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

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Officer never trained to swear oaths

Officer never trained to swear oaths

The Victorian Supreme Court has heard more evidence today of alleged failures in police procedures in the Tony Mokbel case.

Crime boss Tony Mokbel is attempting to change his plea on drugs charges to not guilty after it was revealed police had failed to apply an oath when taking certain affidavits.

The administrative bungle may have compromised hundreds of other cases.

A former Purana Taskforce officer, Detective Senior Sergeant Dale Flynn, has told the court he has no specific recollection of ever being trained to only take affidavit statements under oath and did not swear the oath for about ten years.

The court was told police training is being changed to highlight the issue.

By failing to properly issue search warrants, police now run the risk of having evidence they have gathered ruled inadmissible because it was illegally or improperly obtained.​

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What's that in your car?

What's that in your car?

Police have arrested five people after uncovering a stash of suspicious substances during a routine traffic intercept in Box Hill this morning.

Officers stopped a Holden Commodore on Whitehorse Road around 2am.

During a search of the vehicle they located two containers filled with white powder and another containing a number of white tablets.

Police also seized a clear glass bottle filled with a clear liquid.

Three men were arrested at the scene, including a 24-year-old Morwell man, a 23-year-old Elsternwick man and a 22-year-old Newborough man.

A 20-year-old Edithvale woman was also arrested, while a 19-year-old Oakleigh woman was charged with possess and use a drug of dependence and bailed to appear in the Ringwood Magistrates Court in February

The remainder of the group was conveyed to the Box Hill Police Station and are currently assisting police with their enquiries.​

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Bikie raids across the metropolitan area

Bikie raids across the metropolitan area

Members of SA Police Crime Gang Task Force, Northern and Southern Tactical Units and CIB from numerous areas (approximately 80 police) have conducted a number of coordinated raids across metropolitan Adelaide.
A total of 11 premises including residential and commercial properties were searched. All properties are linked to on-going investigations targeting the FINKS OMCG and their activities relating to drugs and firearms.

Police have seized a number of firearms, illicit substances, cash and ammunition.

Today, police arrested five people who are associates of the FINKS.

A 34 year-old-man from Mile End charged with failing to comply with a bail agreement. He didn't apply for bail and will face the Adelaide Magistrate's Court later today.

A 36-year-old-man from Kilkenny charged with possessing a replica firearm without a licence, possession of a prohibited weapon and possession of prescribed chemicals used for the manufacture of illicit drugs. He was bailed to appear in the Port Adelaide Magistrate's Court on 7 February 2012.

A 20-year-old-woman from Globe Derby Park charged with possessing a prescribed firearm and possession of a silencer and drug paraphernalia. She was bailed to appear in the Elizabeth Magistrate's Court on 8 February 2012.

A 44 year-old-man and a 37-year-old woman, both from Taperoo, charged with possessing a controlled drug for sale. Both will appear in the Port Adelaide Magistrate's Court. He was refused bail to appear this afternoon she was released on bail to appear on 1 February 2012.

Police are yet to speak to a 40-year-old male who is suspected as being the owner of a semi-automatic high powered firearm seized during the raids.​

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Gypsy Joker president guilty of drugs charges

Gypsy Joker president guilty of drugs charges

The president of the Kalgoorlie-Boulder Gypsy Jokers has been found guilty of trying to transport $600,000 worth of methamphetamines from Perth to Kalgoorlie.

Ralph Rodger Kometer was caught with more than 1.3 kilograms of the drug when his ute was stopped by police late last year.

The District Court in Perth heard Kometer attempted to hide the methamphetamine in a spare car tyre.

However, a surveillance operation by police uncovered the hiding spot after he discussed buying tyre maintenance tools with a hardware store clerk over the phone.

Police stopped Kometer on the Great Southern Highway and searched the ute.

Kometer was found guilty of possession with intent to sell or supply after a five day trial and is due to return to court in February for sentencing.​

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NSW council caught up in ice drug bust

Almost a dozen innocent businesses - including a NSW council - have been caught up in a multi-million dollar drug bust, after the alleged importers lost track of their shipment.

