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

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[BALI] Foreigners Sought For Drugging Staff

[BALI] Foreigners Sought For Drugging Staff

Badung Police are hunting two Caucasian men suspected of stealing the contents of a safe in a hotel in Kuta on Sunday.

It is suspected that the men drugged staff at the Legian Village Hotel on Jl Padma, before forcing open the safe and stealing the contents. The two men were staying at the hotel, and had thrown a party for the staff, offering them beer. However, by the time the theft was uncovered the pair had vanished with all their belongings.

According to police sources the two foreigners had checked into the hotel the previous day. It is reported that they had checked into the hotel using false identities.

Around Rp20 million was taken from the safe, along with passports and valuables belonging to other guests.

Hotel staff told police that the guests had given them alcohol and encouraged them to drink more at around midnight, after which they fell asleep. When they came to at around 3am they found the safe open, the contents missing, and the two foreigners disappeared.​

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[SINGAPORE] Man arrested for trying to smuggle drugs in detergent box, underwear

[SINGAPORE] Man arrested for trying to smuggle drugs in detergent box, underwear

Anti-narcotics officers arrested a Singaporean man on Tuesday for allegedly attempting to smuggle 558g of Ice and 100 Ecstasy tablets into Singapore from Malaysia. -- PHOTO: CENTRAL NARCOTICS BEREAU

Anti-narcotics officers arrested a Singaporean man on Tuesday for allegedly attempting to smuggle 558g of Ice and 100 Ecstasy tablets into Singapore from Malaysia.

In the second arrest made at Woodlands Checkpoint within a week, the 27-year-old suspect's car was stopped for security checks when his loot was uncovered.

Officers found a detergent box in the boot of the suspect's Singapore-registered car containing three bundles of crystalline substances believed to be 554g of Ice and 100 Ecstasy tablets. Another 4g of Ice was found in a staples box the suspect had concealed in his underwear.

They also uncovered a black pouch hidden in the car's centre console between the driver seat and front passenger seat which contained two improvised glass pipes, zip lock bags, and a scale.​

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[THAILAND] Free 'ice' with amphetamine tabs

[THAILAND] Free 'ice' with amphetamine tabs

In order to attract new buyers, many drug dealers are offering free "ice" flakes with every purchase of amphetamine tablets, a senior official from the Office of Narcotics Control Board said yesterday.

This offer is aimed at the wealthy patrons of night entertainment venues and university students in large cities, said Adul Prayoonsit, head of ONCB Region 4 based in Nakhon Phanom.

However, he did not say how many amphetamine tablets had to be bought to get the free ice flakes. "Although ice is more expensive, it is condensed and gives a ten-fold better high than amphetamine," he added.

The promotion has been doing the rounds in Khon Kaen, Udon Thani and Nakhon Phanom since late last year.

Meanwhile, two amphetamine traders were arrested in a drug bust in Nakhon Phanom.

Police said, in order to avoid detection, many traders have changed how they carry drugs. Now they are employing large numbers of couriers and getting them to hide the cargo in the soles of their shoes, the press was told yesterday.

Also recently, two Burmese nationals, Than Lwin and Min Naig - both 30 - were arrested for having 9,670 tablets in their possession.

The drug haul was hidden in the shoes they were wearing, as well as another pair and a large book in their luggage.

They were nabbed, separately, at a Pathum Thani hotel, and a Bangkok apartment. The two suspects were allegedly getting ready to meet up and deliver the drugs. The suspects, who have also been charged with illegal entry, implicated Zaw Lin as the owner of drugs, saying that he was disguised as a student studying a translation course in Bangkok.

Allegedly Zaw Lin has couriers run one route no more than three times, before new people are put on the job in a move to minimise detection, the suspects were quoted as saying.

In a separate operation, police arrested Jarukit Rungrong-hiranya, the son of a well-known businessman, for having 20,000 amphetamine tablets and 100 grams of ice flake in his possession, along with two loaded handguns. He was caught delivering drugs in his BMW.​

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Five arrested as police seize guns, drugs and cash - Blacktown LAC

Five arrested as police seize guns, drugs and cash - Blacktown LAC

Police have seized two guns, $200,000 of ICE (methyl-amphetamine), cash and property as part of an on-going investigation into drug supply in Sydney’s west.

In January this year, officers formed Operation Laudanum to investigate drug supply in the Doonside area.

