NEWS: 28.01.10 - First ever lab used in manufacture of safrole oil precursor for MDMA

[kingpin007]

Two arrested and police uncover first ever clan lab used in manufacture of safrole oil precursor for MDMA

Thursday, 28 Jan 2010 04:19pm

Two men have been arrested today following a joint interagency operation at Byron Bay after police uncovered the first ever clandestine laboratory manufacturing safrole oil, used in the production of MDMA.

Strike Force Barsden comprises investigators from the State Crime Command’s Drug Squad, Tweed/Byron Local Area Command, and Queensland Police.

The Strike Force was established in June 2009 to investigate the supply of cocaine, as well as the manufacture of safrole oil, which can be used as a precursor in the production of MDMA.

Two men have been arrested by police today including a 23-year-old man at Bangalow and a 24-year-old man at Mullumbimby. Both men were taken to Byron Bay Police Station.

The 24-year-old was charged with possess tablet press, conspiracy to manufacture prohibited drug, and two counts of posses prohibited drug. He was refused bail to appear at Byron Bay Local Court on 29 January, 2010.

The 23-year-old man was charged with three counts of possess prohibited drug, possess pill press, and cultivate prohibited plant. He was granted conditional bail to appear in court at a later date.

Six search warrants were executed by police at locations including two premises on Bangalow Road at Byron Bay, Hakea Court at Mullumbimby, Pacific Highway at Bangalow, Byrrell Creek Road at Byrrell Creek, and Centennial Court at Byron Bay.

A clandestine laboratory was discovered by police at Bangalow. Investigations are ongoing and police remain at the scene. Evidence of manufacture was also uncovered at Byrrell Creek.

During the search warrants police located and seized a total of two pill presses, ecstasy tablets, LSD, cannabis, cocaine, steroids, precursors used in the manufacture of MDMA, as well as $4,000 cash.

Drug Squad Commander, Superintendent Nick Bingham, continues to warn the public about the dangers of illicit drug use.

“Drug use is dangerous. It is very difficult to know what you are consuming, and the effects can be fatal,” Det/Supt Nick Bingham said.

http://www.police.nsw.gov.au/news/l...nb3YuYXUlMkZtZWRpYSUyRjk3OTIuaHRtbCZhbGw9MQ==

 

[kingpin007]

reason not in megabust thread as this is of more importance ... first ever lab found producing safrole oil in australia .. I will see if theres any mention on ten news.

this is really going to make things worse than they already are ...

 

[Sykik]

I agree wholeheartedly.

 

[kingpin007]

The 23-year-old man was charged with three counts of possess prohibited drug, possess pill press, and cultivate prohibited plant. He was granted conditional bail to appear in court at a later date.

you dont get bail if your found in possesion of drugs and especially a pill press .. that tells me he is crying like a baby and told the police everything as to where the lab was.

 

[0nk3l b3nn1]

you dont get bail if your found in possesion of drugs and especially a pill press .. that tells me he is crying like a baby and told the police everything as to where the lab was.

quite the blanket statement there about bail but untrue and unrealistic to think it can apply to every case.

 

[kingpin007]

quite the blanket statement there about bail but untrue and unrealistic to think it can apply to every case.

They both were charged with possesion of drugs and both of them had pill pressess and charged for that.

For one to get bail and the other not ...?

just seems strange that's all ...

btw I think you meant " Blank statement " ... not blanket statement ..

 

[0nk3l b3nn1]

blanket statement - a statement which makes a generalisation without defining any limits for its application

ability to be granted bail usually happens pretty quick after being brought in. its in the following days that the police do their work on you. i would bet other factors like prior/existing offences, attitude etc played a part here

 

[Doctor War]

Well, shit.

 

[Crankinit]

The downside: they got busted

The upside: this could be a sign of things to come. Increasing sophistication in domestic production to counter the decreasing ability to rely on international imports? We can only hope.

 

[JoshE]

I agree with Crankinit,

This is good and bad. Shame they got busted but on the other hand it's good to no that there are people out there planning to manufacture precursor's for MDMA..

Let's hope there are more lab's like these out there.

 

[Sameria]

This might be the first bust, but I can guarantee it isn't the only clandestine lab in Australia producing Safrole oil.

There are several plants that flourish in our country that are viable for commercial production of safrole oil.

Lets just hope they stay well hidden

 

[dynamo]

“Drug use is dangerous. It is very difficult to know what you are consuming, and the effects can be fatal,” Det/Supt Nick Bingham said.

If they didnt shut down saffrole producing labs im sure we WOULD know what was in our drugs :/

 

[phase_dancer]

No big surprises here. This has been occurring in this area since at least the mid nineties, that I know of. Prior to that, high grade sass oil was available from one of the biggest essential oil distributors, at that time located in this area. Also, most of the research concerning safrole derived from cinnamomum camphora was done at Southern Cross uni and through the forestry departments (check out the work by Brett Stubbs).

 

[0nk3l b3nn1]

Sameria - production from aussie flora sure, but commercial production?
if there's truth in that then yes, god help us that it stays under ground as you only have to look at our close neighbour to see the destruction man will do to the environment in search for the honey

 

[Sameria]

A common pest tree is a very good source, os it's not like you are doing major ecological damage.

As p_d said, this certainly isn't anything new.

 

[thestudent14]

This sucks,

Also just wondering, Is safrole oil a precurson for MDMA only, or also for other MDxx substances?

 

[phase_dancer]

Safrole is a very useful synthetic starting material, not only for the production of MDXX compounds.

 

[kingpin007]

Further four men arrested as drug strike force continues its inquiries

Thursday, 28 Jan 2010 06:16pm

Four men have been charged with 27 offences as an investigation into the ongoing supply of ecstasy within Newcastle and its surrounding suburbs.

Strike Force Sloman was established in June, 2009 to investigate the large scale organised distribution of ecstasy.

Today, investigators attached to the Newcastle City Drug Unit arrested the four men in relation to their alleged involvement in the supply of prohibited drugs.

The following arrests have been made:

· A 20-year-old man from Cardiff charged with Supply large commercial quantity, Supply commercial quantity x 4, Supply indictable quantity x 6.
· A 19-year-old man from Gateshead was charged with Supply large commercial quantity, Supply commercial quantity x 2, Supply indictable quantity.
· A 20-year-old man from Maryland charged with supply large commercial quantity x 2, Supply indictable quantity x 8.
· A 27-year-old Newcastle man was charged with Supply large commercial quantity, Supply indictable quantity x 3.

All four men were refused bail and appeared at Newcastle Local Court today. To date, strike force detectives have charged 13 people with drug supply matters.

http://www.police.nsw.gov.au/news/l...nb3YuYXUlMkZtZWRpYSUyRjk3OTUuaHRtbCZhbGw9MQ==

 

[drug_mentor]

Shame they got busted, since these guys are majorly in the minority of pill pressers that seem to actually give a fuck about making some MDMA pills.

 

[Demanufacturer]

Do you reckon they were producing the saf oil to sell in bulk or to make into MD pills? Maybe both considering the pill press?