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

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Police arrest three over drugs - Oxley

Police from Oxley Local Area Command have arrested and charged three people, who will appear in court today, over drug and firearms matters.

In October police formed Strike Force Jinna to investigate reports of ongoing drug supply within the area.

Shortly after midday yesterday (Thursday 20 December) a 28-year-old man and 21-year-old woman were arrested.

Two search warrants were then executed at homes in Westdale and police will allege that they seized numerous items for further analysis. These included amphetamines, cannabis, a shortened firearm and a quantity of cash.

A 44-year-old man was subsequently arrested also.

The 28-year-old man was charged with supply drug on an ongoing basis, supply prohibited drug x 2, knowingly deal with the proceeds of crime, participate in criminal group, conduct drug premises, conduct drug premises and expose child to drug supply and various firearms offences.

The 21-year-old woman was charged with knowingly take part in supply of prohibited drugs x 2, conduct drug premises and expose child to drug supply and knowingly allow use of drug premises.

The 44-year-old man was charged with supply prohibited drug, knowingly deal with proceeds of crime, dealing with property suspected of being proceeds of crime, possession of prohibited drug and participate in criminal group.

All three appeared at Tamworth Local Court today. The 28-year-old and 44-year-old were refused bail to appear at Tamworth Local Court on 31 January 2013. The woman was given strict bail conditions to appear at Tamworth Local Court on 21 January 2013.

Two children are now being cared for by a relative.

http://www.police.nsw.gov.au/news/m...nb3YuYXUlMkZtZWRpYSUyRjI3NTE5Lmh0bWwmYWxsPTE=

 

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Drug syndicate broken by Australian police

Australian Federal Police have broken an international organised crime syndicate planning to import drugs into Australia.

The ABC reports investigations in Holland, Japan, the United States and Vietnam began in August last year after the AFP received a tip about plans to import large quantities of the drug ice into Australia and Japan.

Earlier this month, 110kg of methamphetamine was discovered in a road roller in Japan and five people were arrested.

On Saturday, five search warrants were issued in Queensland and New South Wales leading to the arrest of a Brisbane man.

The ABC reports he is due in court on Monday charged with trafficking commercial quantities of drugs and dealing in the proceeds of crime.

Investigations are continuing and the AFP said more arrests are likely.

http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/world/124123/drug-syndicate-broken-by-australian-police

 

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Canadian woman charged for importing drugs at Sydney Airport

This is a joint media release with the Australian Federal Police and Australian Customs and Border Protection Service.

A 26-year-old Canadian national is scheduled to appear in Parramatta Local Court today charged by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) with allegedly importing up to five kilograms of methamphetamine into Australia.

Australian Customs and Border Protection Service officers selected the woman for a baggage examination when she arrived at Sydney International Airport on a flight from Hong Kong yesterday (22 December 2012).

During a discussion with Customs and Border Protection officers the woman indicated she had packages strapped to her body.

The woman was then referred to the AFP. During a subsequent search of the woman, packages were found concealed around her thighs, stomach and inside her bra. The packages contained approximately five kilograms of a white powder substance which is suspected to be methamphetamine. Further forensic testing will be undertaken to confirm the exact weight and purity of the substance.

The woman was arrested and charged with importing a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug, namely methamphetamine, contrary to section 307.1 of the Criminal Code Act 1995(Cwth).

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

http://www.afp.gov.au/media-centre/...ed-for-importing-drugs-at-sydney-airport.aspx

 

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'Drug dealer' falls asleep outside police station

Police have charged a man with drug supply after he fell asleep opposite a police station at Kogarah, in Sydney's south.

They allege the man was found asleep outside a business on Montgomery Street on Sunday morning at about 11:30am (AEDT).

Officers say he had a bag of white powder lying next to him.

Police also allege they found three bags on the man believed to be methylamphetamine, three tablets believed to be ecstasy, a gold watch and more than $2,000 cash.

