The Aus/NZ/Asian Drug Busts Mega-Thread El Número Cuatro

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Man avoids jail over drug charges

Man avoids jail over drug charges

A 21-year-old man from Townsville, in north Queensland, has been sentenced to nearly four-and-a-half-years' jail, wholly suspended, for a string of drug offences.

Matthew Leonard Rogers pleaded guilty in the Supreme Court in Townsville this morning on six charges, including possession and supply of dangerous drugs.

The court heard Rogers was under the influence of ecstasy when he sold the drugs to his friends in July last year.​

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Three arrested for trafficking cannabis

Three arrested for trafficking cannabis

Police yesterday arrested three members of a Virginia family for allegedly trafficking cannabis after a lengthy investigation by Elizabeth Operation Mantle.

A 42-year-old man was charged with seven counts of selling a controlled drug in a prescribed area (licenced premises) and cultivating five cannabis plants for sale.

A 51-year-old man and a 45-year-old woman were both charged with trafficking approximately one kgs of cannabis.

Police also located $1000 in cash at their Virginia property.

All three will appear in the Elizabeth Magistrates Court.​

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Significant drug arrest

Significant drug arrest

Police have arrested a 26-year-old man from Newport and charged him with trafficking a commercial quantity of controlled drugs.

On Tuesday, 6 December 2011, police from the Western Adelaide Local Service Area's Traffic Enforcement Section stopped the man driving on Audley Street, Woodville North.

As a result of a search of the vehicle, police located approximately 261 grams of amphetamine (2,610 street deals), 2.7 grams of heroin (27 street deals), 3.5 grams of cocaine (35 street deals) and 13.5 grams of methamphetamine (135 street deals) with a combined street value of over $100,000.

Police bail has been refused and the man will appear in the Port Adelaide Magistrates Court on 7 December, 2011.

Western Adelaide Local Service Area CIB are continuing enquiries.

These seizures have again resulted in a significant amount of illicit drugs that would cause harm, being removed and prevented from distribution within the local community.​

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Man to face more than 30 drug and firearms charges - Strike Force Raptor

Man to face more than 30 drug and firearms charges - Strike Force Raptor

A man has been charged with more than 30 drug and firearms offences after he was arrested by Gangs Squad detectives in the Blue Mountains yesterday.

About 8.45am (Wednesday 7 December 2011), officers attached to Strike Force Raptor, assisted by police from Blue Mountains Local Area Command, executed a search warrant at a residence in Station Street, Woodford.

During the search, police seized seven firearms, 1850 rounds of ammunition, two crossbows and a baton. They also allegedly located 400 grams of cannabis and 3.3 kilograms of dried cannabis leaf.

Police arrested a 48-year-old Woodford man at the address and took him to Springwood Police Station.

He was charged with 31 offences, including possess unregistered/unauthorised firearm; not keep firearm safe; supply/possess prohibited drug; and deal with proceeds of crime.

The man is alleged to be a senior member of the Larrikins Motorcycle Social Club and a former member of the Life and Death Outlaw Motorcycle Gang.

He was refused bail to face Penrith Local Court today.

Strike Force Raptor was established by the State Crime Command’s Gangs Squad in 2009 and is a proactive, high-impact operation targeting outlaw motorcycle gangs and their alleged associated criminal enterprises.​

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Top cop Standen given 22 years for drug plot

Top cop Standen given 22 years for drug plot

Former crime investigator Mark Standen has been handed a maximum sentence of 22 years in jail for conspiring to import $120 million worth of drugs.

The former assistant director of the New South Wales Crime Commission sat dressed in prison greens as he faced his fate in the New South Wales Supreme Court this morning.

He smiled at family members in the public gallery as he entered the dock.

But there was no reaction from Standen as Justice Bruce James sentenced him to 22 years in jail.

He will be eligible for parole after 16 years.

During a five-month trial the court heard Standen helped former informant James Henry Kinch and food importer Bakhos Jalalaty import pseudoephedrine in a shipment of rice from Pakistan.