Police on Wednesday morning seized more than 300kg of pseudoephedrine hidden in 15 shipping containers across several sites in NSW.

Four other drug-filled containers were discovered on December 7 following a tip-off from a member of the public.

The pseudoephedrine, which had been packed into metal tubes and then hidden in the containers' frames, had the potential to make up to $75 million worth of the illegal drug ice.

Police said the containers, seemingly unbeknown to the traffickers, were emptied of their cargo and sold to legitimate businesses in NSW with the drugs still inside.

"These people were unaware of what was contained within the frame of the containers," Detective Inspector Steve Patton from the State Crime Command Drug Squad told reporters in Sydney on Wednesday.

"A lot of people were just using them for storage on farms, a lot were in rural in NSW - I believe Wagga Wagga council was actually using one of the containers."

Officers are investigating up to 30 suspicious containers, including those discovered on Wednesday, believed to have been sent from China.

"The searches are continuing as we speak and we expect that we'll have more seizures," Det Insp Patton said, adding that such a cover-up was rare in Australia.

"It's a concealment method that hasn't been seen a lot before and it's quite difficult to pick up.

"These people are constantly evolving with the techniques they use to try and smuggle drugs into the country and each time we become aware, we close the door on them."

Det Insp Patton said police did have some suspects but would not elaborate on who they might be.

"I suspect that their intention was to retrieve the drugs before the containers had spread far and wide, and for some reason they missed that opportunity.

"They were absolutely careless."

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Drug couriers can’t hide in holiday crowds

Drug couriers can’t hide in holiday crowds

The Australian Customs and Border Protection Service and the Australian Federal Police (AFP) will continue targeting drug mules at Australian airports over the holiday period after arresting a female internal drug courier and three members of a West African drug syndicate in a Sydney operation this week.

The border and law enforcement agencies have issued a warning about the dangers of internal drug concealment, and have said they are prepared to target and detect those who ignored the risks during the busy festive season.

“Internal drug couriers who think they can hide amongst holiday travellers should think again,” warned Gayle Brown, Customs and Border Protection Acting National Director Passengers.

“Customs and Border Protection and the AFP are working together to identify unique concealments - you won’t be just another face in the crowd,” Ms Brown said.

Acting Manager AFP Crime Operations Brian Diplock said drug couriers and their associates faced strong penalties.

“Internal drug couriers not only risk their own lives by carrying these illicit substances, they face up to 25 years imprisonment in Australia,” he said.

The warning comes as agencies dismantled a West African drug syndicate importing cocaine into Sydney via an internal courier from Malaysia, arresting four people and seizing more than half a kilogram of cocaine.

The investigation began on 18 December at Sydney International Airport, when Customs and Border Protection officers identified a 23-year-old Malaysian national who arrived on a flight from Malaysia.

The woman was suspected to be internally concealing drugs and the matter was referred to the AFP.

It is alleged that the woman intended to deliver the concealment of drugs to the syndicate based in Sydney.

On 19 December the AFP conducted a controlled operation and charged a 47-year-old Silverwater man and a 37-year-old Sydney man with attempting to take possession of a border controlled drug. Both appeared in Central Local Court yesterday.

A 40-year-old Preston man was charged with aiding and abetting the attempted possession of a border controlled drug and will appear in Central Court Local Court today.

The 23-year-old woman was charged with importing a marketable quantity of a border controlled drug and will also appear in Central Local Court today.​

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Drug arrests disrupt transnational criminal syndicate

Drug arrests disrupt transnational criminal syndicate

Two Hong Kong nationals have been arrested over the attempted importation of approximately 30 kilograms of methamphetamine into Sydney, the result of an investigation by the Joint Organised Crime Group (JOCG).

The JOCG is a taskforce targeting organised crime and comprises the Australian Federal Police (AFP), Australian Customs and Border Protection Service, NSW Police Force, the NSW Crime Commission and the Australian Crime Commission.