About 5.20pm on Tuesday (7 February 2012), police stopped a vehicle on Brussels Crescent, Rooty Hill.

It is alleged that when police searched the 42-year-old driver, they found two grams of ICE (methyl-amphetamine).

The man, and his 35-year-old female passenger, were arrested and taken to Blacktown Police Station.

Police will allege their investigations revealed the pair was involved in drug supply in the Doonside area.

The man was charged with supplying an indictable quantity of a prohibited drug, suppling prohibited drugs on an ongoing basis, and dealing with the proceeds of crime.

He was refused bail and appeared before Blacktown Local Court today, where he was granted conditional bail and will re-appear in Penrith Local Court on 30 March 2012.

The 35-year-old woman was charged with supplying a prohibited drug and was released on conditional bail, to appear before Blacktown Local Court on 8 March 2012.

On the same date, police executed a search warrant at the man’s home in Tivoli Place, Doonside.

A 26-year-old man and a 47-year-old woman were arrested at the home.

It is alleged police located stolen property and drug paraphernalia during the search warrant.

The 26-year-old man was taken to Mt Druitt Police Station, where he was charged with supplying an indictable quantity of a prohibited drug.

He was refused bail and appeared before Mt Druitt Local Court today, where he was granted conditional bail, to appear before Penrith Local Court on 30 March 2012.

The 47-year-old woman was charged with suppling a prohibited drug and owner/occupier knowingly allow use as drug premises.

She appeared before Mt Druitt Local Court today, where she was granted bail to appear before Mt Druitt Local Court on 30 March 2012.

About 8.30pm yesterday (Wednesday 8 February 2012), police stopped a vehicle on Avoca Drive, Canley Vale.

It’s alleged that while searching the 31-year-old male driver and his vehicle, police located 13.5 grams of ICE (methyl-amphetamine), an amount of cash, 10 mobile phones and an extendable baton.

The man was arrested and taken to Cabramatta Police Station. Police then executed a search warrant the man’s home in Canley Vale, where they allegedly found 800 grams of ICE (methyl-amphetamine), a loaded .22 calibre semi-automatic pistol, a loaded .22 calibre ‘keyring’ gun, and equipment relating to drug supply.

The 31-year-old man was charged with:

- Supply prohibited drugs on an ongoing basis

- Two counts of possess or use a prohibited weapon without permit

- Possess unauthorised pistol

- Possess unauthorised prohibited firearm

- Possess ammunition without holding licence/permit/authority

- Supply indictable quantity of a prohibited drug

- Two counts of goods in personal custody suspected being stolen

- Supply commercial quantity of a prohibited drug

Police will allege the 31-year-old man supplied drugs to be sold from the home in Tivoli Place, Doonside

He was refused bail and appeared before Bankstown Local Court today. He was further refused bail in court and will re-appear in Bankstown Local Court on 30 March 2012.​

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Two in court following drug arrest- Strike Force Normac

Two in court following drug arrest- Strike Force Normac

Two men are due to appear in court this morning after search warrants were executed in the Penrith Local Area Command.

About 9.30am yesterday, (Wednesday 8 February, 2012), officers attached to Strike Force Normac simultaneously executed two search warrants.

Strike Force Normac is investigating drug supply in the Penrith Area and commenced in September 2011.

During the first warrant at Oberon Street, South Penrith, police allegedly located a quantity of steroids, amphetamines and scientific glassware. A 39-year-old man was arrested at the house and was taken to Penrith Police Station.

He was charged with supply commercial quantity prohibited drug x 2, supply on an ongoing basis, and supply prohibited drug x 10.

The second warrant was executed at Bedford Street, Emu Plains, where officers allegedly located and seized a quantity of MDMA pills and scientific glassware. A 41-year-old man was arrested and taken to Penrith Police Station.

He was charged with supply commercial quantity prohibited drug x 2, supply prohibited drug x 4, and supply on an ongoing basis.

Both men were refused bail and are expected to appear in Penrith Local Court today.​

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Melbourne man prosecuted for Customs and Border Protection offences

Melbourne man prosecuted for Customs and Border Protection offences

A 45-year-old Melbourne man appeared on Tuesday, 7 February 2012 in the Broadmeadows Magistrates Court and was found guilty of allowing the unlawful removal of 771,400 imported cigarettes. The man was also ordered to pay $278,000 for the outstanding customs duty and GST on the cigarettes.

