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

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More jail terms over ecstasy import conspiracy

A judge has sentenced a Griffith man and two others to a combined total of 40 years jail over attempts to smuggle the world's biggest haul of ecstasy into Australia.

Justice Betty King yesterday sentenced 49 year old Pasquale Sergi to a minimum six years and nine months and a maximum 10 years jail.

Co-accused, Salvatore Agresta, and John Higgs were also sentenced in the Victorian Supreme Court over a plot to import four point four tonnes of ecstasy tablets hidden in tomato tins.

The two ringleaders from Griffith, Pasquale Barbaro and Saverio Zirilli have already been jailed for 30 and 18 years respectively.

In sentencing remarks, Justice King said the 2007 conspiracy was about greed and the accused showed little if any remorse.

"You were all involved in a crime in which everyone was playing for higher stakes than we have ever known in this country, that of obtaining possession of 15 million plus tablets of ecstasy," she said.

"You must all have been aware of the risk and the consequences of involvement in a criminal enterprise of this magnitude."

"You chose to take that risk and now you must all bear the consequences."

The drugs weighed more than 4.4 tonnes, had an estimated street value of $122 million and were hidden inside tomato tins.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-05-01/ecstacy/4662228

 

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10 charged in Qld-NSW drug bust

Police say they have cracked a high-level drug trafficking operation with links from far north Queensland to New South Wales.

Customs and police launched Operation Kilo Saltbush last year to investigate the trafficking of methylamphetamine, MDMA and cocaine from Brisbane, Cairns and NSW.

Earlier this week police and Customs raided homes and businesses from Cairns to Brisbane.

They seized drugs, manufacturing equipment, firearms, fake IDs and a luxury car.

Ten men were arrested and charged with a range of offences including drug trafficking.

Detectives also intercepted a man in Brisbane who had arrived on a flight from Sydney with two kilograms of MDMA tablets.

The accused are due to face court in the coming weeks.

Forty-nine people have been arrested on 140 charges as part of the operation.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-05-02/10-charged-in-qld-nsw-drug-bust/4665106

 

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Men refused bail over record ice haul

Three men will remain behind bars after being charged over the biggest haul of the drug ice in Australian history.

Sydney police say a five month investigation resulted in the seizure of the drugs, with an estimated street value of $438 million.

More than half-a-tonne was found after officers received an anonymous phone call and raided six properties in February.

Detectives arrested IT student Tony Ming Ly, 21, who they say hired a van to transport the drugs the day before his arrest.

They also arrested 32-year-old Boon Cheng Leow and 51-year-old Cheung Tuen.

Tuen was the only man to appear in Central Local Court today.

He was told through an interpreter that a large amount of evidence still needs to be examined, including photos and audio from listening devices.

Bail was formally refused for all three men, and the case was adjourned until July.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-05-08/three-men-accused-over-huge-haul-of-the-drug-ice/4677206

 

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Barmera man avoids jail over ecstasy stash

A 19-year-old man who pleaded guilty to drug trafficking in South Australia's Riverland has been spared jail time.

Adam Lincoln Hoare from Barmera was arrested last July after he was found with 38 concealed, pre-packaged ecstasy tablets and an amount of cash in a car he was travelling in.

In the District Court in March, he pleaded guilty to trafficking in a controlled drug.

In sentencing, Judge Barry Beazley acknowledged Hoare was young and immature at the time he was arrested but said it was still an extremely serious offence.

Judge Beazley said Hoare was a low-level street dealer, who was selling to friends and acquaintances.

He sentenced Hoare to one year and 10 months imprisonment but suspended the sentence, saying there were good reasons to keep him out of jail, including his early guilty plea and his efforts to rehabilitate.

Hoare was placed on a two-year good behaviour bond.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-05-08/barmera-man-avoids-jail-over-ecstasy-stash/4677006

 

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Synthetic cannabis haul seized in Mount Isa

Police in Mount Isa in north-west Queensland have seized what they believe to be a large quantity of synthetic cannabis.