He was taken to St George Police station and charged with a number of offences including drug supply and breach of bail.

The man was refused bail to appear at Parramatta Local Court today.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-12-24/27drug-dealer27-falls-asleep-outside-police-station/4442584

 

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Drugs and cash seized in Adelaide

POLICE have seized $300,000 in cash, 10 kilograms of dried cannabis and 27 ecstasy tablets during a drug arrest in Adelaide.

Police said a 47-year-old man was arrested at suburban Salisbury East on Wednesday night and was charged with drug offences.

He was refused police bail and was expected to appear in court on Thursday.

http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/bre...ized-in-adelaide/story-e6frg13c-1226551240656

 

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Drug bust at Fremantle port worth $13m

PHOTO: Police say multiple pallets of ceramic tiles were concealing illicit drugs. (AFP)

Police in Perth believe they have smashed a syndicate which tried to import drugs worth $13 million into the country.

Federal Police and Customs officers say they found 35 kilograms of methylamphetamine concealed in a container of ceramic tiles from China.

The drugs were found at the port of Fremantle earlier this month.

Police later raided four properties across Perth and arrested three men and a woman aged between 21 and 49.

They also seized more than $38,000 in cash and another two kilograms of drugs.

All four are due to appear in a Perth court today.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-01-10/drug-bust-at-fremantle-port-worth-2413-million/4459720

 

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Man charged after search warrant - Grafton

A man has been charged after a search warrant on the north coast allegedly uncovered cannabis.

About 10pm yesterday (Thursday 10 January 2013), police attached to Coffs/Clarence Local Area Command acted on information received and executed a search warrant at a house on George Street, Grafton.

Inside the home police allegedly located 31 cannabis plants of varying sizes, as well as an amount of powder believed to be amphetamine.

The 33-year-old man who resides at the home was subsequently charged with cultivate prohibited plant, and possess prohibited drug.

He is expected to appear at Grafton Local Court on 19 March 2013.

http://www.police.nsw.gov.au/news/m...nb3YuYXUlMkZtZWRpYSUyRjI3ODY1Lmh0bWwmYWxsPTE=

 

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Canadian arrested over $2.5m cocaine import

A Canadian man has been charged over allegedly smuggling almost seven kilograms of cocaine into Australia in an air cargo shipment.

Police arrested the 55-year-old in Sydney on Sunday and charged him with attempting to possess a commercial quantity of cocaine.

Customs officers found the cocaine hidden in a package which had been sent on an air cargo consignment from Canada two weeks ago.

It is estimated the cocaine has a potential street value of $2.5 million.

The man has been refused bail and will appear in the Central Local Court later today.

The crime carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

Customs officers made the discovery after acting on intelligence gathered through a joint investigation with New South Wales Police, Australian Federal Police and the New South Wales Crime Commission.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-01-14/canadian-arrested-over-2425m-cocaine-import/4463130

 

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Bushfire starts after drug labs torched

PHOTO: Police believe the outdoor laboratories have been operating for years. (NSW Police)

Drug squad detectives have arrested a father and son over two clandestine drug laboratories, after a bushfire swept through Sydney's south-west.

Police believe the laboratories, hidden in remote bushland at Camden and only accessible by foot, had been operating for years.

They say a fire was deliberately lit to destroy the labs last week, sparking a bushfire in the Blue Mountains National Park which destroyed 55 hectares.

A father and son were arrested last night and have been accused of making millions of dollars worth of the drug known as ice.

Police say the laboratories were capable of producing five-kilogram batches of the drug. A kilogram is worth up to $2 million.

Detectives began watching the men just before Christmas and had planned to raid the labs last Tuesday, but the hot weather and extreme fire danger stopped them.

The next day, police allege the 27-year-old son started the bushfire when he tried to destroy the drug labs.

"We don't know what tipped them to light the fire," said Acting State Crime Commander Peter Cotter.

