Two men arrested in Melbourne for attempted heroin importation
Two men arrested in Melbourne for attempted heroin importation
A 33-year-old Bonnyrigg man and a 38-year-old Edensor Park man are expected to appear in Melbourne Magistrates Court today charged with importing approximately 65 kilograms (gross weight) of a substance containing heroin into Australia.
The men were arrested on Friday 13 April as a result of a joint investigation between AFP and Customs and Border Protection.
On 7 April 2012, Customs and Border Protection officers at Sydney International Mail Gateway Facility detected an anomaly in a package sent by air parcel from Cambodia to an address in the outer Melbourne suburb of Springvale South.
During an examination of the package, the officers located a substance within a quantity of sachets labelled as herbal hair-dye. Initial testing of the substance indicated the presence of heroin and the matter was referred to the AFP for further investigation. The total quantity of substance seized in this consignment is estimated at 13 kilograms.
On 8 April 2012, Customs and Border Protection officers in Sydney intercepted a second consignment of hair dyes from Cambodia, which contained the same substance. Following initial testing, these sachets were also referred to the AFP for further investigation. The total quantity of substance seized in this consignment is estimated at 39 kilograms.
Subsequently, search warrants were conducted on two premises in the Melbourne suburbs of Springvale and Keysborough and two premises in Edensor Park and Bonnyrigg, New South Wales. During search warrants, AFP officers seized approximately 13 kilograms of the substance that contained heroin, similar to that discovered in the intercepted consignments.
Customs and Border Protection National Director of Compliance and Enforcement Roxanne Kelley commented that this was an impressive result for the officers.
"Given the very sophisticated method of concealment used in this case this is a good example of the great work our officers do. While criminal syndicates may be getting increasingly complex in their methodologies so too are our methods of detection."
Crime Operations Commander Jennifer Hurst said the investigation demonstrates the cooperation between the two agencies, which is integral to getting results in the fight against drug importation.
“The detection of these narcotics by Customs and Border Protection and the subsequent joint investigation is yet another example of the sophisticated and seamless working relationship our agencies enjoy,” Commander Hurst said.
The AFP charged both men with the following offences:
• import a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug contrary to Section 307.2 of the Criminal Code Act 1995.
• possess a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug contrary to Section 307.5 of the Criminal Code Act 1995.
• attempt to possess a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug, namely heroin, contrary to Section 307.5, by virtue of Section 11.1 of the Criminal Code Act 1995.
The AFP will undertake further forensic testing to ascertain the exact weight and purity of the substance.
The maximum penalty for these offences is life imprisonment and/or $825,000 fine.
Man and woman charged with supplying drugs - Strike Force Lowland
Man and woman charged with supplying drugs - Strike Force Lowland
Middle Eastern Organised Crime Squad detectives have charged two people with drug supply as part of an investigation into four Sydney shootings in December 2011 and January 2012.
Strike Force Lowland was established to investigate the attempted murder of two men who were fired upon at a Rockdale shopping centre on 13 December 2011.
That investigation was subsequently widened to include drive-by shootings at homes at Auburn and Arncliffe on 9 January 2012, and at a Rockdale tanning salon on 26 January 2012.
Inquiries by detectives, including forensic examination, indicated the four shootings could be linked.
Yesterday (Tuesday 17 April 2012), MEOCS detectives executed search warrants at homes in Mount Lewis and Condell Park.
At both addresses, police seized quantities of drugs believed to be heroin, ecstasy and cannabis, as well as drug paraphernalia.
A 20-year-old man was arrested at the Mount Lewis residence and taken to Bankstown Police Station, where he was charged with ongoing supply of prohibited drugs. The man was refused bail to appear at Bankstown Local Court today.
No-one was present at the Condell Park home, but a 39-year-old woman presented at Bankstown Police Station about 7pm last night.
The woman was charged with ongoing supply of prohibited drugs and granted conditional bail. She will appear in Bankstown Local Court on 9 May 2012.
