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

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Man charged with carrying pen-gun

Man charged with carrying pen-gun

Police have charged a man at Elizabeth after allegedly finding a gun, bullets and drugs in his car.

The 25-year-old from Salisbury East was driving along Main North Road before he was stopped by police early this morning.

Police searched the car and allegedly found a homemade pen gun, 15 rounds of ammunition and eight grams of amphetamines.

The man has been charged with drug and firearm offences and will appear in court in February.​

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Cannabis seizure - Davoren Park

Cannabis seizure - Davoren Park

Home More News Cannabis seizure - Davoren Park

Thursday, 29 December 2011 1:23pm

Cannabis seizure - Davoren Park
Police have reported a 46-year-old man from Davoren Park for cultivate cannabis, possess prescribed equipment and possessing a traffickable amount of cannabis.

At about 12.30am, police were called to an address in Davoren Park for an unrelated matter when a quantity of cannabis plants growing naturally were discovered in a rear yard close by.

Following this discovery, police searched a Bulkington Road home and discovered a total of 16 cannabis plants (one plant growing hydroponically) and a small amount of hydroponic equipment inside.

The man will appear in the Elizabeth Magistrate's Court at a later date.​

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Woman charged over alleged ecstasy haul - Kings Cross

Woman charged over alleged ecstasy haul - Kings Cross

A woman has been arrested after police discovered more than 450 tablets believed to be Ecstasy at a home in Woolloomooloo yesterday.

About 1.30pm on Thursday 29 December, police from the Kings Cross Local Area Command, who were acting on information received from the public, applied for and were granted a search warrant.

Officers attended a home in Cathedral Street and executed the search warrant speaking with a woman at the premises.

During a search of the home police will allege they located a total of 450 Ecstasy tablets in two bags and nine other tablets in a separate area. A quantity of cannabis leaf was also located.

The 24-year-old Kings Cross woman was charged with supplying a prohibited drug and possess prohibited drug x 2.

She was granted conditional bail to appear at Downing Centre Local Court on 19 January 2012.​

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Police make 115 drug detections during Operation Confest - Deniliquin LAC

Police make 115 drug detections during Operation Confest - Deniliquin LAC

Police have made over a hundred drug detections during a two-day operation at a festival in the Deniliquin Local Area Command.

The annual festival began on Wednesday (28 December 2011) and will continue until Wednesday 4 January 2012. It is expected the festival will attract thousands of people to the Moulamein area.

On Wednesday (28 December 2011), police executed a drug detection warrant in two areas near the festival site.

It is alleged police made 52 drug detections, including cannabis, lysergic acid (LSD), psilocybin mushrooms (magic mushrooms) and 4 kilograms of cookies containing marijuana.

A number of people were issued with cannabis cautions, and others were issued with Field Court Attendance Notices to appear before Deniliquin Local Court on Tuesday 21 February 2012.

Yesterday (Thursday 29 December 2011), police made a further 63 drug detections. During a vehicle search, police allegedly located a range of drugs, including over 1000 lysergic acid (LSD) tabs.

About 10am, police stopped and searched a Nissan Patrol 4WD on Moulamein Road.

It is alleged that police located a soft toy inside the vehicle that was stuffed with two bags of white powder, three resealable bags containing pink crystals and powder, one resealable bag containing 26 brown capsules, and a quantity of cannabis.

Furthermore, police will allege they also found four vials of clear liquid and a large amount of lysergic acid (LSD) tabs within an envelope in the car.

The 27-year-old male driver, was arrested and taken to Deniliquin Police Station.

He was charged with one count of supplying a large commercial quantity of a prohibited drug, three counts of supplying a prohibited drug and five counts of possessing a prohibited drug.

The man was refused bail and appeared before Deniliquin Local Court today. He was again refused bail by the court, and will appear at Wagga Local Court via video link on Tuesday 3 January 2012.​

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More than 100 charged with drug offences - Field Day 2012

More than 100 charged with drug offences - Field Day 2012

Sydney police have arrested and charged more than 100 people with drugs offences at a popular New Year’s Day dance festival.

Officers attached to the Redfern Region Enforcement Squad and Dog Unit launched a crackdown on drug possession and supply at ‘Field Day 2012’ – attended by more than 19,000 people at The Domain, in central Sydney, yesterday (Sunday 1 January 2012).