The cigarettes were assigned to his care as the manager of a depot, which is licensed by Customs and Border Protection to store goods. Licensed depots facilitate the distribution and delivery of imported goods, and must comply with a number of strict conditions. This is to ensure that Customs and Border Protection meet the security requirement for uncleared goods.

In March 2010, approximately 4.3 million cigarettes were imported in a sea cargo container from the United Arab Emirates. The cigarettes were moved with Customs and Border Protection’s permission to the licensed depot managed by Mr Arthur Sofos for storage until the owner of the cigarettes paid the customs duty and GST.

Customs and Border Protection officers examined the container whilst it was being stored at the licensed depot and discovered that 771,400 cigarettes were missing.

Customs and Border Protection officers executed search warrants on 20 May 2010 at Mr Sofos residence, the licensed depot and another address and found a number of packets of the missing cigarettes.

Mr Sofos was yesterday ordered to pay $278,000 in outstanding duty and GST on the missing cigarettes.

Customs and Border Protection also revoked the depot licence for Mr Sofos’s company, Ocean Air Logistics.

In addition, he was fined $3000 for failing to keep goods safe, namely 771,400 cigarettes, contrary to section 36 of the Customs Act 1901. He was also ordered to pay the Commonwealth’s court costs of $12,000.​

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Drug arrest at Plympton Park

Drug arrest at Plympton Park

Police arrested a 46-year-old man from Plympton Park yesterday after he was detected with a quantity of cannabis in his possession at Plympton Park.

Subsequent investigations by Sturt CIB at the man's home resulted in the seizure of 16 mature cannabis plants, approximately three kilograms of dried cannabis, ecstasy tablets, a large amount of cash and other drug paraphernalia.

The man was charged with trafficking offences, cultivation of cannabis and unlawful possession.

He was granted police bail to appear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court in March.​

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Family angry over hit and run sentence

Family angry over hit and run sentence

A drug addict has been sentenced to four years jail for a hit and run crash that killed a 56-year-old man in Gosnells.

Troy Darren Smith, 40, was under the influence of prescription medication when his car ran onto the kerb, hit a bollard and then the victim, who for cultural reasons is known as Mr Mead.

The District Court was told Smith had a long history of driving offences.

He also could not recall the crash because of the effects of the medication and hours later was found asleep in his car in the driveway of his home.

Smith will have to serve two years before he can be considered for release.

Mr Mead's brother-in-law Dean Collard says the family is disappointed with the sentence.

We think it's a ridiculous decision - four years for the death of a man, it doesn't have to be an Aboriginal man, it's a man who had a life, a family, loved" he said.

"This guy's had a record as long as anyone I know and four years, I'm disappointed at the justice system."​

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Man killed, dissolved in acid over fears he told police about drugs

Man killed, dissolved in acid over fears he told police about drugs

A MAN was shot dead and then his body burned and dissolved in acid because his killer feared he might "dob him in'' over a hydroponic cannabis operation, a jury heard today.
Prosecutor Mark Gibson said Leonard Borg took his victim, Peter Rule, to a factory in the Melbourne suburb of Campbellfield and shot him with a .22 semi-automatic rifle.

Mr Gibson said Mr Borg then phoned another man, who was involved in the cannabis business, and told him to buy bottles of bleach and plastic bags and bring them to the factory.
Mr Rule's body was placed in the back of Mr Borg's Volvo and when the other man arrived he was asked by the accused to clean up blood spatter in an area near some toilets.

Mr Gibson said that despite the clean up efforts forensic officers later found a blood spatter particle, and DNA testing determined it was 1.5 billion times more likely to come from Mr Rule than any other Caucasian person.
Mr Gibson said Mr Rule's body was taken to another factory in Thomastown, where Mr Borg and the other man had a cannabis crop, and there the deceased was placed in a 44 gallon drum and burned.
Mr Rule's body parts were placed in a plastic tub and dissolved in hydrochloric acid before Mr Borg and the other man took them to the Great Ocean Rd and disposed of the remains.
"The Crown says this was a calculated, planned and deliberate killing of Mr Rule in order to protect a cannabis growing business,'' Mr Gibson said.