The methamphetamine, seized from two sea cargo containers at Port Botany, has a wholesale value of approximately $4.9 million.

A 24-year-old man has been charged with Commonwealth offences including importing and attempting to possess a border controlled drug, which carry a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

He is scheduled to appear in Sydney’s Central Local Court today.

A second man is expected to be charged this afternoon and will be appearing in Sydney Central Local court at a later date.

Operation Furrow commenced on 13 December when Australian Customs and Border Protection officers in Sydney targeted sea cargo consignments that had arrived from Shekou, China.

Customs and Border Protection officers detected the drugs inside the frames of the shipping containers.

The JOCG conducted search warrants today at Haymarket, Glenwood and Potts Point and also seized a number of items relevant to this investigation, including a small quantity of a substance suspected to be methamphetamine located at Potts Point.

Police subsequently arrested the alleged offenders at Haymarket and Potts Point.

Investigations are ongoing and police have not ruled out further arrests.

AFP Acting Manager Serious and Organised Crime Chris Sheehan said this seizure was another successful result for the JOCG.

“This operation shows that the diverse skills and collaborative powers of the JOCG have the capability to target and disrupt transnational crime syndicates,” Superintendent Sheehan said.

Customs and Border Protection National Manager of Sea Cargo and International Mail Graham Krisohos said the investigation demonstrates the effectiveness of Australian law enforcement agencies to detect even the most sophisticated drug concealment methods.

“Customs and Border Protection along with other law enforcement agencies continue to adapt its technology and targeting capabilities to counter the evolving methods used by drug importation syndicates,” Mr Krisohos said.

Detective Superintendent Arthur Katsogiannis, Acting Director of NSW Police Force's Organised Crime Directorate said today's arrests are the product of excellent cooperation between NSW Police and other agencies committed to reducing organised crime.

"Our work doesn't stop here, however. We will continue to work with our national and transnational law-enforcement partners to keep drugs off our streets," Detective Superintendent Katsogiannis said.​

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Police close drug operation Juliet Minder

Police close drug operation Juliet Minder

Police have charged eight people with 21 drug related offences including supply and possession of dangerous drugs after a five month operation.

Police from State Crime Operations Command’s State Drug Investigation Unit, along with detectives from Bundaberg Criminal Investigation Branch closed Operation Juliet Minder after it began in August this year.

Police allegedly seized $20,000 worth of methyl amphetamine during the operation.

Bundaberg Criminal Investigation Branch, Officer in Charge, Detective Senior Sergeant Joe Hildred said the arrests were another big step in curtailing the distribution of dangerous drugs in the area.

“We’re committed to reducing the negative impacts of dangerous drugs on our community and will continue to dismantle these operations.

“This investigation will have a significant positive impact on reducing the supply of dangerous drugs into our community.”

Police investigations are continuing with further arrests expected.

The following are due to appear before the Bundaberg Magistrates Court tomorrow, a:

o 34-year-old Walkervale woman;
o 21-year-old Avoca man;
o 26-year-old Bundaberg North man;
o 21-year-old Coral Cove man;
o 27-year-old Bundaberg man;
o 31-year-old Childers man;
o 22-year-old Avnell Heights man; and a,
o 36-year-old Kepnock man.​

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Cannabis seized at Macclesfield

Cannabis seized at Macclesfield

Hills Fleurieu Police received information from the public and raided seven homes in the township of Macclesfield between 20 and 21 December 2011 locating cannabis plants being grown in the seven houses raided.

In two houses the cannabis plants were being grown hydroponically, and in the other five houses plants were being grown outdoors.

Seven people were reported for cultivating cannabis and a total of 21 plants were seized.​

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Drug Squad locates more pseudoephedrine in shipping containers - Strike Force Garner

Drug Squad locates more pseudoephedrine in shipping containers - Strike Force Garner

PHOTO: Police say the pseudoephedrine has been found hidden in tins in the framing of the shipping containers. (NSW Police Force)

Drug Squad detectives investigating a syndicate that has been importing drugs by concealing them in shipping containers have located more drugs this morning (Thursday 22 December 2011).