Police seized quantities of MDMA (ecstasy), amphetamine, cocaine, LSD and cannabis during the operation.

112 revellers were arrested and charged with drug-related offences.

A 19-year-old woman was charged with ecstasy supply after allegedly being found in possession of 40 tablets, while a 22-year-old Potts Point man was charged with the same offence after being caught with 23 tablets.

All those charged will appear in court at a later date.

Chief Inspector Stuart Bell from the Redfern Region Enforcement Squad said the police operation aimed to ensure revellers could enjoy the festival in a safe, secure and drug-free environment.

“It’s extremely concerning that despite the warnings of the dangers posed by drugs, there are some who remain intent on bringing illegal substances to this type of event,” Chief Inspector Bell said.

“Police make no apologies for finding these people and putting them before the courts.

“We will continue to mount this type of operation to ensure such events can be held in a safe, secure and drug-free environment,” he said.​

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Drug offenders sniffed out @ Summerdayze music festival.

Drug offenders sniffed out @ Summerdayze music festival.

Police arrested 56 people today during a Passive Alert Detection (PAD) dog operation which targeted illicit substances at Summerdayze music festival.

The festival saw the PAD dogs, highly skilled in tracking and searching, apprehend 49 men and 7 women for drug offences.

Of the 56 people arrested, 53 were referred to a drug diversion program while 3 people were interviewed in relation to drug possession.

Those charged were a 23-year-old Narre Warren man, a 32-year-old Laverton man and a 22-year-old Glen Waverly man.

Drugs seized at the event, held at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl, included ecstasy, amphetamine, cocaine, cannabis and illegally acquired prescription medication.

Operations Commander Senior Sergeant Damien Christensen said despite community education and plenty of warnings from police, was disappointing people would still take the risk.

“There is no such thing as a safe party drug and people put their lives at risk taking illegal drugs”, Senior Sergeant Damien Christensen said.

“Additionally, there are hefty penalties associated with drug use and trafficking and a criminal conviction is something that does not go away.

“Police will continue to run PAD dog operations at music festivals and other events in Victoria, targeting illicit drug use and trafficking”, he said.​

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Motorists warned after drug-driving blitz

Motorists warned after drug-driving blitz

Police in Western Australia say they are shocked at the large number of people caught driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs on New Year's Eve.

Twenty-six people were charged with drug-driving offences after being pulled over by police at a booze bus on Perth's Causeway.

The bus operated between 7:00pm on New Year's Eve and 10:00am on New Year's Day and also caught 100 people driving under the influence of alcohol.

Police Commander Michelle Fyfe says she has never seen anything like it in her entire career.

"I'm appalled at that," she said.

"Appalled that people are driving with those drugs in their system and think they're going to get away with it. And they're wrong."​

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Two arrested in NT and WA police drug sting

Two arrested in NT and WA police drug sting

Two men have been arrested and charged with drug offences after a joint sting operation by Northern Territory and West Australian police.

Northern Territory Police say they seized 5.6 kilograms of cannabis in a package on a bus near Alice Springs on December 16.

The package was discovered by a drug sniffer dog as part of an ongoing federally funded operation targeting the trafficking of drugs and alcohol into Aboriginal communities.

The cannabis had been sent from Victoria and consigned to Western Australia via Alice Springs.

Territory police resealed the package and alerted the Organised Crime Squad in WA.

West Australian detectives arrested a 38-year-old man and a 34-year-old man when they tried to claim the package on December 23.

NT Police Superintendent Travis Wurst says the sting was a good result.

"It proves that the reach of police in the fight against illicit drugs easily transcends state and territory borders," he said.​

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Man charged, drugs seized - Queanbeyan

Man charged, drugs seized - Queanbeyan

Police investigating the alleged supply of drugs in the State’s south have arrested and charged a man.

In October 2011 officers attached to Monaro Local Area Command began an investigation into alleged drug supply in the region.

Following inquiries, a search warrant was executed at a home on Leck Street, Queanbeyan, about 3.30pm yesterday (Wednesday 4 January 2012).

Officers allegedly located an amount of cannabis, methylamphetamine, ecstasy, amphetamine along with six cannabis seedlings.

Police also seized a sum of cash.

The estimated potential street value of the drugs seized is nearly $28,000.