An operation has been targeting the sale of the drug, with officers yesterday searching a tattoo parlour.

Superintendent Russell Miller says investigations are continuing in relation to identifying suppliers of synthetic drugs in the city.

He says while they are often advertised as offering a legal "high", synthetic cannabis can be extremely dangerous.

"We'll have contents analysed and charges possibly will be laid after that," he said.

"The compounds in the synthetic drugs are not really known, it could be anything and it could be very toxic and extremely dangerous to people's health.

"Some of the packaging on some of this stuff - it says it is not for human consumption.

"As a result of recent legislation changes - synthetic cannabis which is being sold we believe from a number of locations around Mount Isa - and we have taken possession of a number of bags of what we believe is to be synthetic cannabis and also a quantity of cash.

"People using this type of cannabis are exposing themselves to some serious health risks."

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-05-08/synthetic-cannabis-haul-seized-in-mount-isa/4676474

 

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Drug arrests as police crack Aust-Vietnam ring

South Australian police say they have cracked one of the biggest drug rings in the state's history, making dozens more arrests.

They said the sophisticated operation across SA, Victoria and New South Wales involved importing illegal drugs from Vietnam through the eastern states.

More than 270 officers raided 86 houses across metropolitan Adelaide over the past two days.

Police said they seized the equivalent of 30,000 street deals of heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine.

Assistant Crime Commissioner Paul Dickson said 37 people had been arrested and the total number of arrests from the year-long operation was now 55.

"We've been able to take a number of people out of their illicit dealing activities, both at the high level where they're organising, leading, importing, the mid-level where they're organising their street-level dealers and also the street-level dealers," he said.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-05-10/sa-drug-ring-arrests-reach-55/4682420

 

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Drugs and weapons sized after East Perth raid

Police have seized a large quantity of what is believed to be methylamphetamine during a raid on a home in East Perth.

Detectives from the Organised Crime Squad say they found four kilograms of the white powder, as well as steroids, replica firearms, cash and ammunition in the Terrace Road home.

The drug would have a street value of more than $2 million.

Three people have been charged over the haul but police say a 40-year-old man and a 42-year-old woman are facing the most serious charges.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-05-10/police-seize-drugs-and-weapons-after-east-perth-raid/4681248

 

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60 marijuana plants in the backyard were for personal use

A MAN who was growing more than 60 marijuana plants in his back yard claimed they were all for personal use.

Grant Andrew Levy, 46, pleaded guilty to unlawfully producing a dangerous drug and possessing hydroponic equipment in the commission of a crime in the Ipswich Magistrates Court yesterday.

The court heard that police raided Levy's Camira house on a warrant on Monday, April 15 this year where they found a covered room in the back of the house where they heard a buzzing noise and could smell marijuana.

There they found a room containing a hydroponic set up with seven large marijuana plants being grown inside.

Fourteen smaller plants were found outside the room, and a further 40 plants in the back yard.

Police also found plastic bags inside containing marijuana leaves and hashish which Levy admitted were his.

The court heard Levy had begun smoking the drug to self-medicate after being diagnosed with anxiety.

Magistrate Michael Quinn said Levy was fortunate to not be charged with the more serious offence of dealing the drug.

"You are indeed fortunate it was not alleged there was an element of commerciality," he said.

"Given the amount found and the set-up, people would be forgiven for assuming it wasn't just for personal use."

Magistrate Quinn said as Levy had no criminal history and was the carer to his ill wife and mother he would be lenient on him.

"One wonders how you would put them at risk by offending like this though."

Levy was given an $800 fine but no conviction was recorded.

http://www.qt.com.au/news/drug-grower-hit-with-800-fine/1867777/

 

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Police sniff out drug courier - Broken Hill

A man has been charged after police discovered almost 5kg of cannabis in his car during a traffic stop at Broken Hill yesterday.

About 11am, Wednesday 15 May 2013, officers attached to Barrier Highway Patrol stopped a blue Ford Falcon station wagon on the Barrier Highway in Broken Hill.