Strike Force Garner was established to investigate the concealment of pseudoephedrine in shipping containers which were imported to Australia. Pseudoephedrine can be used to make the drug methylamphetamine or ‘ice’.

On 7 December 2011, detectives attended a container yard at Chipping Norton, where they found drugs secreted in four shipping containers.

The drugs were packed into rectangular metal boxes and then hidden in the containers’ frames, but it appears the syndicate somehow lost track of several shipping containers, which were subsequently emptied of their cargo.

They were then sold as storage containers to legitimate businesses and farms across the state – with the drugs still inside.

They have since been working closely with the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service to track down more than 20 additional containers, with 16 sites.

To date, they have seized 300kg of the drug which has the potential to make up to $75 million of ‘ice’, with 16 containers searched across the state yesterday.

Police have today set up a crime scene at Gow Street, Padstow, where a further two containers are currently being searched.

At this stage police have already uncovered about 15kg of pseudoephedrine in each of the containers.

That could be used to make ‘ice’ worth millions of dollars.

There are numerous other shipping containers at the site to be searched and inquiries are continuing into a number of other containers sold to legitimate businesses throughout NSW.

Strike Forcer Garner comprises detectives from the State Crime Command’s Drug Squad and Liverpool Local Area Command.​

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Python, drugs nabbed in raids

Python, drugs nabbed in raids

Police have searched three Illawarra homes and uncovered drugs, cash, a gaming machine and even a carpet python.

About 6:00am (AEDT) yesterday, Lake Illawarra police simultaneously raided homes at Barracks Heights, Mount Warrigal and Shellharbour.

Police found cannabis and cash at the Shellharbour home.

At the Mount Warrigal home, police seized $1,800 and a pair of nunchakus, and methamphetamines, two ecstasy tablets and a gaming machine were found at the Barrack Heights home.

A carpet python and two lizards were also found at the Barrack Heights home.

A 37-year-old Shellharbour man was arrested and charged with possessing drugs and a 35-year-old Barrack Heights man was charged with receiving and possessing drugs, possessing a gambling machine and possessing fauna.​

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Trio to front court over drug bust

Trio to front court over drug bust

Three men are due to appear in the Bundaberg Magistrates Court after a police operation uncovered $20,000 worth of methylamphetamines in the Wide Bay yesterday.

Police arrested eight people, after executing 10 search warrants in Bundaberg, Avoca, Coral Cove, Childers, Avnell Heights, Kepknock and Walkervale.

They were charged with 21 offences including supply and possession of dangerous drugs.

It is the result of the six-month Operation Juliet Minder, run by the State Drug Investigation Unit and the Bundaberg Criminal Investigation Branch.

Police say further arrests are expected.​

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Drug lab sparks evacuation

Drug lab sparks evacuation

Residents in a Mackay suburb in north Queensland have been evacuated from their homes after the discovery of a suspected drug laboratory.

Officers were called to Paulette Street earlier this morning after finding what they believed to be a drug laboratory.

Several nearby homes around Paulette and O'Keefe streets were evacuated as a precaution.

Fire officers were also called to the scene and declared the area safe just after 7:00pm (AEST) and residents were allowed back into their homes.

A police spokeswoman says officers from the Tactical Crime Squad are continuing their investigations.

She says several people are helping police with their enquiries.​

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[NZ] Dealing salt lands drug dealer in prison

[NZ]Dealing salt lands drug dealer in prison

A drug dealer has been sent back to prison after he pretended to sell methamphetamine to an undercover police officer earlier this year.

In actual fact the white substance was salt, and although Shannon Martin knew it was salt and that he was selling to an undercover officer, he continued with the deal so he could get the money.

Wellington District Court this morning heard how Martin had been approached by an undercover officer in May this year asking to buy $200 worth of methamphetamine.

