• 🇳🇿 🇲🇲 🇯🇵 🇨🇳 🇦🇺 🇦🇶 🇮🇳
    Australian & Asian
    Drug Discussion

    Welcome Guest!
    Posting Rules Bluelight Rules
  • AADD Moderators: andyturbo

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

Status
Not open for further replies.
Operation Desino 4, Gold Coast

Police conducted Operation Desino 4 in Chevron Island, Surfers Paradise last night resulting in 11 people being charged with 20 offences including drug offences, drink driving and traffic infringements.

Gold Coast District Officer Superintendant Paul Ziebarth said a drug detection dog was part of the operation which took place at a random breath testing site.

“The drug detection dog assisted in searching nine vehicles, resulting in three drug charges,” he said.

Police will continue to use drug detection dogs in the Surfers Paradise precinct in the lead up to Christmas and New Years celebrations.

“Everybody has a responsibility to keep Surfers Paradise safe and we rely on information from the public to assist us with our operations,” Superintendant Ziebarth said.

The results from last night’s operation were:

• 1 person charged with possession of a dangerous drug and a utensil
• 1 person charged with possession of a dangerous drug (cannabis)
• 1 person charged with possession of a utensil
• 3 persons charged with drink driving (BAC)
• 1 person charged with disqualified driving
• 1 person charged with unlicensed driving
• 1 person charged with 1 x burglary, 6 x fraud, 2 x stealing and 1 x wilful damage
• 1 person charged with possession of a knife

http://mypolice.qld.gov.au/blog/2012/11/25/operation-desino-4-gold-coast/
 
$7M drug bust in the New England area

A $7-million drug bust has taken place in the New England region.

The Drug Squad, Police Air Wing, the Dog Squad and the Radio Electronics Unit worked with officers from New England Local Area Command to seize 3,450 cannabis plants.

Sergeant Chris Pieterse, from New England LAC, says investigations are ongoing and further raids are likely.

"Strike Force Hyperion officers targeted more than 50 cannabis crop sites and these areas were in the Diehard, Tenterfield, Glen Innes and Glen Elgin areas," he said.

"Police will be conducting further raids over the next few months in an effort to target cannabis cultivation."

The plants had almost reached maturity.

Police say they also seized about 7.5 kilograms of dried cannabis, along with cannabis seeds and hash.

The action, over the past week, represents the first series of raids in the New South Wales Police Force's Cannabis Eradication Program for 2012-13.

All plants will be destroyed.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-11-25/247m-drug-bust-in-the-new-england-area/4391234
 
Police Commissioner's son breaches parole

The WA Police Commissioner Karl O'Callaghan has expressed his disappointment that his son is back behind bars for breaching his parole conditions.

Russell O'Callaghan was released in May, eight months into a 16 month sentence for attempting to manufacture methamphetamines.

The commissioner says his son is now back at Casuarina Prison after testing positive to drugs.

Karl O'Callaghan says it is an extremely difficult situation, but he will continue to support his son.

"I'm his father, I picked him up from work and delivered him into the hands of police, so this is one of the difficulties of being the commissioner of police or a police officer and a father of somebody who has this sort of problem," he said.

"And it's really tough to do that but that's my job, I've got a job under the law in Western Australia."

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-11-22/police-commissioner27s-son-breaches-jail/4387302
 
Media Release: Third man charged for $237 million drug importation

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) has laid charges against a third man as part of its ongoing investigation into the importation of 350 kilograms of cocaine and methamphetamine, with a combined street value of $237 million.

A 34-year-old Canadian national from Randwick appeared in Parramatta Local Court on Saturday (24 November) and was refused bail.

It is alleged the man played a key role in facilitating the importation of the cocaine and methamphetamine concealed in heavy machinery.

The man was arrested following a search warrant at his Randwick residence on Friday 23 November.

This is the latest arrest in an ongoing investigation where the AFP last week charged a 33-year-old US national and 24-year-old Canadian national in relation to the importation.

Manager Serious and Organised Crime Commander David Sharpe said despite these arrests, investigations are continuing.