A 34-year-old man and a 16-year-old youth are already before the courts as a result of Strike Force Lowland.
Brazilian jailed over drug trafficking to finance studies
Brazilian jailed over drug trafficking to finance studies
A Brisbane judge jailed a Brazilian national yesterday for trying to smuggle more than a kilogram of cocaine into Australia.
Australian Federal Police arrested 29-year-old Ronaldo De Luna Braga at Brisbane International Airport, shortly after he stepped off a flight from Chile in August last year.
Customs officers X-rayed his luggage, revealing about 1.5 kilograms of pure cocaine with a street value of up to $1.5 million.
Braga's lawyer, Mr Jeff Hunter told the Supreme Court that his client had agreed to bring the drugs to Australia in return for $10,000 to continue his English studies.
Justice Peter Lyons said Braga was typical of drug couriers, financially vulnerable and with no previous convictions.
He sentenced him to seven-and-a-half years in jail with a non-parole period of four years.
Police have seized 1.4kg of amphetamine with an estimated street value of $150,000 in Bathurst yesterday.
About 4.45pm yesterday (Tuesday 1 May 2012) police from Chifley Local Area Command and Australian Federal Police, after an investigation, attended an address on Eglinton Road in Bathurst.
After speaking to the occupant a 32-year-old man, he was arrested and taken to Bathurst police station.
A search warrant was executed at the house where police located 1.4kg of amphetamine, cash, scales and drug paraphernalia.
The man was charged with supply prohibited drug greater than commercial quantity, goods in custody and possess prohibited drug.
He was refused bail overnight to appear before Bathurst Local Court this morning.
15,000 'ecstasy' pills and a stun gun in six-month operation - Sutherland Shire
15,000 'ecstasy' pills and a stun gun in six-month operation - Sutherland Shire
Surry Hills Region Enforcement Squad officers have arrested six men and seized commercial quantities of methamphetamine (MDMA or ‘ecstasy’) during a crackdown on drug distribution within the Sutherland Shire.
Inspector Adam Barwick, Commander of the Surry Hills Region Enforcement Squad, said Strike Force Pryce was established in November 2011.
“It was formed to investigate the supply of MDMA within the Sutherland Shire.
“A number of controlled purchases have been conducted with 15,200 pills recovered by police,” he said.
“Six alleged drug suppliers have been arrested during this six-month operation. We are examining many of the items seized at the homes of those arrested which includes a stun gun, NSW Police Force cap, computers and mobile phones.
“We are expecting more charges to be laid and more arrests during the coming weeks,” Inspector Barwick said.
TODAY’S ARRESTS
A number of arrests and search warrants were conducted today (Tuesday 1 May 2012) with the assistance of Sutherland and Miranda Local Area Command.
A 20-year-old Caringbah man was arrested at his work in Kogarah and taken to St George Police Station.
A search warrant was executed at his home in Caringbah where a quantity of pills, mobile phones and ledgers was seized.
He was charged with two counts of large commercial supply, four counts of commercial supply and six counts of indictable supply matters (5,100 pills).
He was refused bail to appear in Sutherland Local Court tomorrow.
A 23-year-old Kirrawee man was arrested at his work in Alexandria and taken to the Surry Hills Police Station.
A search warrant was executed at his home in Kirrawee.
He was charged with one count of commercial supply and four counts of indictable supply matters (approximately 2000 pills). He is expected to be bail refused.
A 20-year-old Kirrawee man was arrested at his home and taken to Sutherland Police Station. He was bail refused to appear in Sutherland Local Court tomorrow.
A search warrant was executed at his home where a stun gun and $2000 cash was seized.
He was charged with two counts large commercial supply and one count of commercial supply matters (3,500 pills).
YESTERDAY’S ARRESTS
About 7.45pm yesterday (Monday 30 April 2012) a 21-year-old Caringbah man was arrested at a local betting facility, allegedly in possession of 2500 pills.