The 54-year-old was also found guilty in August of supplying drugs and using his knowledge as one of the country's most senior investigators to pervert the course of justice.

Crown prosecutor Tim Game SC said Standen was involved in importing at least 300 kilograms of the ingredient, which is used to make the drugs speed and ice.

Justice James told the court today Standen used inside knowledge gained during his 30 years in law enforcement to commit the crimes and was "deeply involved in the criminal conspiracy".

Before his role with the Crime Commission Standen also worked for the Australian Federal Police and Customs.

During the trial the jury heard intercepted phone calls showing Standen was "desperate for money" because he had spent beyond his means.

The prosecution said Standen was "deeply, deeply involved" in the drug importation plot and not just "playing along" with it as he claimed.

The jury of six men and five women sat through almost 100 days of evidence during the trial.

Justice James told the court today that Standen communicated with his two accomplices using pseudonyms, which were mostly female names.

He said the code names included Myrtle, JoJo and Maurice.

Standen has already spend three years behind bars, having been held in custody since his arrest in June 2008.

Justice James noted Standen is being held in onerous conditions in near isolation because of his former police work.​

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Woman jailed for helping Mokbel flee to Greece

Woman jailed for helping Mokbel flee to Greece

A Melbourne cleaner and mother of six has been sentenced to four years jail for helping drug boss Tony Mokbel flee to Greece.

Foula Pantazis, 60, pleaded guilty to attempting to pervert the course of justice.

In 2006 she, her husband, sister and daughter helped Tony Mokbel sail to Greece when he was charged with serious drug offences.

Pantazis bought Mokbel two mobile phones and put his Greek apartment in her name. She delivered a suitcase to him in 2007.

In sentencing, the court was told her guilty plea was not out of remorse but only because she realised the evidence against her was overwhelming.

She was sentenced to four years jail with a non-parole period of two years and three months.

Outside court her family said the sentence was not fair.​

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Teen charged with drug supply - Sydney Olympic Park

Teen charged with drug supply - Sydney Olympic Park

A 16-year-old boy has been charged after allegedly being caught outside a dance party with a large amount of ecstasy tablets secreted in his underwear.

About 3pm yesterday (Saturday 10 December 2011), police were conducting a high visibility drug dog operation at a dance party held at Sydney Olympic Park.

The boy was searched, and police allegedly found 73 tablets believed to be ecstasy (MDMA) in his underpants.

He was arrested and taken to Auburn Police Station, where he was charged with possessing a prohibited drug and supplying a prohibited drug (indictable quantity).

The boy was granted conditional bail and will appear in Parramatta Children’s Court on Monday 16 January 2012.​

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Clandestine laboratory located, Wellington Point

Clandestine laboratory located, Wellington Point

Police have charged six people with a number of offences after locating a clandestine drug laboratory at a Wellington Point residence yesterday.

Police attended the Station Street address at around 10.30am where they located equipment and chemicals allegedly used to produce illicit drugs.

A 27-year-old Wellington Point man, a 36-year-old Capalaba man, a 22-year-old Southport woman, a 26-year-old Pacific Pines man, a 36-year-old Loganholme man and a 24-year-old Tivoli man were arrested and charged with numerous offences including possession of dangerous drugs, possessing property used to produce drugs, and supply dangerous drugs.

They are all due to appear in the Cleveland Magistrates Court this morning.​

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Man charged with alleged drug supply - Forster

Man charged with alleged drug supply - Forster

A man will face court next month after being charged with alleged drug supply in the state’s north.

About 11.30pm yesterday (Friday 9 December 2011), police were patrolling a licensed premises on Strand Street, Forster, when they received information about a man acting suspiciously within the club.

Police spoke to a 21-year-old man and during a search of the man they allegedly found a number of ecstasy tablets.

The man was immediately arrested and taken to Forster Police Station.

He was charged with possession of a prohibited drug as well as supply of a prohibited drug.