“This latest arrest sends a clear message to criminal syndicates targeting Australia,” said Commander Sharpe.

“The AFP will work hard to continue to identify and dismantle all members of the group through both domestic and international enquiries with our partner agencies.”

The man has been charged with two counts of aiding and abetting the importation of a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug, namely methamphetamine and cocaine, contrary to section 307.1, by virtue of subsection 11.2 of the Criminal Code 1995.

The maximum penalty for this offence is an $825,000 fine and/or life imprisonment.

http://www.afp.gov.au/media-centre/...charged-for-237-million-drug-importation.aspx
 
Media Release: Backpacker arrested for importing cocaine

A 29-year-old Portuguese man is scheduled to appear in Sydney Central Local Court today after being charged by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) with importing approximately three kilograms of cocaine into Australia.

On 25 November, the man arrived at Sydney International Airport on a flight from Chile, and was destined for Bondi Beach.

Customs and Border Protection officers stopped the Portuguese national and examined his two suitcases.

Following an x-ray of the man’s bags, officers made a small incision in the hard plastic lining of one suitcase, revealing white powder. Initial testing of the powder returned a positive result for cocaine.

Customs and Border Protection officers referred the detection to the AFP and the man was charged with importing a marketable quantity of border controlled drug, namely cocaine contrary to section 307.2 of the Criminal Code Act (Cth) 1995.

Customs and Border Protection National Manager, Airport Operations North, Craig Sommerville praised officers from both agencies for preventing illicit drugs from reaching Australian streets.

“These drugs have the potential to cause undue harm to the Australian community, and this seizure demonstrates the effectiveness of our officers in protecting the Australian community”.

AFP Acting National Manager Aviation David Bachi said the size of this seizure and the amount of damage it could have potentially caused cannot be understated.

"The AFP will continue to work with its law enforcement partners to stop the importation of drugs through our airports,” Commander Bachi said.

“This detection has kept these harmful drugs off the streets of Sydney.”

The maximum penalty for this offence is 25 years imprisonment and/or a $550,000 fine.
Further forensic testing will be undertaken to confirm the exact weight and purity of the substance.

http://www.afp.gov.au/media-centre/...ackpacker-arrested-for-importing-cocaine.aspx
 
Body on Tonga drugs yacht identified

A body found aboard a yacht that washed up on a deserted Pacific island carrying more than 200 kilograms of cocaine has been identified as a Slovak national.

Tongan police said the badly decomposed corpse found on the 13-metre yacht JeReVe earlier this month was that of Milan Rindzak, 35.

An international police task force, including Australian Federal Police, was monitoring the boat after it left South America.

Officials, however, lost contact with the yacht until two local divers came across it stranded on an uninhabited atoll in Tonga's Vava'u island group.

Investigators found Rindzak's body and 204 one-kilogram blocks of cocaine worth up to $116 million aboard the vessel.

Tongan police commissioner Grant O'Fee said Rindzak's passport and an autopsy established his identity.

He said other passports, as well as currency from the United States, the Dominican Republic and Poland, were also found on the vessel and would form part of a ongoing investigation headed by Australian and US authorities.

Mr O'Fee did not detail Rindzal's cause of death, which has previously been described as "unexplained", saying only that his next of kin had been informed and officials were awaiting instructions on the disposal of his remains.

The AFP said this month they were informed a vessel loaded with cocaine was en route from Ecuador in August by US authorities, as part of an operation targeting organised crime syndicates using the South Pacific.

When information suggested the yacht was in waters near the Cook Islands, police there were also brought into the investigation.

They said the drugs were believed to be destined for Australia, using the South Pacific, with its vast expanses of ocean and sparsely populated islands, as a transit route.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-11-2...tified/4395172
 
15 kilograms of drugs stopped from reaching our streets

Customs and Border Protection officers detected and seized approximately 15 kilograms of drug precursors at three different locations in New South Wales on Monday (26 November 2012).