Mr Borg, 28, of Mickleham, has pleaded not guilty in the Supreme Court to a count of murdering Mr Rule, 56, of Meadow Heights, on November 15, 2009.
Mr Gibson said Mr Borg lived in a house in Craigieburn where he grew cannabis and believed his Mr Rule was behind a police raid in August 2009 after a call was made to Crime Stoppers.

Mr Gibson said in April 2009 Mr Borg had rented the factory in Thomastown and started a hydroponic cannabis business with his younger partner who had borrowed $35,000 to help get it established.
The prosecutor said Mr Borg's belief that Mr Rule was an informer meant he was faced with the fear he would dob him in again over the Thomastown operation.
Mr Borg discussed his dilemma with another friend, Mr Gibson said, and told him: ''I've got to get rid of him to get peace of mind''.
The trial before Justice Lex Lasry is continuing.​

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$25 million worth of drugs and $300,000 cash seized, man arrested - Organised Crime T

$25 million worth of drugs and $300,000 cash seized, man arrested - Organised Crime Targeting Squad

Detectives from State Crime Command’s Organised Crime Targeting Squad working jointly with the NSW Crime Commission have seized drugs with a street value of more than $25 million and arrested a man believed to be a principal of a major drug distribution network.

The Organised Crime Targeting Squad has been investigating the commercial distribution of black and brown heroin, as well as methylamphetamine (‘Ice’) under Strike Force Taipan.

Earlier this week, detectives raided an Artarmon storage unit, in Sydney’s north, seizing a large quantity of prohibited drugs hidden inside tetra juice boxes.

Pending confirmation by drug analysis, it’s believed the drugs include 2kg of brown heroin, almost 14kg of ‘Ice’ and 11.5kg of ‘black tar’ heroin.

About 12.30pm yesterday (Thursday 9 February 2012), detectives arrested a 43-year-old Australian-Iranian dual citizen when he attended the storage units.

He was taken to Chatswood Police Station where he has since been charged with two counts of commercial supply of a large commercial quantity of prohibited drugs. He has been refused bail to face Hornsby Local Court later today.

Following that arrest, further search warrants were conducted at the units, a number of residential addresses, financial institutions and at a food importation business at Glendenning.

A further 166g of brown heroin, 7.5kg of ‘Ice’ and 36kg of ‘black tar’ heroin were seized. All the drugs seized to date, totalling almost 70kg, will undergo drug analysis.

Additionally, more than $300,000 cash, an extensive range of jewellery and valuable securities were seized.

Police are continuing to examine further juice containers totalling more than one tonne to determine their contents.

State Crime Command’s Organised Crime Director, Detective Chief Superintendent Mal Lanyon, said this was a major win for the NSW Police Force in its continued effort to target illicit drugs.

“The drugs seized by Strike Force Taipan officers to date have an estimated potential street value of more than $25 million, and I have no doubt those drugs were destined for the streets of Sydney,” Det Ch Supt Lanyon said.

“That’s a significant seizure taking almost 250,000 deals of heroin and more than 200,000 deals of ‘Ice’ off the street. I believe this will have an impact on local drug availability.

“But I also want to assure the community that the investigation is far from over.

“We believe we have uncovered a sophisticated drug importation and distribution operation and we anticipate further arrests will be made.

“The NSW Police Force will also work closely with other agencies to determine the origin of the drugs and identify other people involved in this operation. That includes working with the NSW Crime Commission to pursue assets derived from crime.

“I would also like to thank and acknowledge the assistance that has been provided by Customs and Border Protection to date.”​

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Second man charged over $13m drug haul

Second man charged over $13m drug haul

Police say they have charged a second man over a multi-million dollar drug haul last year on the New South Wales central coast.

Police have been investigating the discovery of almost $13 million worth of the drug precursor, meth oil, since the haul last year.

They have now arrested and charged a 30-year-old man with large-scale drugs supply.

Last August, detectives stopped a car on the F3 Freeway north of Sydney and found 27 litres of meth oil in three jerry cans.

Police then searched a nearby property at Phegans Bay and found another 32 litres of the drug precursor.

Stelios Macris, 73, has already faced court over the discovery.

He is the father of a man who is alleged to have been a target of a murder plot linked to Sydney identities Fadi and Michael Ibrahim.

The 30-year-old man will face court in March.​

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Drug mystery after Aussie teen dies in Laos hotel

Mum grieves over son's drug death in Laos

THE mother of a man found dead in a Laos hotel has spoken of her family's heartbreak.
Alexander Lee, 22, of Yarraville, was found dead alongside Dutch woman Rianne Brouwer in their hotel in Nongkio Village, in the central province of Luang Prabang, on Tuesday.
Local doctor Say Phanom told the Herald Sun drugs were found near the bodies.