The man was given conditional bail and will appear in Forster Local Court on 11 January 2012​

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Children's hair to be tested for chemicals under radical lab rat trap by Victoria pol

Children's hair to be tested for chemicals under radical lab rat trap by Victoria police

VICTORIAN police plan to crack down on parents who set up drug factories in the home by testing their children's hair for chemical exposure.

Investigators say they are fed up with finding children whose lives have been put at risk by living near poisonous and potentially explosive secret drug laboratories.
Four children were living at one property which had a methylamphetamine lab in an unlocked shed, metres from where they played on a trampoline.
Now, if a hair test shows a child has been been exposed to dangerous chemicals, police are determined to prosecute the parents.

Police don't have the right to take a hair sample from a child without a parent or guardian's consent - unlikely in cases where the parent is a suspect.
But an order might be granted if a child were placed in the custody of the Department of Human Services.

Detectives have previously found it hard to prove children were being exposed to the methylamphetamine manufacturing process.
But Senior Sergeant Mark Burnett, a detective in the clandestine laboratory squad, said that hair sampling could reveal the length and degree of chemical exposure.
"We'll be drilling down on whether the kids were exposed," he said.

"Investigators are sick of finding children exposed to the dangerous chemicals and volatile atmospheres."
He said the dangers of drug labs to children were enormous, and police would look at charging parents with reckless conduct endangering their children's lives or putting them at risk of injury.
"It's a volatile atmosphere - it could explode - and it's a toxic atmosphere," he said.

Children's natural curiosity also made them vulnerable to swallowing chemicals from bottles and jars, he said.
Sen-Sgt Burnett said there was also concern over the disposal of drug-making equipment and waste.

Contaminated equipment had been dumped in places such as parks and toxic waste had been poured down drains or in public areas.
The police clandestine laboratory squad has closed down 74 drug factories in Victoria this year. Most were in homes but others were found in cars, hotels and business premises.​

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[NZ] Wanted fugitive found guilty on drugs charge

[NZ] Wanted fugitive found guilty on drugs charge

A wanted fugitive charged with cooking significant amounts of methamphetamine has been found guilty - despite being on the run for nearly a year and not being at his trial.

Steven John Mehrtens, 56, was found guilty at the High Court in Auckland last week of two charges of manufacturing methamphetamine.

He was arrested in May 2010 in raids described by police as one of the most significant disruptions to organised crime in New Zealand. But Mehrtens, who has a distinctive growth on the side of his neck, was released on bail and disappeared in January.

The Whangamata man was cooking methamphetamine in clandestine laboratories in the Coromandel and has links to the Waikato and Marlborough regions.

He is described as 177cm tall, of medium build and with sandy hair. Police say he is not believed to be dangerous, but advise against approaching him.

Mehrtens was found guilty of manufacturing methamphetamine with Waihi man Scott Warren Filer, 48, over a nine-month period between October 2009 and May 2010.


The Crown says that in that time, Mehrtens and Filer cooked between 2kg and 4kg of P, worth between $2 and $4 million.

The pair face maximum sentences of life imprisonment.

Others convicted of drug charges at the High Court trial include Phillip Ly and Hoang Quoc Nguyen, who admitted selling pseudoephedrine, the main ingredient in P.​

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Charges laid following search warrant - Lake Illawarra

Charges laid following search warrant - Lake Illawarra

Police from the Lake Illawarra Local Area Command have charged a woman following the execution of a search warrant in Barrack Heights earlier today.

Acting on information received, officers attached to the Proactive Crime Team conducted a search of the premises on Captain Cook Drive, about 8.50 this morning (Monday 12 December 2011).

Officers allegedly located and amount of prohibited drugs, cannabis plants, tasers, a sling shot, nun chucks, knives, swords and knuckle dusters.

An amount of property including a television, cameras, and mobile phones were also seized.

A man and a woman were arrested at the scene and taken to Lake Illawarra Police Station.

