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

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Police dogs sniff out drugs at the Parklife music festival

POLICE caught 46 people with drugs at the Parklife music festival.

Acting Sen-Sgt Mark Pilkington said drug sniffer dogs made their detections in the first six hours of the Sidney Myer Music Bowl show yesterday.

But unlike similar events, those caught with drugs did not have their festival tickets confiscated.

"It's been a combination of things - ecstasy, cocaine, amphetamine, ice and cannabis," Acting Sen-Sgt Pilkington said.

"It's always disappointing to find people bringing illicit drugs to these types of events, but history tells us that's what's going to happen, so yeah we are disappointed."

He said the Passive Alert Detection (PAD) dogs were highly skilled and would not be fooled by creative techniques to hide drugs.

“PAD dogs are highly skilled at detecting drugs and have a sense of smell which is 50 times greater than humans.

“People should expect to be caught no matter how well hidden the drugs are.”

Several people who attempted to evade police by going to nearby portable toilets were followed by the dogs.

At one point up to six officers chased a man as he attempted to flee after seeing the police truck at the festival's entrance.

Police eventually caught him at a tram stop on St Kilda Rd, near the Arts Centre.

Acting Sen-Sgt Pilkington said there was no figure on what percentage of people detected by the dogs were carrying drugs.

"We do search some people who don't have drugs on them, however that doesn't mean that a negative indication has been made," Sen-Sgt Pilkington said.

"The person may have already consumed the drugs or been in an area where drugs were."

Sen-Sgt Pilkington said most of those caught would enter a diversion program unless they had prior offences.

http://www.news.com.au/national/par...gs-into-parklife/story-fndo4cq1-1226489624942
 
Property, Weapons, Drugs seized - Wanguri

Strikeforce Trident Detectives have seized a large quantity of goods suspected to be stolen, a number of weapons and drugs following the execution of a search warrant at an address in Wanguri.

Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Mark Stringer said Police suspect the residence in Wanguri was being used as a base for illegal activities.

“We are investigating several leads in this case that point to an alleged ‘property for drugs’ arrangement. We have found items including phones, laptops and jewellery that we are trying to trace back to their rightful owners.

“Of note is a small safe that had been forcibly opened. Specialist equipment usually associated with jewellery making was still inside.

“More disturbing was the seizure of prohibited weapons including knuckledusters and knives."

Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Stringer said Detectives also seized a less than trafficable quantity of cannabis and other amphetamine type substances that have been sent for forensic testing.

A 29 year-old male, who is a member of the Rebels outlaw motorcycle gang is being summonsed to court for possession of prohibited weapons and other offences.

“Northern Territory Police will not tolerate outlaw motorcycle gangs or other elements of society dealing in illicit drugs or stolen property.

http://www.pfes.nt.gov.au/Media-Cen...05/Property-Weapons-Drugs-seized-Wanguri.aspx
 
Drug and traffic charges, Marsden

Police have charged a woman following an incident that occurred in Crestmead yesterday afternoon.

Around 2.45pm, police have pursued a stolen vehicle along Kingston Road at Waterford, but they terminated a short time later.

Another police vehicle has located the vehicle abandoned in Airedale Street, Marsden.

Police will allege that a large amount of stolen property and drugs was found in the vehicle.

A 24-year-old Marsden woman has been charged with two counts of possession of dangerous drugs, and one count each of unlawful use of a motor vehicle, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, possession of tainted property, failure to stop and driving whilst disqualified.

She is due to appear in Beenleigh Magistrates Court on November 7.

Police investigations into the incident are continuing.

http://mypolice.qld.gov.au/blog/2012/10/08/drug-and-traffic-charges-marsden/
 
NZ - Switched on staff discussed growing dope

Switched on Gardener staff sold a full hydroponic set-up to undercover cops and discussed how to grow marijuana, a court has been told.

Two undercover officers who wore wires and went into Switched on Gardener shops in Christchurch and Tauranga gave in Auckland District Court today where Michael Maurice Quinlan - the owner of Switched on Gardener - and four of his colleagues are on trial.

The court is closed to the public to protect the identities of the undercover police officers.

Quinlan is alleged to have been the head of the operation that the Crown describes as a "one-stop shop" for cannabis growing equipment.