Customs and Border Protection officers examined three parcels at the Sydney International Mail Centre, the first containing food items, the second containing an electric generator and the third parcel containing an amplifier and audio equipment. As a result of the searches, officers seized 2.5 kilograms of ephedrine in the food items, two kilograms of pseudoephedrine in the generator and 3.9 kilograms of pseudoephedrine in the amplifier

These precursors could be used to make dangerous amphetamine-type drugs like ‘Ice’.

In a separate incident, a 46 year old woman was selected by Customs and Border Protection officers for a baggage examination at Sydney International Airport following a flight from Vietnam.

Officers found a number of different food packages in the woman’s bags. Preliminary testing of the substance within the packages indicated the presence of approximately 2.6 kilograms of ephedrine. Further testing will be conducted to determine its exact weight and purity.

In another incident, an air cargo consignment from Hong Kong, containing power tools, was searched by Customs and Border Protection officers. The officers located pink and yellow granules concealed inside; the substance was identified as approximately four kilograms of ContacNT.

ContacNT is a cold and flu medication which contains high levels of pseudoephedrine, a precursor chemical used to manufacture amphetamine-type substances, such as methamphetamine. Importing pseudoephedrine into Australia is prohibited without a permit.

Customs and Border Protection Director Investigations for New South Wales, Tony McSweeney said the seizures demonstrated how Customs and Border Protection officers routinely detect drugs and precursors despite the wide variety of concealment methods.

“Thanks to the diligence of our officers, we have detected and seized approximately 15 kilograms of precursors destined for our streets,” Mr McSweeney said.

“Anyone who imports a marketable amount of a border controlled precursor, such as pseudoephedrine, ephedrine or ContactNT, could face a fine of up to $330,000 and/or 15 years in prison.”

http://www.customs.gov.au/site/121129mediarelease_precursor.asp
 
Two charged over ecstasy seizures

Two men have been charged with trafficking after seizures of more than 3,000 ecstasy tablets in Adelaide.

Police have raided seven premises across Adelaide and allegedly found more than 2,500 tablets and a prohibited weapon.

A 22-year-old man from Royal Park has been charged with trafficking drugs.

Earlier in the month, a 23-year-old man was arrested after police allegedly found more than 700 ecstasy tablets and $23,000 at a house at Greenwith.

Chief Inspector John Gerlach said it was suspected the drugs were destined for this weekend's Stereosonic music festival at Bonython Park in Adelaide.

"Rather than just running drug dog operations at the event as historically occurred, we've been able to be proactive on this occasion and get the drugs before they got to the event," he said.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-11-30/two-charged-over-ecstasy-seizures/4400338
 
Police bust alleged bikie drug syndicate in south-east Qld

Police say they have broken a drug syndicate involving the Bandidos and Lone Wolf outlaw motorcycle gangs in south-east Queensland.

Police have seized drugs, 15 firearms and $100,000 in cash during raids on more than 24 properties.

Two outlaw motorcycle club houses have been searched, along with homes and businesses in Pine Rivers north of Brisbane, Brendale, Caboolture, Burpengary, the Sunshine Coast and through to Hervey Bay on the Fraser Coast.

At this stage police have not detailed any arrests.

However they allege the bikers have been involved in the supply and production of methylamphetamine.

Yesterday a clandestine drug laboratory was shut down in Gladstone in central Queensland.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-11-...ikie-drug-syndicate-in-south-east-qld/4398832
 
Police conclude operation at music festival - Sydney

Police have concluded an operation targeting anti-social behaviour, alcohol-related crime and drugs at a music festival in Sydney.

The Harbourlife Music Festival was held at the Royal Botanical Gardens yesterday (Saturday 1 December 2012), attracting approximately 5000 people.

During the festival there was a strong police presence with officers from The Rocks Local Area Command and the Dog Unit in attendance.

A drug detection dog was used throughout the event with police seizing a range of prohibited drugs including amphetamines, cannabis and ecstasy.

During the operation 79 people were issued with Field Court Attendance Notices for possess prohibited drug. One person was also charged with supply prohibited drug and three people received cannabis cautions.