Police conducted a search warrant at his home where computers and phone records was seized.
He was taken to the Miranda Police Station and charged with one count of indictable supply, three counts of commercial supply and two counts of large commercial supply. He was bail refused to appear at Central Local Court today (Tuesday 1 May 2012). He was bail refused to appear in Central Local Court on 10 May 2012.
About 8.15pm yesterday (Monday 30 April 2012), a 25-year-old Sylvania man was arrested outside his home.
Police conducted a search warrant at his home where mobile phones, data senders, computers and $7000 cash was seized.
He was taken to the Sutherland Police Station and charged with two counts of large commercial supply. He was bail refused to appear at Sutherland Local Court today (Tuesday 1 May 2012). He was refused bail to re-appear in Sutherland Local Court on Thursday 3 May 2012.
ARREST IN MARCH 2012
On the 27 March 2012 police investigations led them to stop a taxi on the Princes Highway at Sylvania with a 19-year-old St Peters man inside. He ran from the taxi but was caught by police a short distance away.
He was arrested and his backpack allegedly contained 2000 pills believed to be MDMA.
He was taken to the Miranda Police Station and charged with supply large commercial quantity of drugs. A search warrant was conducted at his home where a number of phone records and a NSW Police Force cap was located.
He was bail refused to appear at Sutherland Local Court on 28 March 2012.
A man has been charged with possession of amphetamine after a routine traffic stop in Geraldton.
The man was allegedly hiding under the hard cover in the rear of a utility that was pulled over in Sunset Beach.
It is alleged the man also gave police a false name.
He was charged with possession of amphetamine with the intent to sell or supply.
A magistrate in Wodonga, in north-east Victoria, has refused bail for a 32-year-old woman who was allegedly found, along with two men, with a large amount of drugs in a car on the Hume Freeway on Friday.
The three people appeared in court yesterday charged with one count each of trafficking a large commercial quantity of methamphetamine and possessing a drug of dependence.
Police allegedly found two kilograms of methamphetamine in the back seat and in the boot of a car that was stopped on the freeway.
The court heard the drugs have an estimated street value of $2 million.
The court was told the driver of the car, Ly Dang, had told police they were his drugs and he was going to be met by someone at Crown Casino.
Dang and his co-accused Cao Tuyen Le did not apply for bail.
Three people have been charged after police seized two kilograms of a white powder, alleged to be the drug 'ice', from a car in Wodonga on Friday night.
Police say they also seized almost $8,000 in cash, mobile phones and a laptop computer when they stopped the car on the Hume Freeway.
A man and a woman from Melbourne and a man from Sydney are due to face court tomorrow on drug trafficking charges.
Wodonga Sergeant Larry Goldsworthy says police are targeting drug transportation through the region.
Police in South Australia's Riverland have charged a man after allegedly finding a crop of about 3,000 cannabis plants and hundreds of thousands of dollars in stolen farm machinery in the Murray-Mallee.
The 59 year old is charged with growing a commercial quantity of cannabis near Peebinga, north of Pinnaroo, last year.
Police also allege the man stole about $350,000 worth of equipment from a property at Karoonda between 2008 and 2009.
Police in Sydney's east have charged 75 people with drug-offences after detection dogs were used to search revellers at a dance festival.
The dog squad and local police targeted the Creamfields festival at Moore Park on Sunday, and found drugs including ecstasy, amphetamines and cannabis.
After searching 250 people, they charged 70 with drug possession and five with supply.
Ten people were give cautions for possession of cannabis, while 16 people were thrown out of the venue for unauthorised entry or being intoxicated.
Police say they also found illegal drugs at the venue, which will be detroyed.
Surry Hills Local Area Commander, Superintendent Anthony Crandell says almost 12,000 people were at the event.
"The majority of the 11,780 revellers were well behaved however the volume of detections is of concern," he said in a statement.