"It will be our summation that they obviously became aware of our investigation - we're not sure how that happened."

The bushfire was only completely extinguished last night after six aircraft and ground crews worked on it.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-01-14/bushfire-started-after-drug-lab-was-torched/4463672

 

[poledriver]

Dad of five guilty of drug trafficking

A COLAC father of five caught behind the wheel of a car in which drugs and $46,000 cash were stashed, was "only the delivery driver", a court has heard.

Stephen Thackeray, 50, of Triggs Rd, Irrewarra, pleaded guilty in Geelong Magistrates' Court yesterday to charges of trafficking amphetamine, cocaine and cannabis.

He also pleaded guilty to possessing the proceeds of crime.

Police Prosecutor, Leading Senior Constable Eugene Marshall, told the court that about 9pm on June 15 last year, Thackeray was driving a black Nissan west on Plantation Rd, Corio, when stopped by police.

He said that, during a search of the car, police found two bags containing a brown substance and a third containing white powder.

"The vehicle was seized and taken back to the police station, where 24 clear plastic bags containing green vegetable matter and $46,000 cash were located inside the car," Sen-Constable Marshall said.

"Forensic analysis revealed the brown substance to be amphetamine weighing 57.3g and of 70 per cent purity.

"The white powder was identified as 10.7g of cocaine with a 60 per cent purity and the green vegetable matter was cannabis weighing 10.6kg."

The court heard Thackeray's prior convictions included a charge of cultivating cannabis in 1995, for which he received a jail sentence.

Avi Furstenberg, for Thackeray, said his client and wife had been together 30 years and were the parents of five children.

"Not withstanding the issues, he is a family man," Mr Furstenberg said.

He said Thackeray had been employed at a local sawmill for about 30 years but had to give up work in 2006 after a serious motorcycle accident.

"In 2006, his wife started her own business and took on the role of family bread winner, while my client stayed home and cared for their oldest child, who has cerebral palsy," Mr Furstenberg said.

"Being unable to work was the commencement of his decline. He commenced drug use and by 2011-12 he had a significant habit."

Magistrate Michael Coghlan adjourned further hearing and sentencing to February 12, pending a psychological report.

http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/article/2013/01/18/357598_news.html

 

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Jail for $1m Glendalough heroin stash

A Romanian man has been jailed in Perth for 10-and-a-half-years for possessing heroin with a street value of almost $1 million.

Nicolae Halmi, 46, was caught stashing the heroin inside light fittings in his rented Glendalough unit in August 2011.

He pleaded guilty to several charges just days before his trial was due to begin in November.

In sentencing, District Court Judge Michael Bowden said he had to take into consideration Halmi's prior drug trafficking offences and impose a sentence which would deter further reoffending.

Halmi will be eligible for parole after 8-and-a-half years.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-01-17/jail-for-glendalough-heroin-stash/4469652

 

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Police seize cannabis worth $5.8 million during Cannabis Eradication Program - Mid North Coast LAC

Police have seized $5.8 million worth of cannabis and will charge six people with drug cultivation offences following the third group of raids in the 2012-2013 Cannabis Eradication Program.

Strike Force Hyperion comprises detectives from the Drug Squad’s Cannabis Team, with assistance from the NSW Police Air Wing, Police Dog Unit, Metropolitan Radio Network Services and officers from local area commands.

During the past week, Strike Force Hyperion officers targeted numerous cannabis crop sites throughout the Mid North Coast Local Area Command, including in the Bowraville, Wauchope, Port Macquarie and Kendall areas.

A total of 2914 plants were located and seized by police during the operation.

The total estimated potential street value of the plants seized during the past five days is $5.8 million. All plants seized by police have been now been destroyed.

Six people will receive court attendance notices for cannabis cultivation and other offences.

This week’s raids follow operations in the Coffs/Clarence and New England Local Area Commands late last year. Police will continue to target outdoor cannabis crop sites in the coming months.