A 30-year-old man was arrested at the home and taken to Queanbeyan Police Station where he was charged with the following offences:

Supply prohibited drug (two counts);
Possess prohibited drug (four counts);
Cultivate prohibited plant;
Possess restricted substance; and
Deal with proceeds of crime
The man was refused bail to appear at Queanbeyan Local Court today (Thursday 5 January 2012).​

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Man charged after drug manufacturing equipment found in car - Brooms Head

Man charged after drug manufacturing equipment found in car - Brooms Head

A man has been arrested and charged after police located drug manufacturing equipment in a car at Brooms Head yesterday afternoon.

About 4:15pm, Tuesday 3 January 2012, police stopped a purple Daewoo Lanos near the intersection of Ocean and Boronia Streets following reports of a domestics dispute.

The 31-year-old driver was spoken to and subsequent checks revealed he was wanted on arrest warrants for drug related matters.

Police conducted a search of the car where they allegedly located apparatus used for the manufacturing of prohibited drugs in the boot.

It is also alleged police located a small amount of amphetamines and cannabis inside the car.

The 31-year-old man was arrested and taken to Grafton Police Station.

He was charged with manufacture prohibited drug, possess prohibited drug, driving offences and two arrest warrants and refused bail.

He appeared in Grafton Local Court today (Wednesday 4 January 2012)

A 33-year-old woman who was a passenger in the car was also arrested but later released without charge pending further investigations.​

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Man arrested on drugs charges - Brookvale

Man arrested on drugs charges - Brookvale

A 34-year-old Warriewood man will appear in Parramatta Local Court today, after drugs and cash were found in a car he was driving in Brookvale last night.

About 7.30pm yesterday (Wednesday 4 January 2012), police pulled over a vehicle on Pine Avenue. A search of the car allegedly led to police finding prohibited drugs and cash.

The man was arrested and taken to Dee Why Police Station where he was interviewed by detectives. Police then applied for, and where granted, an after hours search warrant.

About 1.50am today (Thursday 5 January 2012), police executed the search warrant at a property in Iramir Place, Warriewood, where they allegedly found more prohibited substances.

The man has been charged with supply of a prohibited drug, possession of a prohibited drug, knowingly dealing with the proceeds of crime and having custody of goods suspected of being stolen.

He was refused bail to appear in Parramatta Local Court today.​

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'Legal' drug scam conviction upheld by court

'Legal' drug scam conviction upheld by court

A Northern Territory woman has had her conviction for supplying a dangerous drug upheld, despite the substance inside the capsules she sold being legal.

The Court of Appeal in Darwin heard Sarah Ann Bridle decided to buy a herbal stimulant on the internet and pass it off as ecstasy.

But an early customer was an undercover policeman.

The court was told Bridle sold capsules to the officer three times before being arrested and convicted last year of supplying a dangerous drug.

Bridle tried to contest the guilty finding because the capsules contained caffeine and not illegal drugs.

But the court of appeal found that because Bridle had sold the capsules as ecstasy, the legal definition of supply had been met.

The judge ruled the conviction should stand but agreed to reduce Bridle's original five-month jail sentence.

Instead, the 18 year-old was placed on a good behaviour bond for a year.​

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Drug driving crackdown ACT

Drug driving crackdown ACT

ACT police are warning motorists who drive while under the influence of drugs that they will be caught.​

There's a video;

police-crack-down-on-drug-drivers

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Drug-drivers detected on New Years Day ACT

Three drivers tested positive to prescribed drugs from a total of 14 screening samples taken as ACT Policing’s Road Safety Operations team conducted Random Roadside Drug Testing (RRDT) and Random Breath Testing on New Years Day (January 1).

All three drivers – two males and a female – were directed by police not to drive, and their samples will now be submitted for formal laboratory testing. If the laboratory confirms the roadside test result, the drivers will be summonsed to court.

The vehicle driven by one of the three did not have Compulsory Third Party (CTP) insurance, and its registration had expired five years ago.

Drivers who screened positive for prescribed drugs on New Years Day outnumbered the drink-drivers. Only one of the 22 drivers screened at the roadside for alcohol by the RSO team returned a positive reading.

Traffic Operations’ Acting Superintendent Jeff Knight said that the three positive screenings for drugs conducted on Sunday indicated that clearly drivers were either ignorant of, or chose to ignore, the provisions of the new legislation.