His two companies, Stoneware 91 Ltd and Hydroponics Wholesalers, together with general manager Peter John Bennett, business development manager Ricky Cochrane, distribution manager Andrew Barry Mai and the South Island manager Paul Kenneth Barlow are accused of belonging to an organised criminal group and supplying equipment used to grow cannabis.

An undercover officer known only as "Ronnie" visited the Christchurch store in October 2009 where she bought a hydroponics hobby kit for $335 that included plant containers and nutrients.


In the recorded conversation played to the court, she asked Barlow if he could supply the plants. Barlow responded by saying that he was asked daily but couldn't do it.

"If I did that, my ass would be grass," he responded.

Barlow has already pleaded guilty to supplying equipment for the cultivation of cannabis to the officer.

Ronnie also visited the Tauranga Switched on Gardener shop where she spoke to an unknown man in November, 2011. That conversation was also played to the court.

The man gave her advice about getting rid of odours and how much light to subject indoor plants to.

Ronnie was also given detailed information about when to harvest and was sold a book called Indoor Marijuana Horticulture.

The court also heard from undercover police officer "Leah" who visited the Christchurch Switched on Gardener shop in June, 2008.

She was also meant to wear a wire but the device broke and so she made notes on her visit about 30 minutes after leaving the shop on Tuam St.

"Leah" told the court that she spoke to a man called Paul and asked him about growing plants in a wardrobe.

She also received advice about getting rid of the smell of the plants and the level of lighting.

"He said anonymity was important to both him and his customers because he didn't want to implicate him or the store," Leah told the court.

She said Paul also got his customers to pick up their large purchases from around the back of the shop where there was more privacy.

Under cross-examination from Barlow's lawyer Tim Fournier, Leah confirmed that her record of the conversation was not "verbatim".

The trial, before a jury of eight women and four men, is in its second week and is due to run for a further seven weeks.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10839200
 
NZ - Meth importer faces deportation

African who had sham marriage to Kiwi must first serve long jail term in New Zealand.
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Sylver Dube. Photo / Dean Purcell
An African drug dealer who entered a sham marriage within weeks of arriving in New Zealand to help him get residency is to be deported.

Sylver Dube was found guilty of more than 80 methamphetamine charges and was sentenced to 15 years in prison for arranging for 3.1kg - with a street value of more than $3 million - to be smuggled into the country. The 35-year-old arranged for parcels to be posted from South Africa and Nigeria to hotels in Auckland which he then picked up, before he was arrested with 200g in February 2010.

Born in South Africa but raised in Nigeria, Dube came to New Zealand on a visitor's visa in March 2009 and met Auckland woman Tihere Ford a few weeks later.

The pair's marriage certificate shows they wed in Manukau on July 24, 2009. After his arrest, Ms Ford told police they did not live together but he paid her $100 a week for board.

The arrangement was to help him with his immigration into the country.

Ms Ford later gave evidence against him at trial, where their marriage was described as a "sham".


The couple agreed in court that Dube stayed in Ms Ford's home only two or three nights a week, and shared a room with her teenage son.

Dube then used his stepson to send money to Nigeria and South Africa through Western Union transfers.

Some of the transactions were completed in the name on a stolen driver's licence. More than $450,000 was sent to Africa in the four months leading up to Dube's arrest.

Judge Grant Fraser sentenced him to 15 years in prison and ruled Dube was ineligible for parole until he served half that time. He will be deported on his release.


Sylver Dube

March 29, 2009: Arrived in Auckland from South Africa.

July 24: Marries Tihere Ford in Manukau registry office.

Feb 22, 2010: Arrested on methamphetamine charges.

Sept 27, 2012: Convicted and sentenced to 15 years in prison.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10839070
 
Drug accused granted bail

A 53-YEAR-OLD man accused of being involved in a drug syndicate operating in Bundaberg has been granted bail to look after his elderly mother.

Bundaberg West man Russell Joseph Pacey appeared in Bundaberg Magistrates Court today charged with two counts each of supplying dangerous drugs and trafficking dangerous drugs.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Barry Stevens said Pacey's charges relate to an ongoing drug operation since last August, where police found 11kg marijuana, 5g pure methylamphetamine, 1.5g cocaine, LSD, morphine medication and $37,000 in cash.

Lawyer Matt Messenger said his client lived in Crofton St with his 87-year-old mother who he cares for.

Magistrate Zac Sarra granted Pacey bail on strict conditions including that he report to police three days a week.