The Cannabis Eradication Program has been running since the mid 1980s with the NSW Police Force preventing almost $240 million worth of cannabis reaching NSW streets.

The program aims to disrupt the cannabis supply chain in NSW by targeting the source.

http://www.police.nsw.gov.au/news/m...nb3YuYXUlMkZtZWRpYSUyRjI4MDIwLmh0bWwmYWxsPTE=

 

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SA police bust open alleged drug-trafficking ring, arrest four alongside 12-year-old boy

Four people have been arrested after police disrupted a well-established drug transportation ring operating between New South Wales and South Australia yesterday.

About 3.30am Sunday morning police based at Nuriootpa, along with officers from the Drug Investigation Branch, stopped a car travelling on the Sturt Highway at Truro. Police searched the car and will allege about 30kg of cannabis was found concealed in a compartment in the fuel tank, along with $3000 cash.

The driver, who was travelling with his 12-year-old son, was arrested and charged with trafficking a large commercial quantity of a controlled drug.

He was further charged with manufacturing a controlled drug following the discovery of a clandestine laboratory at Penfield Gardens in March 2012.

The 59-year-old Ingle Farm man was refused police bail and is expected to appear in the Elizabeth Magistrates Court today.

Further investigations led to the search of four homes at Ingle Farm, Tennyson, Fulham Gardens and Croydon which resulted in a further three people being charged.

Police will allege 28g of methylamphetamine and 200ml of a liquid also believed to be a form of methamphetamine was found in the Fulham Gardens home.

A 52-year-old woman from Fulham Gardens was charged with this possession. Police also seized a substantial amount of cash in her home.

She was released on police bail and is expected to appear in the Port Adelaide Magistrates Court on 20 February 2013.

Following the search of the Tennyson home, police seized 3g of methylamphetamine and subsequently arrested and charged a 49-year-old man from Tennyson with three counts of trafficking a commercial quantity of a controlled drug.

These charges are in connection with the Truro cannabis seizure and the seizure of methamphetamine allegedly located in the homes at Fulham Gardens and Tennyson.

He was released on police bail and expected to appear in the Port Adelaide Magistrates Court on 20 February 2013.

A 53-year-old Croydon man was charged with possession of an unlicensed firearm and insecure ammunition after police located a pistol and ammunition in his home.

He was released on police bail and expected to appear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on 27 February 2013.

Police will allege those arrested were part of a syndicate transporting cannabis to New South Wales for sale and believed to be returning to South Australia with amphetamine-based drugs for distribution locally.

http://www.sapolicenews.com.au/component/content/article/4-news/12059-drug-syndicate-distrupted.html

 

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Three children removed from suspected clandestine drug laboratory - Hinchinbrook

Three children have been located during a raid on a suspected clandestine drug laboratory in Sydney’s south-west.

The Gangs Squad has been conducting investigations into the manufacture of prohibited drugs.

Yesterday afternoon (Tuesday 22 January 2013), detectives executed a search warrant on a home in Hinchinbrook with the assistance of the Drug Squad’s Chemical Operations Team.

Upon entry, police located three children aged between 16 months and 16 years old with their mother, a 42-year-old woman.

In a shed at the rear of the premises, police located glassware, liquids and other items used in the manufacture of methylamphetamine (‘ice’).

Further chemicals were located in a bedroom of the home.

A 48-year-old man was subsequently placed under arrest but has since been released pending further inquiries.

Police have also reported the incident to the Department of Family and Community Services.

Investigations are ongoing and specialist police continue to process the site.

http://www.police.nsw.gov.au/news/m...nb3YuYXUlMkZtZWRpYSUyRjI4MDk4Lmh0bWwmYWxsPTE=

 

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Seven booby-trapped cannabis plantations discovered - Shoalhaven area

Police are appealing for information following the discovery of a number of booby-trapped cannabis plantations in remote bushland in the Shoalhaven area.