It was on their third encounter when a deal was struck over a much larger amount of methamphetamine. But by this stage Martin had grown suspicious he was dealing with an undercover officer and decided to instead sell salt and still get the $1900 the methamphetamine was worth.

This all happened six months after the Masterton local had been released from prison, where he had been for more than a year because of similar drug charges.

Today Martin appeared in Wellington District Court for sentencing after earlier pleading guilty to six charges of supplying methamphetamine.


Before Judge Stephen Harrop defence lawyer Rob Stevens said Martin had always tried to do his best "but often falls short".

Even though he knew he was dealing with an undercover officer he pretended to sell the methamphetamine so he could get the money, Mr Stevens said.

"It's very clear that this man is at the very bottom level of the chain of supply."

Prosecutor Kate Feltham said although the largest of the three deals was actually only salt, Martin did plead guilty to supplying methamphetamine so he knew the intention was there.

In sentencing Martin, Judge Harrop said he did not see any remorse and Martin had a long list of drug, dishonesty and violence charges.

Although he was involved in only low level supply it was consistent, Judge Harrop said.

Martin was sentenced to two years and six months in prison.​

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[NZ] Alleged drug kingpin captured

[NZ]Alleged drug kingpin captured

An alleged international cocaine smuggler who fled New Zealand 10 years ago has been arrested in Europe and detectives are working to bring him back to face charges.

Rokas Karpavicius was charged with conspiracy to import cocaine in 1999 but escaped overseas two years later while on bail.

The Lithuanian was never caught, but was last year named in a trial in the High Court at Auckland as the global kingpin of a drug and money-laundering syndicate.

His fingerprints were found on a Harry Potter book couriered from Spain to Auckland which had the Class A drug LSD hidden in its spine.

Photographs produced at the trial show Karpavicius - who was 21 when he fled New Zealand - lounging on a luxury yacht in Europe surrounded by bikini-clad beauties.

But he has finally been arrested after 10 years at large.

The officer in charge of the investigation, Detective Sergeant John Sowter, said Karpavicius was taken into police custody in Latvia as he travelled to Turkey.

A "red notice" posted by Interpol had alerted Latvian authorities to the serious drugs charges he faced in New Zealand.


Police were now organising paperwork in a bid to extradite him.

Karpavicius disappeared on a false passport in 2001, skipping the country while on a $100,000 bail bond for cocaine and methamphetamine charges.

His name resurfaced during the trial in October last year, where he was named as the global kingpin of a drug and money-laundering syndicate.

As well as having his fingerprints on the Harry Potter book, drug squad detectives also tapped phone calls between Karpavicius and Ronald Terrence Brown, one of the godfathers of the criminal underworld.

Brown, 66, admitted bringing millions of dollars of drugs into New Zealand and was sentenced to 11 years in prison after admitting eight charges related to the importation and supply of Ecstasy, methamphetamine and LSD.

He also admitted using a false passport and laundering more than $4 million over three years.

The court heard evidence from Mr Sowter that Brown had paid millions of dollars to Karpavicius through bank account transfers or money mules.​

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Man jailed over heroin import attempt

Man jailed over heroin import attempt

A 42-year-old Nigerian man has been sentenced to eight years' jail for attempting to import heroin through Brisbane's international airport.

Edwin Nwabueze was convicted in the Supreme Court of attempting to possess more than 850 grams of pure heroin.

Prosecutor James Godbolt told the court the drug was intercepted by Customs and Federal Police in March 2008.

It was found in luggage belonging to an innocent woman who had been duped into taking part in the importation attempt.

Nwabueze was arrested after he tried to retrieve the bag.

Justice Peter Applegarth sentenced the Nigerian national to eight years' jail, but after hearing Nwabueze was of low intellect and was easily manipulated, the judge ordered his earlier release on parole after two years and nine months.​

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Drug Squad seizes record pseudoephedrine haul - Strike Force Garner

Drug Squad seizes record pseudoephedrine haul - Strike Force Garner

Drug Squad detectives investigating a syndicate importing drugs concealed in shipping containers have now seized more than half a tonne of pseudoephedrine – a record amount for NSW Police.