Police allegedly smelt cannabis coming from the Ford and subsequently searched the vehicle.

During the search police allegedly located almost 5kgs of cannabis in sealed bags as well as an amount of cash.

A 39-year-old man from Elanora in Queensland was arrested and taken to Broken Hill Police Station where he was charged with supply prohibited drug, possess prohibited drug and deal in proceeds of crime.

Police will allege the man purchased the cannabis, with an estimated street value of $125,000, in South Australia with the intention of taking it to Queensland.

He was refused bail and appeared in Broken Hill Local Court where he was remanded in custody to re-appear on Tuesday 16 July 2013.

Superintendent Stuart Smith, Commander of Operations, Traffic and Highway Patrol Command said police would continue to target motorists using country roads to courier drugs and illegal weapons.

“This is a prime example of the good work highway patrol officers are doing to stop the distribution of drugs by road.

“Anyone thinking about driving across the border with drugs or weapons is warned they will be targeted, identified and arrested.

“While highway patrol officers are trained in detecting drug couriers, I urge anyone with information about this type of activity to contact police,” said Superintendent Smith.

http://www.police.nsw.gov.au/news/m...nb3YuYXUlMkZtZWRpYSUyRjMwMjk2Lmh0bWwmYWxsPTE=

 

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Meth haul hidden in shampoos

Media Release: Two men charged with importing 72 litres of methamphetamine
Release Date: Friday, May 17 2013, 12:50 PM

A joint Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Australian Customs and Border Protection Service (ACBPS) operation has resulted in approximately 72 litres of methamphetamine being stopped from entering Australia.

The operation began last weekend when ACBPS officers intercepted the liquid in a consignment of hairdressing equipment from China.

Intelligence received by ACBPS led to officers examining a pallet of shampoo, conditioner and hair colouring products. Initial testing indicated the presence of methamphetamine.

An AFP examination of the consignment confirmed that it contained approximately 72 litres of liquid methamphetamine, with a total potential street value of up to $43 million.

A controlled delivery of the consignment was conducted this week which led to two men being arrested earlier this morning (17 May 2013).

A 35-year-old man and a 43-year-old man, both Hong Kong nationals, have been charged with attempt to possess a commercial quantity of border controlled drugs, namely methamphetamine, contrary to Section 307.5 of the Criminal Code Act 1995.

ACBPS Manager NSW Container Examination Facility Paul Willard said these arrests were yet another example of the success of the Service's intelligence-led approach to targeting containers arriving in sea cargo.

"We are alert to the different ways criminals conceal these dangerous drugs in their attempts to evade detection," Mr Willard said.

"Criminals should be aware we have the examination skills, supported by cutting edge technology, to detect even the most sophisticated concealments."

AFP Sydney office Manager Ray Johnson said that these arrests are a strong reminder that you have a high chance of being caught if you attempt to import illicit drugs into Australia.

"Despite efforts by criminal networks to evade detection, authorities are working together to identify and disrupt criminals who attempt to import drugs," Commander Johnson said.

"The size of this seizure and the amount of harm it could potentially have caused cannot be understated."

The maximum penalty for these offences is life imprisonment and/or a $1,275,000 fine.

The investigation is continuing, and further arrests have not been ruled out.

http://www.afp.gov.au/media-centre/...h-importing-72-litres-of-methamphetamine.aspx

 

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B450m in drugs seized at Chatuchak

Kasama Charoenman, 37, Panya Wangtrakul, 25, and Anuchon Laojang, 20, were caught with 1.45 million methamphetamine pills and eight kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine, or ice, police said.

The raid was carried out after the immigration and metropolitan police bureaus received a tip-off saying that a group of drug dealers planned to transport drugs from northern Thailand to Bangkok.

Police said the three suspects rented a space at the market as a front for distributing the drugs to customers.

The suspects allegedly confessed that the drugs had been transported from the North to Bangkok by public bus. They were delivered to the market concealed in a batch of satchels in an effort to trick authorities.