On Monday 21 January 2013, officers attached to the Nowra Drug Unit, with the assistance of the Rural Fire Service, identified two cannabis plantations in the Jerrawangala National Park.

The plantations, located off Yarran Road, Tomerong, had established watering systems and were surrounded by a number of rabbit traps.

Police seized 173 cannabis plants from the area with an estimated potential street value of $173,000.

Yesterday (Tuesday 22 January 2013), police discovered five more cannabis plantations off Deans Gap Road, Yerriyong. Due to their remote location officers had to be winched into the area by Polair.

In the bushland, police discovered five small plots which were all fenced off and surrounded by trip wires and animal traps.

A total of 53 cannabis plants with an estimated potential street value of $106,000 were subsequently removed from the area.

Detectives from Shoalhaven Local Area Command are continuing their investigations into the matters and will work closely with the Rural Fire Service and Polair in an attempt to identify further cannabis plantations.

Investigators are reminding the public that their assistance in these matters is vital and anyone with information about the illegal supply or cultivation of cannabis should contact police.

http://www.police.nsw.gov.au/news/m...nb3YuYXUlMkZtZWRpYSUyRjI4MDk3Lmh0bWwmYWxsPTE=

 

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Drug lab bust on Coffs Coast

A police raid on the Coffs Coast has uncovered an illegal drug laboratory.

31 year old Joel Michael Foster has been charged with manufacturing drugs and has been refused bail.

Coffs Clarence police had been investigating a tip-off about claims of drug manufacture when they arrested Foster earlier this week.

Detectives searched a unit on Victoria Street in Coffs Harbour and seized several items for forensic examination on Monday.

Forster has been charged with manufacturing a prohibited drug.

The case has been adjourned until February the 18th.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-01-25/drug-lab-bust-on-coffs-coast/4484240

 

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Man arrested on Victorian arrest warrant for drug offences - Middle Eastern Organised Crime Squad

A man wanted in Victoria on serious drug offences has been arrested in Sydney’s south-west by officers from the Middle Eastern Organised Crime Squad.

An arrest warrant had been issued for the 26-year-old Sydney man by Victorian authorities following investigations into the large-scale supply of cocaine and methylamphetamine (‘ice’) in that state by the Purana Taskforce, Drug Taskforce and Echo Taskforce.

It will be alleged the Sydney man was involved in supplying drugs to individuals in Victoria.

A number of arrests have been made in Victoria with those people before the court.

Just after 11.30am yesterday (Thursday 24 January 2013), officers from the Middle Eastern Organised Crime Squad were patrolling the Bankstown area when they observed two men sitting in a car parked within a car park.

Police followed the car as it travelled to Meredith Street, Bankstown, and arrested the 26-year-old man as he exited the vehicle.

He was taken to Bankstown Police Station where he was charged by virtue of the arrest warrant for supply large commercial of a drug of dependence (cocaine and methylamphetamine).

He was refused bail to face Bankstown Local Court today.

It is anticipated that Victorian detectives will apply for the man’s extradition to Victoria.

http://www.police.nsw.gov.au/news/m...nb3YuYXUlMkZtZWRpYSUyRjI4MTQ3Lmh0bWwmYWxsPTE=

 

[Jabberwocky]

Man who helped grow cannabis at Mona Vale jailed

A MAN charged with cultivating a commercial quantity of prohibited cannabis plants in Mona Vale was today sentenced to three years in jail at Downing Centre District Court.

Slaven Dacic, 26, of Cartwright, was given a non-parole period of one year and six months, and has been in custody since his arrest on March 22 last year.

The court heard that Dacic first started using cannabis at the end of 2007 to relieve back pain caused by a motor vehicle accident in 2005.

A close friend of his died in the car accident, for which Dacic was charged with negligent driving causing death, the court was told.

