tongan national was fined $900,000 for illegally importing kava and making a false statement under the Customs Act 1901 (Cth).
“This is the largest seizure of kava in Australian history and it was a very significant find by Customs and Border Protection officers,” said Kingsley Woodford-Smith, Customs and Border Protection National Manager, Investigations.
“This detection has protected the people in our community from four tonnes of this potentially harmful substance,” said Mr Woodford-Smith.
The operation commenced in November 2008, when Customs and Border Protection officers targeted a consignment for examination at the Port Botany Container Examination Facility. The consignment, from Tonga was declared as ‘frozen vegetables’ however officers identified inconsistencies in the bags of vegetables. Upon further examination, it was discovered that many of the bags contained kava.
Kava is a shrub belonging to the pepper family, Piperaceae with the root or stump of the shrub contains kavalactones, which have sedative and muscle-relaxant effects. Excessive use of kava
is associated with a number of health-related problems including loss of muscle control, shortness of breath and irreversible kidney and liver damage as well as negative physiological and social impacts.
http://www.customs.gov.au/site/120313mediarelease.asp
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- Jul 21, 2005
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AUS, SYD -Two arrested, 5000 ecstasy pills seized - Middle Eastern Organised Crime Sq
AUS, SYD -Two arrested, 5000 ecstasy pills seized - Middle Eastern Organised Crime Squad
here
AUS, SYD -Two arrested, 5000 ecstasy pills seized - Middle Eastern Organised Crime Squad
Two men have been arrested and police have seized 5000 ecstasy pills worth a quarter of a million dollars as part of a Middle Eastern Organised Crime Squad (MEOCS) operation.
The MEOCS Target Action Group has been conducting investigations into drug supply and stopped a silver Commodore sedan on the M5 at Casula about 9.30pm yesterday (Tuesday 13 March 2012).
Officers spoke to the driver, a 36-year-old man, placing him under arrest when they discovered he was a suspended driver. A knife was also seized.
Police also arrested the passenger, a 32-year-old man, allegedly locating an implement used to smoke methylamphetamine (‘Ice).
Officers then searched the vehicle, allegedly locating 5000 tablets believed to be ecstasy. The drugs have an estimated potential street value of $250,000.
Both men were taken to Liverpool Police Station.
The 32-year-old man was charged with the large commercial supply of ecstasy and possession of an implement to administer prohibited drugs.
The 36-year-old man was charged with being a suspended driver and custody of a knife in a public place.
Both men were refused bail to face Liverpool Local Court today.
The MEOCS Target Action Group has been conducting investigations into drug supply and stopped a silver Commodore sedan on the M5 at Casula about 9.30pm yesterday (Tuesday 13 March 2012).
Officers spoke to the driver, a 36-year-old man, placing him under arrest when they discovered he was a suspended driver. A knife was also seized.
Police also arrested the passenger, a 32-year-old man, allegedly locating an implement used to smoke methylamphetamine (‘Ice).
Officers then searched the vehicle, allegedly locating 5000 tablets believed to be ecstasy. The drugs have an estimated potential street value of $250,000.
Both men were taken to Liverpool Police Station.
The 32-year-old man was charged with the large commercial supply of ecstasy and possession of an implement to administer prohibited drugs.
The 36-year-old man was charged with being a suspended driver and custody of a knife in a public place.
Both men were refused bail to face Liverpool Local Court today.
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