Mr Lee's mother, Mary-Anne Rushford, said her family were struggling for information on how he died.
"You're very lucky that you've spoken to a doctor. I'm finding it very difficult to get any information, and I'm his mother," she said.
Police believe the couple may have been dead for up to three days.

Mr Lee is the third Australian to die in Laos in the past month. The other two were tourists tubing in the Vang Vieng area.
Dr Phanom said there were no signs of physical injury to Mr Lee's body.
"We are waiting on a report from the pathologist, but from what we could see there was nothing abnormal detected on the body," he said.
"The police said that they found some drugs in the room. Many drugs. But I cannot confirm that they've overdosed, because I have no examination results.

"On my certificate of death all I can write is death by unknown origin," he said.
Mr Lee's body was to be taken yesterday to the capital, Vientiane, where Australian officials were expected to take possession.
Ms Rushford said her family was keen to have her son's body back as soon as possible.
"We're just here all together grieving," she said.

"We've been overwhelmed with support, and it's been fantastic, and that's where we're at at the moment.
"It's going to be a big process to get his body home, and we're having to deal with all of that."
Luang Prabang Provincial Tourist Police yesterday declined to comment on Mr Lee's death, directing inquiries to the Department of Foreign Affairs.

"I wrote a report and gave everything to the embassy," a policeman said.
DFAT declined to reveal any details.​

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Pair jailed over $32m drug shipment

Pair jailed over $32m drug shipment

PHOTO: Customs replaced the drugs with salt (ABC)

Two men have been jailed for their roles in a drug importation scheme worth up to $32 million.

A court heard customs officers in Sydney found 80 kilograms of the drug ice in a shipment from China, in 2008.

The drugs were in silver packets hidden in boxes.

The Adelaide District Court heard officers meticulously extracted the drugs and repacked the parcels with salt which was almost identical in appearance to the illicit drugs.

The court heard an undercover policeman acting as an employee of a transport company then delivered the packages at an address in Adelaide which was under surveillance.

Singaporean national Seok Chai Yeo, 52, and Vietnamese-born refugee Ben Thanh Tong, 38, were both found guilty by a jury of attempting to possess a commercial quantity of a controlled drug.

Judge Rosemary Davey said both had crucial roles in the operation.

"In my view the case against each of you was very strong and it is absolutely clear that you both played significant roles in the attempted possession of these illegally-imported drugs," she said.

'Red-handed'

The court heard police raided premises at Brooklyn Park in Adelaide after watching for days and intercepting telephone calls.

"You were literally caught red-handed attempting to move what you believed to be eight kilograms (part of the full shipment) of crystalline amphetamine material," Judge Davey said.

"This was clearly a well-organised, sophisticated drug importation.

"The effects of illicit drugs are unfortunately well-known to the courts and the community. The importation and distribution of these drugs are evil are require condign punishment."

Yeo was sentenced to 10 years in jail with a non-parole term of six-and-a-half years and Tong was sentenced to nine-and-a-half years in jail with a non-parole period of five-and-a-half years.

The court heard others involved the drug scheme were still being sought by authorities.​

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Three arrested, drugs seized - Strike Force Henrietta

Three arrested, drugs seized - Strike Force Henrietta

Three men will appear in court on drug supply charges following a vehicle-stop in Bulahdelah early yesterday.

Strike Force Henrietta was established in February 2011 by local Detectives to investigate the supply of prohibited drugs on the State’s Mid North Coast.

Following inquiries, Strike Force detectives – with assistance from officers attached to Manning/Great Lakes and Port Stephens Local Area Commands – stopped a vehicle on the Pacific Highway about 1am (Friday 10 February 2012).

During a subsequent search of the car, officers seized a large amount of amphetamine, ecstasy, and cannabis.

Police will allege the men were returning to the Mid North Coast from Sydney where they had purchased the drugs.

The three men – aged 27, 28 and 30 – were subsequently arrested and taken to Taree Police Station where they were each charged with supply prohibited drug (commercial quantity).

The 30-year-old was also charged with drive whilst disqualified.