The three men said they were each paid 380,000 baht by a narcotics ring to open a satchel shop at the market to use as a front for drug dealing.

They were charged with possessing drugs with intent to sell.

Police are still searching for the leaders and other members of the gang.

If found guilty, the ringleaders could face having their assets confiscated.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/350752/b450m-in-drugs-seized-at-chatuchak

 

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Drug bust nets $150k worth of ecstasy

It is the first seizure of a pill press by ACT Policing in more than a decade.

Canberra police say they have carried out one of the largest seizures of ecstasy on record in the ACT.

Police searched a house at Latham on Monday, seizing about 1.5 kilograms and 250 capsules of white powder suspected to be MDMA.

They also found 120 grams of suspected methylamphetamine and drug paraphernalia including a pill press.

It is the first seizure of a pill press by ACT Policing in more than a decade.

Three vehicles suspected to be used in the sale of illicit drugs were also seized.

The drugs have an estimated street value of more than $150,000, making it one of the largest single seizures of MDMA in the Territory.

A 27-year-old Latham man is expected to face the ACT Magistrates Court today charged with several drug related offences.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-05-21/man-charged-over-ecstasy-drug-bust/4702586

 

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WA has second highest national rate of clan labs

Western Australia has the second highest rate in the nation for the detection of clandestine drug laboratories.

The Australian Crime Commission's illicit drug data report shows 160 drug labs were found in the state in the 12 months to June last year.

That is second to only Queensland which had 379 drug labs.

The Crime Commission's John Lawler says it is particularly worrying that 70 per cent of the labs were found in residential areas where people live, work or go to school.

The West Australian Government has introduce mandatory jail terms for adults who injure children in clandestine drug laboratories.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-05-20/wa-has-second-highest-rate-of-clan-labs/4700350

 

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Media Release: Man charged with importing 10 kilograms of heroin in suitcases

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

A 24-year-old Thai national is scheduled to appear in Sydney Central Local Court today (20 May 2013) charged with allegedly importing 10 kilograms of heroin.

Australian Customs and Border Protection Service (ACBPS) officers selected the man for a full baggage examination when he arrived at Sydney Airport yesterday on a flight from Thailand.

The ACBPS officers unpacked the man’s two suitcases and x-rayed them after noticing they were unusually heavy.
The x-ray revealed a possible concealment in the base of the suitcases. The officers deconstructed the suitcases and found a white powder. Initial tests indicated the substance to be heroin.

The matter was referred to the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and the man was charged with importing a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug, namely heroin, contrary to section 307.1 of the Criminal Code Act (cth) 1995.

Further testing will be conducted to determine the exact nature and purity of the substance.

The maximum penalty for this offence is $1,275,000 in fines or 25 years imprisonment.

http://www.afp.gov.au/media-centre/...h-importing-10-kg-of-heroin-in-suitcases.aspx

 

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Media Release: Operation Polaris arrests two men for drug precursor importation

This is a joint media release with the Australian Federal Police, New South Wales Police Force, Australian Customs and Border Protection Service, Australian Crime Commission and New South Wales Crime Commission.

A joint law-enforcement operation has arrested two men, including a Sydney-based freight forwarder, seizing precursor drugs and cash after investigations into the importation of a commercial quantity of pseudoephedrine.

Operation Polaris is a joint waterfront operation comprising the Australian Federal Police, NSW Police Force, Australian Customs and Border Protection Service, Australian Crime Commission and the NSW Crime Commission targeting serious and organised criminal activity at New South Wales sea cargo terminals.

About 5pm yesterday (Monday 20 May 2013), Operation Polaris officers arrested one man at Mascot and another at Waterloo. A number of boxes containing 75 canisters, each filled with about one kilogram of white powder, were seized.

It will be alleged the boxes had been removed from a freight load at Alexandria prior to inspection by the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service.

Preliminary testing of one of the canisters indicated it contained pseudoephedrine, a border-controlled precursor drug used in the manufacture of methylamphetamine (‘ice’). The estimated street value of 75kg of pseudoephedrine is about $7.5 million.