The matter has been adjourned for a further mention on October 29.

http://www.news-mail.com.au/story/2012/10/08/drug-accused-granted-bail-care-his-mother/
 
Drug raids – Operation Juliet Warship

Over two thousand hydroponically grown cannabis plants, approximately 70 kilograms of dried cannabis, four independent “grow houses” and over $60,000 worth of cash have been located during two days of raids across Brisbane’s southeast.

Operation Juliet Warship commenced in November 2011 by State Crime Operations Command’s Property Crime Investigation Unit to target the organised production and trafficking of dangerous drugs across the southeast.

Yesterday and this morning, over 100 police from State Crime Operations Command, Metropolitan South, Southern and South Eastern policing regions (and support from scenes of crime and forensic police) targeted over 40 addresses in suburbs including Slacks Creek, Cedar Vale, Nerang, Rochedale, Park Ridge, Springwood, Logan, Tamborine, Jimboomba, Browns Plains, Calamvale, Stretton, Camira, Crestmead, Runcorn, Sunnybank Hills, Algester, Balmoral and Wishart.

Yesterday police allegedly located 17 hydroponic set-ups, including four houses acting solely as “grow houses” and containing large quantities of cannabis plants at various stages of maturity. Two of the houses, an address in Rochedale and another inPark Ridgeboth contained almost 600 plants each as well as hydroponic equipment. A house in Rochedale allegedly contained over 400 plants and another in Springwood contained just over 300 plants.

Weapons (one rifle, two air rifles, capsicum spray), amphetamines and a significant quantity of equipment used to produce hydroponically grown cannabis were allegedly discovered in many of the other addresses.

At this stage, 25 people have been charged with 98 offences including possess, supply and produce dangerous drugs.

http://mypolice.qld.gov.au/blog/2012/10/12/drug-raids-operation-juliet-warship/
 
Coffs-Clarence meth capital of NSW

The Coffs Coast has the unenviable title of being the meth lab capital of the state.

Since the start of this year there have been busts at a South Coffs Harbour caravan park, a property near Sawtell and the latest at Grafton yesterday.

Coffs-Clarence acting crime manager Suzanne Rode-Sanders said a man and a woman have been charged over yesterday's raid.

"We yesterday executed a search warrant at an address in Federation Street at Grafton and found an active lab," she said.

"Our Chemical Ops people are here this morning processing the scene.

"The materials, the chemicals they use are quite volatile and also carcinogenic so there's a lot of precautions around processing the scene."

Detective Rode-Sanders said because the chemicals used to make the drug are so dangerous people are asked to report any suspicious activity.

"Any chemical smells that could indicate that there's a cook-up going on," she said.

"If they're selling from the premises, people quickly coming and going for short periods of time.

"Anything suspicious that they detect report it to police immediately.

"It's completely anonymous, we never divulge where our information's come from."

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-10-12/coffs-clarence-meth-capital-of-nsw/4309656
 
Four charged after drug raids

Police have charged four people with drug-related offences after a series of raids on homes in south-west Victoria.

Officers found more than a kilogram of cannabis and white powder suspected to be amphetamines.

Police raided five homes in Merino, Hamilton, Nelson, Warrnambool and Camperdown yesterday morning.

They also seized an unregistered firearm, chainsaws and tools, which police believe to be stolen.

Police say one other person is still helping them with enquiries.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-10-12/four-charged-after-drug-raids/4309566
 
Ex-cop charged in border drug sting

Police say they will need at least three months to transcribe more than 30,000 telephone interceptions made as part of their investigation into an alleged drug ring in the Albury area near the New South Wales-Victorian border.

Seven people were charged this week in relation to the supply of amphetamines in the border region, including former NSW policeman Matthew Louis Marshall, 41, of Albury.

Their arrests followed a six-month investigation by Albury police and the raid of a number of homes in Albury and Wodonga on Wednesday.

Marshall applied for bail in the Albury Local Court yesterday.

He faces 18 charges, including for supplying and administering a prohibited drug and participating in a criminal group.

A lawyer for Marshall said his client left the police force in April, suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and was a regular drug user.

Magistrate Tony Murray denied bail, saying the offences were of a serious nature and Marshall would face a lengthy jail term if found guilty.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-10-12/ex-cop-charged-in-border-drug-bust/4309132
 
Amphetamines uncovered in drug bust

Police say they found a large quantity of amphetamines during raids on several properties in Albury Wodonga yesterday.