Organised Crime Squad detectives have charged two men with drug related offences after an investigation into the importation of large quantities of Pseudoephedrine based medications.
Detectives from the Organised Crime Squad began the investigation after information was received from Australian Customs and Border Protection regarding the large quantity of medication.
About 2:30pm yesterday afternoon, Tuesday 2 May 2012, detectives stopped a vehicle on Rockingham Road, Wattleup and conducted a search of the vehicle. It will be alleged large quantities of substances believed to be Methylamphetamine and MDMA were found in the vehicle along with over $18,000 cash and 2,280 tablets of Pseudoephedrine based medication.
Detectives, assisted by Customs and Border Protection officers then searched a Wattleup residence and it will be alleged a further 2,136 tablets were found, along with items consistent with those used to manufacture drugs.
Acting on information found at the address, detectives then executed a search warrant on a Wellard residence, in which it will be alleged items consistent with the manufacture of drugs were located.
As a result of the vehicle stop and search warrant at the Wattleup address, a 36 year old man from Wattleup has been charged with a number of offences including two counts of Possess a Prohibited Drug with Intent to Sell/Supply, two counts of Possess a Prohibited Drug and one count of Prepared a Prohibited Drug for Use. He is due to appear in the Rockingham Magistrates Court today, Wednesday 2 May 2012.
As a result of the search warrant at the Wellard address a 42 year old man from Wellard has been charged with a number of offences including one count of Attempt to Manufacture a Prohibited Drug and two counts of Possess a Prohibited drug. He is due to appear in the Rockingham Magistrates Court on 18 May 2012.
Initiatives such as project STOP have made it more difficult for drug manufacturers to obtain large amounts of Pseudoephedrine based medications, and attempts to import such drugs provides WA Police and our interstate/national counterparts more opportunities to identify and prevent likely illicit drug production.
Ends release
Two people will face court in Sydney today after police seized ice, heroin and ecstasy worth $1.6 million in the city's south-west.
A 28-year-old man was arrested in a car park at Lansvale at about 2:00pm (AEST) yesterday, where police allegedly found $1 million worth of methylamphetamine, also known as ice.
A woman, also 28, was detained at Cabramatta West soon afterwards.
Police then searched properties at Ashfield, Cabramatta and Cabramatta West, allegedly finding more ice plus heroin, ecstasy and steroids with a total value of nearly $600,000.
Officers also seized a replica pistol, drug-making equipment, computers, mobile phones and documents.
The pair were held in custody overnight to face court today on a string of charges including supplying prohibited drugs and dealing in the proceeds of crime.
Illegal drugs and cash have been seized by a special strike force investigating an alleged narcotic supply racket in Sydney’s east.
In March this year, officers attached to the Redfern Region Enforcement Squad launched Strike Force Bopan to investigate the supply of cocaine, MDA and MDMA (ecstasy) in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.
About 11.30am today (Wednesday 16 May 2012), police allege they intercepted a drug transaction in North Bondi, and subsequently arrested a 49-year-old man.
He was taken to Waverley Police Station for questioning.
A short time later police executed simultaneous search warrants on four properties in North Bondi, as well as properties at Randwick and Winmalee.
It is alleged large quantities of cocaine and ecstasy, with an estimated street value of $255,000, were seized. Police also seized $320,000 in cash, along with what police allege is drug-making equipment, computers, mobile phones and documentation.
Police will further allege a sophisticated hydroponic cannabis set-up was discovered at the Winmalee home. This set-up was dismantled with 31 mature plants seized.
Following inquiries, strike force investigators also arrested a 36-year-old North Bondi man, a 31-year-old North Bondi woman and a 49-year-old Bondi Beach man.
The two men and one woman, along with the 49-year-old North Bondi man, were charged with supply commercial quantity of prohibited drug.
They were all bail refused and will appear in Waverley Local Court tomorrow (Thursday 17 May 2012).