A search warrant was then conducted on a unit at Waterloo where officers seized in excess of $200,000 cash. A second search warrant at Bronte led to the seizure of more than $40,000, and small quantities of cocaine and ecstasy.

The two men, a 41-year-old freight forwarder and a 36-year-old man, were each charged with import a commercial quantity of a border controlled precursor, namely pseudoephedrine, contrary to section 307.11 of the Criminal Code Act 1995; and dealing with property reasonably Suspected of being proceeds of crime, Section 400.9(1A) of the Criminal Code Act 1995.

They were each refused bail to appear at Central Local Court today.

Investigations are continuing.

http://www.afp.gov.au/media-centre/...s-two-men-for-drug-precursor-importation.aspx

 

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Over 25 kilograms of ephedrine seized in Sydney - 21 May 2013

Over four days, Australian Customs and Border Protection Service (ACBPS) officers have seized over 25 kilograms of the precursor drug ephedrine.

The drugs were detected in seven separate concealments at Sydney Airport, the New South Wales (NSW) International Mail Centre and the NSW Air Cargo facility between Friday 17 May and Monday 20 May 2013.

ACBPS officers detected the drugs inside tile cutting tools; metal chopsticks; mis-described clip-seal bags; adhesive tape holders; a lamp; a metal electric device; and boxes of Korean ginseng tea, ginseng extract and lingzhi mushroom extract.

Ephedrine is used to manufacture dangerous and illegal amphetamine-type substances such as ‘ice’. Importing ephedrine without a permit is prohibited.

ACBPS National Manager of Cargo Operations, Jagtej Singh, warned against importing dangerous drugs into Australia.

“Our skilled officers have the training, intelligence and technology to detect and seize prohibited substances at the border.”

“If you are caught importing a border controlled precursor such as ephedrine, you could face a fine of up to $510,000 or 15 years in prison,” Mr Singh said.

http://www.customs.gov.au/site/130521mediarelease_ephedrine.asp

More images at -

http://www.customs.gov.au/site/Mediaimages2013.asp

 

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Surge in women selling drugs

The number of women selling illegal drugs in WA has soared 78 per cent in a year, according to a report into Australia's drug trade.

The Australian Crime Commission report shows 626 women were "providers" of illicit drugs in WA in 2011-12.

The women represented more than 22 per cent of those arrested for importing, trafficking, selling, growing and manufacturing illicit drugs in the State. Only the Northern Territory had a higher percentage at 28 per cent while Queensland recorded the highest overall number of women at 710.

The report said Customs seized a record 24 tonnes of illicit drugs - worth $5 billion - in Australia last year, including a big rise in performance enhancing drug seizures.

Big hauls included 11 tonnes of a methylamphetamine precursor, 785kg of cocaine, 256kg of heroin, 347kg of amphetamines and 17kg of cannabis.

There were 93,000 drug-related arrests in 2011-12, the most for a decade, and 809 drug laboratories were found.

In WA, there were more hallucinogenic drugs found, including LSD and "magic" mushrooms, than anywhere else in the country, with a 1255 per cent increase in the amount detected - from 748g in 2010-11 to 10,137g in 2011-12.

The head of illicit drugs at ChemCentre, Dominic Reynolds, said that although WA seizures included the traditional hallucinogenic drugs, these still tended to be fairly rare. WA still has the most pure heroin at 46 per cent, though the amphetamine found had a sharp decline in purity from 25 per cent in 2010-11 to just one per cent in 2011-12.

Dr Reynolds said this variability put drug users at risk, particularly when a substance was sold as one drug when it was something else.

"In the case of amphetamine-type substances, this could be one of the emerging synthetic drugs which we know little about," he said.

The number of people charged over drugs not otherwise classified, such as synthetic cannabinoids, anaesthetics and pharmaceuticals, rose 19.2 per cent to 2103, the biggest jump in any State.