Six people were arrested in the border region and another man from Penrith, in the western suburbs of Sydney, was also taken into custody.

The group is due to face charges of supplying a prohibited drug and participating in a criminal association.

They are expected to appear before Albury Local Court this morning.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-10-11/amphetamines-uncovered-in-drug-bust/4306740
 
Traffic stop leads police to guns, drugs, cash haul

Within five hours of arresting a motorcyclist last night, police were uncovering drugs, weapons and millions of dollars in cash at an inner-city storage shed.

Acting Superintendent Geoff Sheldon attributes the overnight bust to good detective work.

Two detectives tried to intercept a motorcyclist on Main Street in Kangaroo Point about 8.45pm.

When the motorcyclist failed to stop, the officers chased him to Fortitude Valley where the 32-year-old was allegedly found carrying a knife, heroin and about 50 grams of methamphetamines.

Suspecting the 32-year-old provided them with a false name and a bogus drivers’ licence, the detectives searched his South Brisbane home about 11.45pm where they allegedly uncovered anabolic steroids, more methamphetamines and several kilograms of white powder, believed to be cocaine, as well as a semi-automatic handgun.

At the house, police also discovered documents relating to a Kennards storage shed on Bank Street in West End.

In the early hours of this morning, police raided the shed where they allegedly uncovered a sawn-off shotgun and wads of cash.

Police will call in a bank to help them count the millions of dollars seized.

‘‘I don’t know if it’s the largest seizure we’ve had, but certainly the largest in recent memory,’’ Superintendent Sheldon said.

He said he was ‘‘fairly sure’’ the 32-year-old was involved in a wider operation, although he has no known links to outlaw motorcycle gangs.

‘‘He’s not a patched member or known as an associate of any of the motorcycle gangs at all from our intelligence holdings at this stage,’’ Superintendent Sheldon said.

‘‘He’s amassed a sizeable amount of money and we’re trying to determine over what period of time and how he’s done that.

‘‘There’s obviously going to be some sort of links there and we’re rapidly trying to acquire where he’s from, what he’s doing and who he’s associating with to work out what links he does have.’’

Police were making inquiries today with financial institutions to determine the man’s assets.

‘‘This was simply a traffic intercept in south Brisbane in the Kangaroo Point area and it’s unfolded from there,’’ Superintendent Sheldon said.

‘‘You put it down to good detective work.

‘‘[The detectives] were suspicious of the identity he gave them and that was later borne out to be correct that it was a false name.

‘‘And the further they dug the more avenues of inquiry were open to them and that then led them to further searching a house, a vehicle and ultimately the storage shed.’’

Superintendent Sheldon said the storage industry was reliant on the honesty of its customers.

‘‘The industry itself tries to self regulate itself by having people make declarations as to what is there as far as any flammable or illegal substances go, but I suppose that’s a business that’s only as good as the honesty of its customers,’’ he said.
‘‘The industry tries to regulate itself as best it can.’’

The 32-year-old man is being held in the watchhouse and is due to face Brisbane Magistrates Court tomorrow on drugs and weapon charges.

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/que...e-to-guns-drugs-cash-haul-20121015-27lyz.html
 
Man charged with attempting to import ephedrine

A 50-year-old Australian man will today appear before Parramatta Local Court charged with attempting to import ephedrine.

The man arrived at Sydney International Airport on a flight from Singapore yesterday (Friday, 12 October 2012) and was selected by Customs and Border Protection officers for a baggage examination.

Officers allegedly found a number of different food packages in the man’s bags. The packages contained an off-white substance.

Preliminary testing of the substance indicated the presence of ephedrine. Further testing will be conducted to determine its exact weight and purity.

Ephedrine is a precursor chemical which can be used in the illegal manufacture of amphetamine type substances, such as ‘ice’. It is illegal to import ephedrine without a permit.

Customs and Border Protection National Manager Investigations Kingsley Woodford-Smith congratulated the officers on stopping this import of this dangerous chemical.

“This seizure is a warning to those who seek to profit from the importation of these potentially harmful substances,” Mr Woodford-Smith said.

“If you are caught trying to breach Australia’s borders you will be charged and you will face the full force of the law.”