The 36-year-old North Bondi man was charged with supply large commercial quantity of prohibited drug and was also refused bail to appear at Waverley Local Court tomorrow.
Man charged after drugs, weapons and prohibited reptiles seized - Gymea Bay
Man charged after drugs, weapons and prohibited reptiles seized - Gymea Bay
A man has been charged after police allegedly found illegal drugs, weapons and prohibited reptiles during a search warrant in Sydney’s south.
Following an investigation into the alleged supply of illegal drugs in the region, a search warrant was executed at a home in Flat Rock Place, Gymea Bay, just before 9am today (Wednesday 16 May 2012).
Police attached to Sutherland Local Area Command located and seized an amount of methamphetamine and cannabis leaf, along with a stun gun, knuckle duster and capsicum spray.
Officers from National Parks and Wildlife Services (NPWS) subsequently attended after a number of illegally-held reptiles were located inside the home.
Three rare African chameleons (believed to be from Madagascar), along with two native and two exotic turtles and an African bull python were seized from the home.
All the reptiles were taken to Taronga Zoo for veterinary treatment, with the turtles and python reported to be in poor health.
A 23-year-old man was arrested at the home and taken to Sutherland Police Station where he was subsequently charged with the following offences:
Supply prohibited drug (three counts);
Possess prohibited drug (three counts);
Possess prohibited weapon (three counts);
Deal with the proceeds of crime (one count);
Handle explosive/precursor without authorising licence (one count); and
Deal with the proceeds of crime.
He’s been conditionally bailed to appear at Sutherland Local Court on 14 June 2012.
NPWS is continuing investigations and would like to remind the public that it is an offence under both State and Federal law to keep any native animal, including reptiles, without a permit and it is also illegal to keep any exotic reptiles in NSW.
The seized reptiles may have to be euthanized to prevent native species being impacted by foreign diseases and other pathogens, or escaping into the natural environment.
Authorities seized an increased amount of illegal drugs in the last financial year, according to Australian Crime Commission data.
The Commission's Illicit Drug Data Report says there were almost 70,000 seizures in the 2010-11 financial year, the biggest number in a decade.
The report reveals cannabis remains the most dominant illicit drug in Australia when it comes to use, arrests and seizures.
Seventy-two per cent of seizures by number were of cannabis, while the drug accounted for 69.3 per cent of arrests.
"Amphetamine-type stimulants" were the next biggest group in the seizures data, accounting for 16.1 per cent of seizures by number.
Heroin accounted for 2.8 per cent of seizures while cocaine made up only 1.7 per cent.
Only cannabis and steroids reported an increase in arrests during 2010-11.
Home Affairs Minister Jason Clare says the report's findings do not mean drug use is on the rise.
"When you dig into the data, you find that the price of drugs and the number of users has remained stable," he said.
"[That] indicates that you're not seeing an increase in the total number of imports; what you're seeing is an increase in the number of seizures."
He says most of the cocaine entering the country continues to come from Colombia.
"About 96 per cent of the cocaine that comes to Australia comes from Colombia, so there's often attempts to try and import cocaine across the Pacific by boat," he said.
The research also reveals criminals are creating an increasing number of new substances to avoid prosecution.
Crime Commission chief executive officer John Lawler says while "meow meow" is the most common of these drugs, there has is an increasing number of alternatives entering the market.
"This is a planned risk management strategy by organised criminals," he said.
"It's about them using analysis and compounds to actually operate outside the legal framework."
A 26-year-old man, jailed for two-and-a-half years for manufacturing methylamphetamine, has been told his actions risked the lives of many people.
The Bunbury District Court heard Daniel John Black was on bail on a charge of manufacturing the drug at a Busselton property in early January when he was arrested later that month for the same offence.
The court was told, on both occasions, police found drugs, chemicals, empty cold and flu tablet packets and numerous other drug manufacturing materials.
In sentencing yesterday, judge Simon Stone said Black's activities could have hurt the people who had to dismantle the lab or caused a bushfire.