“We have now conducted 141 roadside drug screening tests, with five positives detected. In the two cases which have now gone before the court, the drivers have had their licences disqualified for six months,” Acting Superintendent Knight said.

“The message should now be clear to everyone: don’t drive while impaired by drugs or alcohol, or you will be caught.”

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Man linked to cocaine death appears in court NZ

Man linked to cocaine death appears in court NZ

A New Zealander allegedly linked to a Columbian woman who died in Auckland when a condom full of cocaine exploded in her stomach has appeared in court.

Wanganui man Peter Leaitua, 40, was remanded on bail when he briefly appeared in Auckland District Court this morning,charged with importing cocaine.

He will appear before the court again next month.

He became a target of investigations by Argentine and New Zealand police after a woman believed to be his mother-in-law, Sorlinda Aristizabal-Vega, died.

Mrs Aristizabal-Vega was carrying more than 20 packages of cocaine, worth an estimated $120,000 to $190,000, in her stomach when she flew to New Zealand from Argentina in September.

She passed through Customs without any problems, but died in Auckland Hospital the following morning after one of the packages split and leaked into her body.

It is believed Mr Leaitua entered the country on the same flight.

He was wanted on drug charges by police in Argentina and was the subject of an Interpol Buenos Aires "red notice".

His arrest was not related to the Interpol notice but New Zealand authorities advised Interpol Buenos Aires after Mr Leaitua was located.​

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Man to face 16 drug and firearms charges - Middle Eastern Organised Crime Squad

Man to face 16 drug and firearms charges - Middle Eastern Organised Crime Squad

A man has been charged with 16 drug and firearms offences after being arrested by Middle Eastern Organised Crime Squad detectives in Sydney’s south-west yesterday.

Officers attached to the squad’s target action group conducted a patrol on Condell Park as part of an investigation into the street-level supply of prohibited drugs in the area.

About 3.15pm (Thursday 5 January 2012), they stopped a white utility in Lancelot Street, Condell Park.

Officers searched the driver and passenger, both males, as well as the vehicle itself.

Police will allege that the passenger was found to be carrying a large amount of cash and resealable plastic bags containing cannabis, cocaine and methylamphetamine.

From inside the vehicle, police seized two air pistols, air-pistol projectiles, and a flick knife. They will allege that these items belonged to the passenger.

A 28-year-old East Hills man was arrested and taken to Bankstown Police Station, where he was charged with 16 drug and firearms offences.

He was refused bail to appear in Parramatta Local Court today.

The driver of the utility was not arrested or charged.​

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Four charged over alleged drug deal - Strathfield

Four charged over alleged drug deal - Strathfield

Police from Flemington Local Area Command have arrested and charged four men after interrupting an alleged drug deal in South Strathfield overnight.

Police were patrolling Dean Reserve, in Dean Street, about 9.30pm when they noticed four men sitting in four cars.

Police will allege when they stopped to speak with the men they saw a bag of cannabis at the feet of one passenger.

The men were ordered from the vehicles and during a search police allegedly located almost 500g of cannabis and $3800 cash. Police also seized two baseball bats, a meat cleaver, a knife and an iron bar.

The men were taken to Auburn Police Station where the men were interviewed before being charged. As a result:

A 23-year-old man, from Epping is due to appear in Parramatta Bail Court today charged supply trafficable quantity of drugs, two counts of having goods in custody suspected of being stolen, and knowingly deal with the proceeds of crime. He was refused bail before his court appearance today.
A 23-year-old man, from Carlingford, was charged with deem supply prohibited drug, and being armed with intent to commit a serious indictable offence. He was bail refused to Parramatta Bail Court today.
A 21-year-old man, Ryde, was charged with deem supply a prohibited drug, and being armed with intent to commit an indictable offence. He was released on strict conditional bail to appear at Burwood Local Court on 31 January.
A 23-year-old man, Beecroft, was also charged with deem supply prohibited drug, and armed with intent to commit and indictable offence. He was released on strict conditional to appear at Burwood Local Court on 31 January.
The items seized have been sent for forensic examination.​

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Super smuggler out of options in bid to beat extradition to US

Super smuggler out of options in bid to beat extradition to US

ONE of the world's most notorious drug smugglers may finally be extradited to the US after a seven-year battle to remain in Australia.
George Paul Brock is wanted by the FBI for his alleged role in the importation of almost 300 tonnes of cannabis into the US in the 1980s.
Mr Brock was jailed for eight years in 2001 after pleading guilty in the Sydney District Court to importing about $100 million worth of cannabis into Australia.