Investigators attached to Strike Force Garner estimate that the more than 600kg of pseudoephedrine confiscated to date would be enough to make methylamphetamine, or "ice", with an estimated street value of over $150 million.

"This is certainly a very large and very significant confiscation of illicit pseudoephedrine, the likes of which Drug Squad investigators have not seen previously,” Acting Commander of the State Crime Command, Acting Assistant Commissioner Malcolm Lanyon, said.

Strike Force Garner has also seized 60kg of “ice” valued at $40 million, and 15kg of heroin with a street value of more than $7.5 million.

The drugs, which originated in China, were packed into rectangular metal boxes that investigators believe to be tea canisters. They were then concealed inside the joinery of the shipping containers.

It appears that the syndicate somehow lost track of a large number of containers, which were emptied of their cargo and sold as storage units to legitimate businesses and farms across the state – with the drugs still inside.

Investigators were first alerted to the shipment earlier this month when the owner of a Chipping Norton business reported a container he’d purchased appeared to have been tampered with suspiciously.

On December 7, detectives attended that location and found 45kg of pseudoephedrine secreted in three shipping containers. Another container, concealing 15kg of pseudoephedrine, was located at Homebush the following day.

Investigators have since been working closely with the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service to track down other affected containers, which on Wednesday (21 December 2011) led them to about 300kg of pseudoephedrine in 20 containers at 18 locations across NSW.

These included the Sydney suburbs of Alexandria, Badgerys Creek, Cobbity, Bringelly and Kentlyn, as well as Lithgow, Bathurst, Yetholme, Blayney, Lue (near Mudgee; two containers), Dubbo, Spicy Creek (near Wellington), Yass, Cooma, Tamworth, Wagga Wagga, Walgett and Curlewis (near Gunnedah).

Yesterday (22 December), investigators attended an address in the south-western Sydney suburb of Padstow, where they anticipated finding a small number of affected units; instead, they have so far located 22 – 17 with pseudoephedrine (225kg), four with “ice” (60kg) and one with heroin (15kg).

“Police worked until late last night searching containers at Padstow, and resumed at 6am today,” Detective Inspector Steve Patton, officer in charge of Strike Force Garner, said. “It’s hard work, but we are determined to find every last container.”

Investigators expect to seize additional drugs at Padstow today, and also plan to search more containers in regional areas.

“The method of concealment used by this syndicate was extremely sophisticated, and the containers dispersed widely across the state,” Acting Assistant Commissioner Lanyon said.

“I congratulate Strike Force Garner and Drug Squad investigators for their ongoing work with partner agencies to prevent the flow of prohibited drugs onto the streets of NSW, and in doing so reducing harm to the community that can be caused by those drugs.”

Strike Forcer Garner comprises detectives from the State Crime Command’s Drug Squad and Liverpool Local Area Command.​

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Police arrest ninth person following investigation into drug and firearms supply - Mi

Police arrest ninth person following investigation into drug and firearms supply - Middle Eastern Organised Crime Squad

Middle Eastern Organised Crime Squad detectives have seized cash and shotgun cartridges during the execution of a search warrant in Sydney’s south-west overnight.

Strike Force Centre was formed in June 2011 to investigate a criminal group allegedly supplying drugs and illegal firearms in Sydney.

About 6pm yesterday (Thursday 22 December 2011), officers attached to Strike Force Centre executed a search warrant at a residence in Boundary Road, Liverpool.

During the search, police seized an amount of cash, 41 shotgun cartridges, mobile phones and documents.

A 23-year-old man was arrested at the address and taken to Liverpool Police Station.

He was charged with possess unauthorised firearm and possess ammunition without a permit/licence.

The man was refused bail to appear at Campbelltown Local Court today (Friday 23 December).

This is the ninth arrest by Strike Force Centre officers, with seven men and one woman already before the courts on a range of drug and firearms offences.