The 34-year-old woman was charged with two counts of possess prohibited weapon, knowingly conduct a drug premises, and possess drug implement.

She was refused bail and will appear in Wollongong Local Court tomorrow.

The man was released from custody pending further inquiries.

Investigations continue.​

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Drugs uncovered during Benalla raid

Drugs uncovered during Benalla raid

Benalla police raided three properties and arrested five people on Friday as part of a major drug operation.

The operation started in July and finished on Friday.

Police say, during searches on Friday, they found cannabis, amphetamines, a hydroponic system and stolen goods.

Detective Sergeant Rod Smith, from Benalla police says the operation was a huge success.

"We are extremely pleased, it culminated in a lot of work over a long period of time to get the success that we did," he said.

"It was very pleasing for this office and hopefully it will put a warning out there to people that want to carry on in this sort of trade - we have a zero tolerance to that sort of thing and you will be targeted by us."​

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Closure of drug operation, Gold Coast

Closure of drug operation, Gold Coast

Gold Coast detectives today closed a long running drug operation targeting heroin trafficking in the South Eastern Police Region.

Operation Juliet Job concluded with detectives from the Gold Coast District Criminal Investigation Branch executing search warrants this morning in Southport, Nerang, Carrara, Gilston and Woodridge.

A man and a woman from Gilston are currently assisting police with inquiries arising from today’s investigations.

Eight other people have been charged with a range of drug offences ranging from trafficking, supply and possession of dangerous drugs with police allegedly locating heroin, cocaine and cannabis during the operation.

Detective Inspector Tim Trezise, Officer in Charge, Northern Investigative Group, said, “We are confident that this operation will have an impact on the supply of these types of drugs in the South Eastern Region.

“Gold Coast police will continue to mount these operations as part of our ongoing commitment to remove dangerous drugs from our streets and neighbourhoods.” Detective Inspector Trezise said.​

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Police seize $900,000 in cannabis plants - Glen Innes

Police seize $900,000 in cannabis plants - Glen Innes

Police have seized almost 600 cannabis plants after executing a search warrant at a property near Glen Innes, in the state's north today.

Officers attached to the New England Local Area Command executed the warrant at a property approximately 30 kilometres east of the town.


A total of 597 cannabis plants, ranging in height from five centimetres to 1.8 metres, with an estimated street value of more than $900,000 were seized.


Police also located cannabis leaf and seeds as well as a quantity of brown powder believed to be heroin.

Items of property were also seized from a shed on the premises. These items will be forensically examined.


Inquries are continuing to identify those responsible for the crop's cultivation.​

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Police arrest four, seize cash, drugs and stolen property - Strike Force Lovett

Police arrest four, seize cash, drugs and stolen property - Strike Force Lovett

Detectives investigating a criminal syndicate involved in the illegal supply of firearms have arrested four people and seized drugs, cash and suspected stolen property, including war medals.

Strike Force Lovett was formed in July this year and is led by the Firearms and Organised Crime Squad and assisted by the North West Metropolitan Region.

Investigations led to the seizure of a revolver in August this year, before five search warrants were executed in Sydney’s north-west and the Blue Mountains yesterday afternoon (Tuesday 13 December 2011).

At a home in Lawson Avenue, Werrington County, police arrested a 26-year-old man and seized $13,000 in cash, a large amount of jewellery, World War II medals and assorted power tools suspected of being stolen.

At a home in Parish Street, Pemulway, a 36-year-old man was arrested and police seized more than $35,000 in cash, 2.5kg of cannabis with a potential street value of $19,000 and numerous mobile phones.

At a home in Narrow Neck Road, Katoomba, a 37-year-old woman and a 35-year-old man were arrested. Almost 150 items were seized, including laptop computers, GPS devices, flat-screen TVs, power tools, 63 pieces of jewellery, 20g of cannabis and more than $6000 cash.

At a home in Cambridge Street, Cambridge Park, police seized a small amount of cannabis and three mobile phones; and at a storage unit at St Marys, assorted power tools and ammunition were seized.