They are all expected to appear at the Downing Centre Local Court at a later date.

http://www.police.nsw.gov.au/news/m...nb3YuYXUlMkZtZWRpYSUyRjI3MTI0Lmh0bWwmYWxsPTE=
 
$77m cocaine ring smashed: AFP

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) say they have smashed an international drug syndicate with the arrest of five men in Sydney.

The men from Sydney, Italy and Mexico have been charged with conspiring to import and trying to possess 135 kilograms of cocaine.

The drugs, thought to be worth $77 million, were discovered in a shipment from Chile in September.

The AFP raided 13 properties in Sydney and Brisbane this week as part of three-month joint investigation with customs.

They arrested two Arncliffe men, aged 55 and 49, who are due in court accused of attempting to possess a commercial quantity of drugs.

The 49-year-old has also been charged with conspiracy to import drugs along with a 41-year-old Croydon Park man and a 49-year-old Italian national.

A 45-year-old Mexican man appeared in court yesterday charged with both conspiracy to import and attempting to possess drugs. He was arrested earlier this week.

The AFP are continuing to investigate the shipment and say more arrests cannot be ruled out.

In a statement, AFP Manager Crime Operations Commander Jennifer Hurst says the force is successfully targeting drug networks.

"The AFP has seized almost 700kg of illicit drugs in the past several weeks as a result of three separate investigations," she said.

"These results should send a clear and lasting message to criminals that the AFP will not rest in the fight against organised crime,"

The five men arrested this week face a maximum of life in prison if found guilty.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-12-07/2477m-cocaine-ring-smashed3a-afp/4414856
 
Canadian man charged with importing liquid cocaine

A 22-year-old Canadian man will face Sydney Central Local Court today charged with importing a substance believed to be cocaine.

The man was stopped and questioned by Customs and Border Protection officers when he arrived at Sydney Airport on a flight from Santiago Chile yesterday (4 December 2012).

The man was subsequently selected for a baggage examination by Customs and Border Protection officers. During the examination, officers identified a number of cartons containing about 2.5 litres of liquid, in the passenger’s baggage.

Presumptive field testing on a sample of the liquid substance returned a positive result for cocaine. Customs and Border Protection officers referred the detection to the Australian Federal Police (AFP).

Customs and Border Protection National Manager Airport Operations North, Craig Sommerville, said that the importation of drugs is a serious crime often associated with lengthy prison sentences.

“Customs and Border Protection is working with our law enforcement partners and continues to monitor arriving passengers for dangerous and illegal substances. Our intelligence sharing methods mean the risk of drug smuggling just isn’t worth it,” Mr Sommerville said.

AFP Acting National Manager Aviation David Bachi said yesterday’s interception was an excellent demonstration of the collaborative work done by the AFP and other law enforcement agencies to disrupt the importation of illicit drugs.

"This is a clear warning to people intending to import drugs that the AFP will continue to work with its law enforcement partners to stop the importation of drugs through our airports,” Acting National Manager Bachi said.

The AFP charged the man with importing a marketable quantity of a border controlled drug, contrary to section 307.2 of the Criminal Code Act 1995.

Further forensic testing will be undertaken to confirm the exact weight and purity of the substance.

The maximum penalty for this offence is 25 years imprisonment and/or a $550,000 fine.

http://www.afp.gov.au/media-centre/...an-charged-with-importing-liquid-cocaine.aspx
 
Criminal’s cigarette concealment goes up in smoke

Customs and Border Protection has seized more than 10 million cigarettes, illegally imported into Australia.

On Wednesday, 28 November Customs and Border Protection officers examined a sea cargo container, said to contain ceramic tiles. The container was destined for an address in Sydney, New South Wales.

The container was x-rayed and officers immediately noticed anomalies. Officers opened the container and found it to be filled with numerous cartons, estimated to contain over 10 million cigarettes. This represented almost $4 million in evaded revenue.

Customs and Border Protection National Manager Investigations, Kingsley Woodford-Smith said that the smuggling of tobacco is a serious crime as it defrauds the community of legitimate revenue.

“When officers x-rayed the container, it was immediately apparent that the goods had been intentionally mislabelled, in a poor attempt to avoid paying duty,” Mr Woodford-Smith said.