Since its inception, Strike Force Centre has seized eight firearms, including semi-automatic pistols, more than two kilograms of prohibited drugs, 20 kilograms of precursors used to make prohibited drugs, and a large amount of cash.​

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Record amount of drugs in NSW found allegedly in shipping containers

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Record amount of drugs in NSW found allegedly in shipping containers

MORE than half a tonne of pseudoephedrine have been found allegedly concealed in shipping containers after a syndicate importing drugs was investigated.

It is a record amount for NSW Police.

Investigators attached to Strike Force Garner estimate that the more than 600kg of pseudoephedrine confiscated to date would be enough to make methylamphetamine, or "ice", with an estimated street value of over $150 million.

"This is certainly a very large and very significant confiscation of illicit pseudoephedrine, the likes of which Drug Squad investigators have not seen previously,” Acting Commander of the State Crime Command, Acting Assistant Commissioner Malcolm Lanyon, said.
Recommended Coverage

MORE drugs belonging to Australia’s most "careless" drug traffickers have been discovered by police today.

Strike Force Garner has also seized 60kg of “ice” valued at $40 million, and 15kg of heroin with a street value of more than $7.5 million.

The drugs, which originated in China, were packed into rectangular metal boxes that investigators believe to be tea canisters. They were then concealed inside the joinery of the shipping containers.

It appears that the syndicate somehow lost track of a large number of containers, which were emptied of their cargo and sold as storage units to legitimate businesses and farms across the state – with the drugs still inside.

Investigators were first alerted to the shipment earlier this month when the owner of a Chipping Norton business reported a container he’d purchased appeared to have been tampered with suspiciously.

On December 7, detectives attended that location and found 45kg of pseudoephedrine secreted in three shipping containers. Another container, concealing 15kg of pseudoephedrine, was located at Homebush the following day.

Investigators have since been working closely with the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service to track down other affected containers, which on Wednesday (21 December 2011) led them to about 300kg of pseudoephedrine in 20 containers at 18 locations across NSW.

These included the Sydney suburbs of Alexandria, Badgerys Creek, Cobbity, Bringelly and Kentlyn, as well as Lithgow, Bathurst, Yetholme, Blayney, Lue (near Mudgee; two containers), Dubbo, Spicy Creek (near Wellington), Yass, Cooma, Tamworth, Wagga Wagga, Walgett and Curlewis (near Gunnedah).

Yesterday (22 December), investigators attended an address in the south-western Sydney suburb of Padstow, where they anticipated finding a small number of affected units; instead, they have so far located 22 – 17 with pseudoephedrine (225kg), four with “ice” (60kg) and one with heroin (15kg).

“Police worked until late last night searching containers at Padstow, and resumed at 6am today,” Detective Inspector Steve Patton, officer in charge of Strike Force Garner, said. “It’s hard work, but we are determined to find every last container.”

Investigators expect to seize additional drugs at Padstow today, and also plan to search more containers in regional areas.

“The method of concealment used by this syndicate was extremely sophisticated, and the containers dispersed widely across the state,” Acting Assistant Commissioner Lanyon said.

“I congratulate Strike Force Garner and Drug Squad investigators for their ongoing work with partner agencies to prevent the flow of prohibited drugs onto the streets of NSW, and in doing so reducing harm to the community that can be caused by those drugs.”

Strike Forcer Garner comprises detectives from the State Crime Command’s Drug Squad and Liverpool Local Area Command.​

PHOTO: Police remove tins from a shipping container found in Bathurst earlier this week. (NSW Police Force)

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Police find drug lab in Kewdale

Police find drug lab in Kewdale

Police have charged two people over a clandestine drug lab in the Perth suburb of Kewdale.

A 39-year-old man and a 54-year-old woman are due to appear in the Perth Magistrates Court today charged with manufacturing a prohibited drug.

Police raided a home in Jeffery Street yesterday after neighbours reported a strong smell of ammonia coming from the house.

It is the third drug lab found at the house this year.

It takes the number of drug labs found around the state this year to 175.​

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