A 26-year-old man was charged with sell firearm to unauthorised person, and two counts each of knowingly deal in the proceeds of crime, supply prohibited drug, and possess prohibited drug. He was refused bail to face Penrith Local Court today.

A 36-year-old man was charged with supply prohibited drug, possess prohibited drug, and knowingly deal with the proceeds of crime. He was refused bail to face Fairfield Local Court today.

A 35-year-old woman was charged with receiving, possess prohibited drug and knowingly deal with the proceeds of crime. She was granted conditional bail to appear at Katoomba Local Court on 13 January 2012.

A 35-year-old man was charged with receiving and granted conditional bail to appear at Katoomba Local Court on 9 January 2012.

Police will work to identify the owners of the suspected stolen goods.

Investigations by Strike Force Lovett detectives are ongoing.​

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Properties searched in the states South East

Properties searched in the states South East

Following a series of coordinated raids in and around Bordertown and Keith yesterday, police have seized drugs, chemicals commonly used in the manufacture of drugs, cash, firearms and explosives.

Four properties were searched with one property revealing a concealed compartment under table in a bedroom in which four firearms, explosive devices, chemicals and cash were secreted.

As a result, a 27-year-old man from Bordertown area was arrested and charged with numerous drug and firearm related offences. He is appearing in Court today.

At two other houses in Bordertown, a 36-year-old female, two 15-year-old male youths, a 23-year-old man and a 20-year-old man all from Bordertown were reported for minor drug possession offences.

Further enquiries led police to search a property at Keith where drugs and firearms were located.

A 36-year-old male and a 40-year-old woman both from Keith were charged with traffic a controlled substance, cultivate cannabis and firearm offences. Both were bailed to appear in Court at a later date.

Police will allege that one male arrested has links to the Hells Angels and the further two males have links to the Red Devils, outlaw motorcycle gangs.​

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Court jails man over drug operation

Court jails man over drug operation

A Townsville man was jailed yesterday for his role in a north Queensland drug operation.

Matthew David Heilbronn, 30, pleaded guilty in the Supreme Court in Townsville to two counts of producing dangerous drugs and 10 summary offences.

The court heard police searched his home in July as part of Operation Ice and Flame, which was investigating the trafficking of methylamphetemaines to Cairns.

The court was told Heilbronn supplied boxes of pseudoephdrine to another man in return for methylampethamines and also procured other people to obtain drugs.

Justice David North said while Heilbronn's involvement was to obtain drugs for personal use, his offending was significant.

Heilbronn was jailed for three-and-a-half years but will be eligible for parole next July.​

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Drug charges, Robina

Drug charges, Robina

Police have charged a 34-year-old local man with seven drug related offences following the alleged discovery of a quantity of drugs in Robina yesterday.

Police executed a warrant at a Kidman Street premises and following a search of the address, allegedly located a quantity of cannabis and drug paraphernalia.

The man has been charged with one count each of producing a dangerous drug, supplying a dangerous drug and possessing a utensil; and two counts each of possessing a dangerous drug and possessing of a thing for use in the commission of crime.

He is due to appear in the Southport Magistrates Court tomorrow.​

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Northern suburbs drug distribution network smashed.

Northern suburbs drug distribution network smashed.

Following a four month investigation into a heroin and ice distribution network operating in the northern suburbs, police have arrested four people for serious drug trafficking, firearms and stolen property offences.

The dedicated operation culminated yesterday with the search of four premises resulting in the seizure of over 400 grams of heroin, a small amount of ice and ecstasy, over $25,000 cash, a sawn-off rifle and a considerable amount of stolen property estimated at about $25,000.

A 31-year-old man from Burton, a 36-year-old man from Parafield Gardens, a 24-year-old man and a 32-year-old woman both from Salisbury North were arrested and charged with drug trafficking offences.

All are expected to appear in the Elizabeth Magistrates Court today.​

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