Mr Woodford-Smith said anyone with information about tobacco smuggling should call the Customs Watch number on 1800 06 1800, or report online at www.customs.gov.au/customswatch. You can remain anonymous.

Recent amendments to the Customs Act have increased the maximum penalty for smuggling such goods. If caught, criminals now face up to 10 years imprisonment or a fine equaling five times the duty evaded, or both.

http://www.customs.gov.au/site/121203_mediaRelease_cigaretteConcealment.asp
 
Police conclude operation at dance party - Sydney Olympic Park

Police have charged a man after finding him with approximately 100 ecstasy tablets at a dance party in Sydney’s west last night.

Yesterday (Saturday 8 December 2012) police targeted anti-social behaviour, alcohol related crime and prohibited drugs while conducting a drug dog operation at the Bass Control Dance Party held at the Charles Moses Stadium, Sydney Olympic Park.

During the operation police conducted 65 person searches resulting in eight drug detections. These included three charges for posses prohibited drugs, two youth cautions and one cannabis caution.


A 24-year-old man was stopped after officers spotted him attempting to run from them while moving something around inside the front of his shorts.

Police searched the man and allegedly found approximately 100 tablets, believed to be ecstasy.

He was arrested and charged with supplying an indictable quantity of prohibited drugs and granted conditional bail to appear in Burwood Local Court on Monday 21 January 2013.

http://www.police.nsw.gov.au/news/m...nb3YuYXUlMkZtZWRpYSUyRjI3MjQ0Lmh0bWwmYWxsPTE=
 
Man charged for importing heroin

A 65-year-old Vietnamese national is scheduled to appear in Parramatta Local Court today charged by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) with allegedly importing approximately four kilograms of heroin into Australia.

Quick thinking Australian Customs and Border Protection officers selected the man for a baggage examination when he arrived at Sydney International Airport on a flight from Vietnam yesterday (8 December 2012).

During a search of the man’s bags, Customs and Border Protection officers located a white compressed powder which presumptively tested positive for heroin.

The man was then referred to the AFP and charged with importing a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug, namely heroin, contrary to section 307.1 of the Criminal Code Act 1995.

The maximum penalty for this offence is an $825,000 fine and/or life imprisonment.

Customs and Border Protection National Manager Airport Operations North Craig Sommerville said that this arrest served as a warning to others considering attempting to breach Australia's borders.

"Our officers are highly skilled at assessing passengers. If you try to smuggle in illegal substances you run a high risk of being caught and charged," Mr Sommerville said.

Further forensic testing will be undertaken to confirm the exact weight and purity of the substance.

http://www.afp.gov.au/media-centre/news/afp/2012/december/man-charged-for-importing-heroin.aspx
 
Drugs bust at Meredith festival

TWO people were arrested and another two taken to hospital for suspected overdoses at the weekend's Meredith Music Festival.

A policewoman was assaulted by a drug-affected man during the festival's first arrest when she and three other officers tried to detain him in the early hours of Saturday.

Leading Senior Constable Greg Kitchen, of Meredith police, said the man had been behaving in an "extremely irrational and aggressive" manner and had to be subdued with capsicum spray. He was then taken to Ballarat.

It is believed he had taken a combination of LSD and other drugs.

Sen-Constable Kitchen said a second man was arrested about 9pm on Saturday after trying to enter the festival carrying a "very large" quantity of drugs.

"He had three tobacco pouches with what is believed to be amphetamines," he said. "There was a substantial amount of white powder as well as cannabis, LSD and mushrooms.

"However, generally speaking, I must emphasise that most of the crowd has been really well-behaved."

Ambulance Victoria spokesman John Mullen said that one person had been flown to The Alfred hospital in a stable condition and another was taken to Geelong Hospital over the course of the weekend.

Both are believed to have suffered reactions to drugs or alcohol.

St John's Ambulance officers were also kept busy treating dehydrated and heat-affected attendees.

Festival co-director Matt High said that by and large, the crowd had been exemplary.