All three appeared before Taree Local Court yesterday where they were refused bail to re-appear on 3 April 2012.​

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Man charged with drug supply - Strike Force Buzz

Man charged with drug supply - Strike Force Buzz

A man will appear in court today after being charged with a number of drug-related offences in south-western Sydney yesterday.

Strike Force Buzz – comprising officers attached to Macquarie Fields Local Area Command – was established in September last year to investigate the supply of illegal drugs in the region.

Following a five-month investigation, and extensive inquiries, Strike Force detectives executed a search warrant on a home in Montana Way, Macquarie Fields, about 12pm yesterday (Friday 10 February 2012).

During the search officers seized an amount of methylamphetamine, cash, and ammunition.

A 43-year-old man was arrested at the home and taken to Macquarie Fields Police Station where he was subsequently charged with the following offences:

Supply prohibited drug (14 counts);
Possess prohibited drug;
Possess ammunition without licence;
Deal with proceeds of crime
He was refused bail to appear at Parramatta Bail Court today (Saturday 11 February 2012).​

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Man fined $20,000 for importing Pseudoephedrine

Man fined $20,000 for importing Pseudoephedrine

A 50-year-old Queensland man was yesterday fined $20,000 in the Brisbane Magistrates Court for importing almost 1 kilogram of pseudoephedrine into Australia.

Customs and Border Protection National Manager Investigations Kingsley Woodford-Smith said that “Customs and Border Protection is serious about detecting and investigating this unlawful activity and that persons who engage in this conduct can expect to face significant penalties as demonstrated in this instance.”

Andrew Clark was found guilty of importing the pseudoephedrine which is used to manufacture the illicit synthetic drug methamphetamine.

In March 2011, Australian Customs and Border Protection Service (Customs and Border Protection) officers examined two parcels that arrived into Australia from Thailand. The first parcel contained five bottles of ‘Mistine’ brand perfumed talcum powder and two bottles of ‘Mistine White Spa’ lotion. The bottles of talcum powder were found to contain a white powder substance which tested positive for pseudoephedrine.

The second parcel contained seven bottles of ‘Mistine’ brand perfumed talcum powder and one bottle of ‘Mistine White Spa’ lotion. The talcum powder tested positive for pseudoephedrine.

Both packages were addressed to different names and the addresses were false, however further investigation by Customs and Border Protection officers led to a premises in Belli Park, north of Brisbane where search and seizure warrants were executed.

Mr Clarke was found guilty of two counts of importing a prohibited import, namely pseudoephedrine, contrary to section 233(1)(b) of the Customs Act 1901 and fined $20,000. He was also ordered to pay the Commonwealth’s court costs of $3,149.50.​

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Detectives seize another 4kg of 'Ice' concealed in juice boxes - Organised Crime Targ

Detectives seize another 4kg of 'Ice' concealed in juice boxes - Organised Crime Targeting Squad

New South Wales police have seized another four kilograms of ‘Ice’ worth more than $900,000 as they continue to probe a major drug distribution network.

Strike Force Taipan – comprising detectives attached to State Crime Command’s Organised Crime Targeting Squad and the NSW Crime Commission – was formed to investigate the commercial supply of black and brown heroin, as well as methylamphetamine (‘Ice’).

Earlier this week, detectives raided a storage unit at Artarmon, on Sydney’s North Shore, seizing a large quantity of prohibited drugs hidden inside fruit juice containers.

A 43-year-old Australian-Iranian dual citizen, believed to be a principal of the drug distribution network, was arrested by investigators when he attended the storage units about 12.30pm on Thursday (9February 2012).

He was charged with two counts of commercial supply of a large commercial quantity of prohibited drugs and is currently before the courts.

As a result of further inquires, police uncovered an additional 4.2kg of ‘Ice’ with a street value of up to $924,000 from another storage unit at Artarmon yesterday afternoon (Friday 10 February 2012).

They also took possession of a large sum of cash, jewellery and documentation after executing a search warrant on a safety deposit box at a Parramatta bank.

Police have now seized a total of 47.5kg of ‘black tar’ heroin, almost 2.2kg of brown heroin and 25.5kg of ‘Ice’ – worth more than $26million on the streets.

Meanwhile, chemical analysis is continuing to confirm the contents of over a tonne of fruit juice containers – including 78 juice boxes seized by Western Australia Police from a storage unit at Perth Airport yesterday.