Dr Reynolds said the increase in arrests could be partly attributed to new laws to outlaw synthetic cannabinoids and other drugs.

WA again recorded the second highest number of clandestine drug laboratories found - behind only Queensland, which had 381.

In 2011-12, 160 WA laboratories were found, almost all producing amphetamine-type drugs.

http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/breaking/17260036/surge-in-women-selling-drugs/

 

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Police Nab Three Alleged Drug Traffickers, Seize 2,900 Ecstasy Pills

Jakarta Police arrested three alleged drug traffickers and seized 2,900 ecstasy pills and 500 grams of crystal methamphetamine, a police chief said on Wednesday.

Gambir Police head Adj. Sr. Comr. Tatan Darsan told Indonesian news portal Detik.com that officers arrested a suspect identified as S.I. last week and seized 1,000 ecstasy pills.

After more recent investigation yielded two more arrests and the confiscation of more ecstasy and 500 grams of crystal methamphetamine.

“We estimated the drugs are worth Rp 4 billion [$409,628] in total,” he said.

Tatan said the police believed the suspects were members of an international drug ring.

“They might be [part of an international syndicate] considering the large amount of drugs we seized, but I can’t really conclude it for now,” he said, adding that the suspects could face six years in prison if found guilty of violating article 114 of narcotics law.

The arrest of those three suspects follows a string of stings against alleged drug smugglers in recent weeks. On May 13, police nabbed a Singaporean who allegedly tried to smuggle 4,500 ecstasy pills from Batam to Jakarta.

Last month, police in North Sumatra shot dead two accused drug traffickers and seized more than two kilograms of methamphetamine and 10,000 ecstasy pills.

http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/news...ed-drug-traffickers-seize-2900-ecstasy-pills/

 

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Media Release: Woman charged with importing methamphetamine in backpacks

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

A 41-year-old New Zealand national is scheduled to appear in Darwin Magistrates Court today charged by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) with importing methamphetamine into Australia.

Two unaccompanied suitcases arrived at Darwin International Airport on a flight from Cambodia via Singapore on Friday 24 May 2013.

During an examination of the suitcases, Australian Customs and Border Protection officers conducted a swab analysis which returned a positive reading for narcotics.

Customs and Border Protection officers opened the suitcases and located seven empty backpacks. Further examination of the backpacks revealed an off-white crystal substance concealed within the back padding.

Presumptive testing of the substance returned a positive reading for methamphetamine. The suitcases were then handed over to the AFP for further investigation and forensic analysis.

The estimated weight of methamphetamine contained within the seven empty backpacks is 8.5 kilograms.

The two suitcases were confirmed to be those of the 41-year-old New Zealand national who had arrived into Darwin International Airport on a flight from Cambodia via Singapore on Thursday 23 May 2013. AFP officers executed a search warrant at a hotel in Darwin and the woman was later located in the Darwin CBD.

After participating in a police interview, the woman was charged with importing a border controlled drug, namely methamphetamine, contrary to section 307.3 of the Criminal Code Act 1995.

The maximum penalty for this offence is 10 years imprisonment and/or a $340,000 fine.

http://www.afp.gov.au/media-centre/...h-importing-methamphetamine-in-backpacks.aspx

 

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Five charged over Qld drug busts

Police say they expect to make more arrests after a major drug syndicate was uncovered in the Wide Bay region of southern Queensland.

Three men, including two from Victoria, and two women were refused bail in the Bundaberg Magistrates Court this morning.

They are charged with drug trafficking, supply and possession after police raids overnight in Childers, South Kolan, Avoca and Bargara.

Other properties were raided this morning.

Police say they found quantities of cannabis, methylamphetamines, drug utensils, ammunition and cash.

Three cars were also seized.

The police drug investigation unit assisted local detectives in a six-month operation examining the supply of cannabis into Queensland from interstate, and the trafficking of drugs in the Bundaberg area.

The accused will appear in court again on Friday.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-05-28/five-charged-over-qld-drug-busts/4718330