Dacic arrived in Australia as a child refugee from former Yugoslavia at the age of 10.

Judge Andrew Haesler accepted that the accident and Dacic's "history" had caused him to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder and back pain, which prevented him from working full-time as a carpenter.

Dacic told the court that because he was "smoking a fair bit", a person from whom he bought cannabis offered him work in return for free drugs and a bit of extra money on the side.

"I wasn't told how much (money), but that I'd be happy with it," Dacic said.

He helped out at the hydroponic set-up at the Mona Vale industrial building by setting up lightning and netting, and driving to the shops to buy potting mix.

Judge Haesler told the court police discovered the "very sophisticated" set-up containing 77 "well cared for" cannabis plants on March 22.

It was estimated that the street worth of the plants was about $150,000. Dacic was arrested on the same day, sitting in the driver's seat of a nearby car.

Judge Haesler accepted that Dacic was involved in the "criminal enterprise" as a labourer and driver.

Dacic told the court he intended to seek treatment for his mental condition upon release.

He said he was willing to take medication and undergo counselling.

http://manly-daily.whereilive.com.au/news/story/cannabis-grower-jailed/

 

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Revellers face drug sniffer dogs at the Big Day Out at Flemington Racecourse

TENS of thousands of revellers descended on Flemington Racecourse for the Big Day Out music festival and were faced with a team of drug sniffer dogs.

A bevy of police and drug dogs were on hand to crack down on drug and alcohol-fuelled troublemakers, police catching more than 35 people with drugs before 3pm.

There was no escape from the keen canines despite many attempting to avoid detection outside the gates at Flemington railway station.

Senior Sergeant Mark Pilkington of the Melbourne direct response unit said despite the deterrence of sniffer dogs some people didn't need the message.

"We warn people not to bring drugs to these events, but they keep bringing them, they are dangerous, made by criminals, they don't know what's in them," he said.

Over all the largest quantities of drugs seized were ecstasy and amphetamine.

Police said a high proportion was also marijuana.

Most received diversion orders and one punter was taken in for possessing a trafficking amount.

Uniformed members said overall the festival crowd had been well behaved, with most caught with drugs sporting marijuana not harder substances.

Patriotic party goers got into the Aussie spirit with flags and union jack regalia a plenty.

Marnie Jones and Molly Bourke, both 16 from Terang, were down from the Victorian country town for their first Big Day Out and decided to get into the Australia Day spirit with some sequined frocks.

"You only live once!" Molly said.

http://www.news.com.au/national/rev...ngton-racecourse/story-fndo4cq1-1226562423396

 

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Five arrested in Vic factory drug bust

FIVE men have been arrested and luxury cars seized after 200 cannabis plants were found hidden in the walls of a Melbourne factory.

Victoria Police executed search warrants at six properties about 6am (AEDT) on Tuesday, finding mature cannabis plants at a factory in Melton, in the city's northwest, and at a rural property at Strathmerton, north of the city, following a four-month investigation.

A Maserati, a BMW and a Harley-Davidson motorcycle, were also seized from a house on Austral Drive, Hillside, as proceeds of crime.

Three men from Hillside, aged 32, 35, and 45, a Strathmerton man, 32, and a Sydenham man, 45, were arrested and are assisting police with their inquiries.

Police say the factory had hydroponic crops hidden behind walls installed by a crime syndicate.

Small quantities of steroids and methylamphetamine were also found during the swoop.



Detective Senior Sergeant Dave De Francesco described the syndicate as well organised.

"This will have an effect on cannabis distribution in the western suburbs, definitely," he told reporters of Tuesday's raids.

Det Sen Sgt De Francesco said the arrests were part of a wider police operation targeting cannabis growing in Melbourne, which had resulted so far in more than 9000 plants being seized with a value of over $28 million.

"This has been a very successful result and sends a strong message out there that this is not accepted in the community."

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/...actory-drug-bust/story-e6freono-1226564040254