"There have only been a couple of cases in a crowd of 13,000, so it's pretty insignificant and there's no problem overall," he said.

http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/article/2012/12/10/356299_news.html
 
Drug supply charges - Campbelltown

Four people will face court today charged over the alleged supply of prohibited drugs in the Campbelltown area.

Detectives from Campbelltown Local Area Command established Strike Force Nnamed (this is the correct name of the strike force) to investigate the ongoing supply of heroin and methamphetamine in the Campbelltown area.

About midday yesterday, (Wednesday 13 December, 2012) detectives arrested a 31-year-old man, a 30-year-old woman and a 37-year-old man on Queen Street, Campbelltown.

They were taken to Campbelltown Police Station where they were interviewed.

As a result of information obtained, a third person, a man aged 31, was arrested at his workplace in Ingleburn and also taken to Campbelltown Police Station.

Search warrants were executed at Coonong Place and Wanganella Road, Airds. A 40-year-old man was arrested at the Wanganella home and taken to Campbelltown Police Station.

All four were charged at Campbelltown Police Station with the following;

The 31-year-old was charged with 32 counts of supply heroin
The 30-year-old was charged with 42 counts of supply heroin and amphetamine
The 37-year-old was charged with knowingly concerned in the supply of a prohibited drug amphetamine
The 40-year-old man was charged with 13 counts of supplying heroin.
All were refused bail to appear in Campbelltown Local Court today.

http://www.police.nsw.gov.au/news/m...nb3YuYXUlMkZtZWRpYSUyRjI3MzMwLmh0bWwmYWxsPTE=
 
Ho ho hydro

Police seized more than 700 cannabis plants after executing warrants in Wollert early this morning.

Members from the Mill Park Divisional Response Unit executed warrants at two residential properties in Harvest Home Road and a property in Cloverfield Crescent around 5am.

Investigators discovered plants believed to be cannabis throughout the unattended properties and also seized drug manufacturing equipment.

No arrests have been made.

http://www.vicpolicenews.com.au/more-news/11108-ho-ho-hydro.html
 
Man fined over mail order body building drugs

A Sydney man has been fined $15,000 after being caught importing body building drugs through the mail.

In June Customs and Border Protection officers searched a package addressed to the 22-year-old Homebush man.

The parcel from the United States contained four vials of the growth hormone GHRP6, which is illegal to import without a permit.

Then in September two parcels from China were intercepted, with each containing 100 grams of powdered testosterone.

Testosterone is also illegal to import without a permit.

Customs officials then raided the man's home, where they found more substances.

The man was convicted of importing and possessing prohibited imported items and making a false statement.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-12-13/man-fined-over-mail-order-body-building-drugs/4426308
 
$19,000 in fines will not enhance image of steroid importers

Two New South Wales men have been collectively fined $19,000 for illegally importing performance and image enhancing drugs, and a laser pointer, into Sydney International Airport.

On 14 April 2012, two travelling companions arrived at Sydney International Airport on a flight from Thailand. Both men were selected for examination by Customs and Border Protection officers.

During the examinations, officers found more than 2,900 performance and image enhancing drugs concealed in each man’s pants. Officers also uncovered an illegal laser pointer concealed in one man’s luggage. It is illegal to import these items without a permit.

On Tuesday 11 December 2012, both men appeared in separate hearings at Downing Centre Local Court, where they were each convicted for importing prohibited items, namely an anabolic or androgenic substance, and for making a false statement. A conviction was also recorded for one of the men for importing a prohibited item, namely a laser pointer.

The first man was fined a total of $10,000, plus court costs for the importation of the performance and image enhancing drugs and laser pointer. The second man was fined $9,000, plus court costs.

Customs and Border Protection Director Investigations NSW Tony McSweeney, said that the attempted importation of such substances without a permit just isn’t worth it.

“Some people think that these drugs will enhance their physical appearance, but being arrested and fined $19,000 doesn’t make you look good.” Mr McSweeney said.

The maximum penalty for the importation of steroids is five years imprisonment and/or a $110,000 fine. The fine will increase to a maximum of $170,000 for offences committed after 28 December 2012.

http://www.customs.gov.au/site/121214mediarelease_steroids.asp
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top