The maximum penalty for importing a commercial quantity of a border controlled precursor, such as ephedrine, is a fine of up to $550,000 and/or 25 years in prison.

http://www.customs.gov.au/site/mediaRelease20121013.asp
 
Findon man charged with firearm and drug offences

Detectives from the Serious Firearm Crimes Investigation Section arrested a Findon man today following a search of his home at Findon investigating the illegal possession of firearms.

Police will allege an unregistered firearm was located and not secured properly, as well as approximately 100 street deals of amphetamine and several cannabis plants.

"The possession of firearms in conjunction with drug offending poses a significant risk to the community. Possession of firearms in such circumstances is serious criminal offending," said Detective Inspector Scott Fitzgerald, Firearms Branch.

A 46-year-old man from Findon was charged with possessing a firearm without a licence (this carries a maximum period of imprisonment of four years), possessing an unregistered firearm, trafficking in a controlled and cultivating a controlled drug. The man will appear in the Port Adelaide Magistrates Court tomorrow.

http://www.sapolicenews.com.au/comp...n-charged-with-firearm-and-drug-offences.html
 
Man faces drug and weapon offences – Gold Coast

Police have charged a 30-year-old man with drug and weapon offences after he was intercepted by officers for speeding at Stanhill Drive at Surfers Paradise yesterday afternoon.

It will be alleged that at 1.20pm police intercepted a vehicle after it was detected allegedly travelling at 90 kilometres an hour in a 50 kilometre speed zone.

Police searched the man’s vehicle and allegedly located a shot gun cartridge and a substance suspected of being an illegal drug.

The Ashmore man was given a traffic infringement notice for speeding and was also charged with possession of a dangerous drug, possession of an unauthorised and prohibited explosives, as well as possess property suspected of having being used in connection with the commission of a drug offence and possess a utensil.

He is due to face the Southport Magistrates Court today.

http://mypolice.qld.gov.au/blog/2012/10/16/man-faces-drug-and-weapon-offences-gold-coast/
 
UPDATE 2 Cash and firearms seizure, Dutton Park

A man 32-year-old is facing additional charges following the location of a large quantity of cash, multiple weapons and drugs at West End yesterday.

These include three counts of unlawful possession of weapons, six counts of possession of dangerous drugs and one count of possession of restricted items.

He is due to appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court today.

http://mypolice.qld.gov.au/blog/2012/10/16/update-2-cash-and-firearms-seizure-dutton-park/
 
When police raided his home and a Kennard's Storage shed at West End, they allegedly found assault rifles and handguns, weapons including a Taser, nunchucks, knuckle dusters, 2.1 kilograms of cocaine, 2.8 kilograms of methyl amphetamine, 90 grams of heroin, 240 MDMA pills and almost $4.2 million in cash.
Click to expand...

from the above update
 
Customs officer implicated in drug plot

A man has pleaded guilty to a drug smuggling plot, allegedly involving a customs officer at Sydney Airport.

Joseph Harb was arrested in August and charged with importing 14 kilograms of the drug precursor pseudoephedrine into Sydney Airport.

The 28-year-old and an accomplice allegedly conspired with a customs officer to smuggle the chemicals past authorities.

Harb has pleaded guilty to the offence in Sydney's Central Local Court today.

He has also admitted to supplying drugs and offering a bribe to a Commonwealth official.

The Customs official, Paul John Katralis, and another alleged drug courier, Isabel Martins, are charged with helping importing the chemicals.

Katralis is also charged with corruption and receiving money as a bribe.

They did not enter a plea when their matters were heard today.

They remain in custody.

Harb has been kept in jail to be committed for sentencing in a fortnight.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-10-17/customs-officer-acused-as-man-admits-drug-plot/4318042
 
Further charges over airport drug haul

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The Organised Crime Squad has charged a 45-year-old woman after seizing almost 500 grams of methylamphetamine at Perth Airport last month.

The Alexander Heights woman has now been charged with one count of conspiring to possess methylamphetamine with intent to sell or supply and one count of unlawful possession.

It is alleged she had $112,000 in cash with her.

Police allege the woman conspired with a 72-year-old Balga man and a 48-year-old Alexander Heights man to sell or supply the drugs.

The 72-year-old man was apprehended at the Perth Domestic Airport after arriving on a flight from Sydney on 11 September.

He was found in possession of two packages containing methylamphetamine hidden in his trousers.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-10-18/further-charges-over-airport-drug-haul/4320622
 
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