The US citizen has remained in custody in Silverwater jail's maximum security remand centre since he was paroled in March 2005. He has launched numerous legal challenges to the Australian Government's decision to extradite him to his home country, arguing that the Minister for Home Affairs acted on incomplete or incorrect information and that he was denied procedural fairness.
But Mr Brock may have exhausted all avenues of appeal, the Full Federal Court last month dismissing his latest attempt to have quashed the warrants issued by the Australian Federal Police on behalf of the US Government.

The three appeal judges found the information put before the Minister did not misdirect him and there was no denial of procedural fairness.
A spokeswoman for the acting Minister for Home Affairs, Nicola Roxon, said Mr Brock had 28 days from the date of the decision to seek special leave of the High Court to appeal. However, the High Court refused Mr Brock's applications for special leave in August 2007 and July 2009.

Mr Brock is wanted in the US state of Illinois for importing and distributing 30,000 kilograms of marijuana between 1980 and 1987.
He was one of the FBI's most wanted men and had managed to avoid capture for a decade before he was bought down by the AFP trying to import 10 tonnes of cannabis resin in 1997. The shipment was carried on board a 650-tonne oil tanker MV Hiddensee owned by Mr Brock, which was seized off the coast of NSW after a tip-off.
Attorney-General's department figures show Mr Brock has spent more time in extradition custody than any other person being held in Australia.​

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Arrests for clandestine labs S.A.

Arrests for clandestine labs S.A.

Police have arrested two men for Trafficking a Controlled Drug and Unlawful Possession of a large amount of money.
On Friday, 6 January, Holden Hill Police arrested the two men at Enfield.
Searches of their homes performed that same day at West Lakes and Croydon located two clandestine laboratories.

Both men were charged with Manufacturing a Controlled Drug.

The men will be appearing the Holden Hill Magistrates Court on Monday, 9 January 2012.​

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Woman denies drug import charges S.A

Woman denies drug import charges S.A

A WOMAN charged with smuggling more than $6 million in drugs, allegedly hidden in stuffed toys, has denied the allegations at her first appearance in South Australia's District Court.
Nan Liu, 21, pleaded not guilty today to charges of importing a marketable quantity of a border-controlled drug and importing a precursor chemical.

A co-accused, Fu Chen, 37, also appeared in court but did not enter a plea, with defence counsel asking for more time to take instructions on documents which were being translated.
At an earlier court appearance the pair were alleged to have been part of a drug syndicate that imported $6.6 million worth of crystal methamphetamine and pseudoephedrine from Hong Kong.

They were arrested in April last year, with Australian Federal Police (AFP) allegedly seizing cash, fake IDs, computers, SIM cards, mobile phones and stuffed toys with the insides ripped out.
At the time of the arrests the regional director of Customs and Border Protection, Helen Bulis, said three shipments of drugs had been detected, containing about 700 grams of crystal methamphetamine and 7.2 kilograms of pseudoephedrine.

Liu had her bail continued and was told to appear in court on April 3 for a directions hearing.
Chen was remanded in custody to enter pleas on February 6.​

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Young Heathridge couple charged over drug stash W.A.

Young Heathridge couple charged over drug stash W.A.

BAD NEWS: The drug, crystal methamphetamine hydrochloride, or ice. Source: Supplied

A MAN and a woman in their 20s face a string of charges over a haul of drugs allegedly found at their northern suburbs home yesterday.

Police raided the Chamberlain Place home in Heathridge about 4pm.

It will be alleged when they entered the home police found drugs including methamphetamine, ecstasy tablets, white tablets which will require further analysis and electronic weighing scales.

Two pistols were also allegedly found inside the home as well as numerous items of stolen property.

The 22-year-old woman and the 21-year-old man are facing several charges including possession of methamphetamine with intent to sell or supply, possession of smoking implements and unlawful possession of stolen property.

They will both appear in the Joondalup Magistrates Court today.​

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