Strike Force Taipan is continuing its inquiries and further arrests are expected.​

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Druggie scores Aussie jail deal

Druggie scores Aussie jail deal

Thai customs unwrap packs of heroin from the waist of Garnett in 1993, after his arrest at Bangkok Airport, where he was seeking to board plane to New Zealand. Show Less Source: The Sunday Telegraph

A DRUG dealer who has spent most of his adult life behind bars overseas will be extradited to Sydney to serve his remaining sentence in a NSW jail.

Having already spent 17 years in a Bangkok prison, Martin Garnett, 45, was last week sentenced to a further 57 months in the US after admitting to his part in mailing heroin to America from inside his Thailand jail.

His transfer to a NSW prison is expected in the coming months after a US District Court judge in South Bend, Indiana, accepted that despite Garnett's many mistakes he was truly sorry and had turned his life around, in part due to his prison conversion to Islam.

Garnett, who once managed a successful luxury car dealership in Sydney, was arrested at Bangkok airport in 1993 with 4.7kg of heroin strapped to his body after a Customs officer gave him a friendly pat on the back as he prepared to board a plane for home.

Garnett was sentenced to death at the age of 26, but the penalty was later commuted to 40 years.

By his own account, he quickly became a highly placed loan shark within Thailand's Klong Prem prison in a partnership with guards.

"The prison guards in Thailand were sneaky, shallow people who cared very little about life, cared nothing about the law or rules, and who manipulated anyone they could," states a document prepared for the sentencing judge by Garnett and his US lawyer, David Jones.

"Sadly, Martin found that he fitted in really well in this system because he was exactly like them."

Garnett was pardoned in Thailand and extradited to the US in 2011, where he has been housed in a state prison in South Bend.​

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Clandestine laboratories located, Runaway Bay

Clandestine laboratories located, Runaway Bay

Gold Coast detectives this morning located two alleged clandestine laboratories, including one set-up in the boot of a car, at Runaway Bay.

It will be alleged that officers located an active clandestine laboratory inside a unit in Bayview Avenue around 10.10am.

A subsequent search of a vehicle parked in the unit complex car park located a laboratory inside the boot.

Officers from the Illicit Laboratory Investigation Team, State Crime Operations Command, attend the scene to safely dismantle the laboratories.

Two men, a 29-year-old from Coomera and a 26-year-old from Middle Ridge, were taken into police custody and are currently assisting with investigations.

Several officers attending the scene were exposed to the active laboratories, with one officer requiring treatment for eye irritation.

Police investigations are continuing.​

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Kava is king of Kiwi contraband

Kava is king of Kiwi contraband

New Zealand's dodgy exports aren't just young, money-hungry workers. Drugs, sex medicines, air guns, steroids and cigarettes are all big exports - but new figures show kava is the king of Kiwi contraband.

Australian Customs documents reveal that seizures of illicit cargo from New Zealand were dominated by the Pacific plant used to brew the popular social drink kava.

More than 350kg of kava products were intercepted last year from the international post and from passengers arriving in Australia from New Zealand. The largest single seizure was a 42.3kg haul from a passenger arriving by plane.

Passengers arriving in Australia are banned from importing more than 2kg of kava powder at a time. The Australian Government has concerns about the health effects of kava, including liver damage, especially in Aboriginal communities. But authorities also recognised kava's role in traditional ceremonies, so allowed smaller packages.

The outlawed erectile dysfunction drug Yohimbine was another big catch for Aussie authorities. Almost 6kg of the substance was found last year, with opiates, methamphetamine precursors and steroids close behind. At least $107,000 of amphetamine smuggled from New Zealand was also intercepted, Australian authorities told the Herald on Sunday.


Former drug squad detective Dale Kirk said New Zealand was often used as a halfway point for drug traffickers, especially those sending cocaine from South America to Australia. Total drug seizures, including banned medicines, approached half a tonne, with the average shipment weighing 1.4kg. Most were concealed in mail packages.

Meanwhile, Aussie smokers missed out on 36,0000 confiscated cigarettes when 72 separate shipments failed to escape detection.

Australian authorities also released information on intercepted weapons. Most seized firearms were air guns. Hand-held laser pointers were popular gifts too. The weapons category includes laser pointers, which are prohibited items in Australia if they exceed one watt.

An Australian Customs and Border Protection Service spokesperson said laser pointers accounted for more than half the weapons seized.​

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