The Australian/NZ Drug Busts Mega-Thread Part Deux

[kingpin007]

$200,000 in drug paraphernalia, cannabis seized in Reservoir



Brendan Roberts

June 02, 2009 07:59am

POLICE got more than they bargained for while trying to serve a court order at an address in Reservoir.
On arriving at the Lindenow St home, the officers were given permission to enter the property where they stumbled across a hydroponic set up and a large number of cannabis plants.

The man who let the officers inside then fled on foot, closely followed by his two stunned guests.

Despite efforts by the police and dog squad, the fleet-footed offender escaped and is still at large.

If he does return, it will be to an empty house.

Police seized drug paraphernalia and cannabis with an estimated street value of $200,000 as a result of the chance find late yesterday.

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,25573722-661,00.html

 

[hyroller]

NEWS: 30.5.09 - Sydney Airport drug smuggler charged

maybe because it wasn't in relation to that question?
don't be picking on me now.. lol

anyway:

A MAN has been charged with smuggling what is believed to be cocaine in his body on a flight from the Middle East to Sydney.

Police say the 30-year-old Nigerian man was found with 81 pellets in his body at Sydney International Airport.

On arriving at the airport on a flight from Dubai, the man was selected by Customs and Border Protection for a bag search.

But during the search customs officers began to suspect he was concealing drugs internally and he was taken to hospital for a medical examination.

Police said the man will appear in Parramatta Local Court today

retrieved here

 

[kingpin007]

Forrestfield police raid uncovers drug laboratory

June 03, 2009 06:41am

THREE men are in custody after police discovered a clandestine drug laboratory during a raid on a Forrestfield house last night.

Police allege the working lab, used for manufacturing methylamphetamines, was discovered when Midland officers raided the house in Lincoln St about 4.30pm.

Police were at the scene all night conducting a thorough search and ensuring the area was rendered safe for the public.

Three residents of the house were taken into custody and are expected to be charged later today.

http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0,27574,25580455-2761,00.html

 

[hyroller]

NEWS: 3.6.09 - 17 arrests in police drug swoop

Police say they have disrupted a major drug operation after arresting nine men and eight women in south-west Victoria and Melbourne's western suburbs.

Properties were searched this week as part of a long investigation targeting organised trafficking of amphetamines, ecstasy, LSD and cannabis.

Police were unable to confirm the amount of drugs seized, or their alleged street value. They said the investigation, under the codename Operation Caspa, was continuing.

They said searches were conducted at residences in Narrawong, Port Fairy, Warrnambool, Braybrook, Sunshine West, Werribee, Laverton and Bellfield were searched this week

From those arrested, police charged and bailed six people from Melbourne's western suburbs for offences including trafficking and possessing amphetamines and cannabis, cultivating cannabis and possessing crime proceeds.

Five others from the Warrnambool area were charged and remanded with similar offences. They are expected to appear at Warrnambool Magistrates Court tomorrow.

A Port Fairy man was bailed to appear at a later date over the alleged trafficking of cannabis.

Inspector Gary Bruce, from the police crime management office, said the large scale operation would have a substantial impact on reducing the supply of amphetamines, ecstasy and cannabis in the relevant areas.

"We are confident we have shut down an active drug ring in this area," he said.

retrieved here
LSD?!?!? daaaaamn. wonder how much they got, if it was worth a mention!

 

[kingpin007]

Two men charged and more than $900,000 cash seized during police operation – Drug Squad
Wednesday, 03 Jun 2009 12:01pm

*** Editors Note: Vision and still images of the money seized are anticipated to be available for release to media later today. ***

Detectives have charged two men and seized more than $900,000 in cash along with drugs, during an operation targeting an alleged drug supply syndicate.

Strike Force Lahey comprises detectives from the State Crime Command’s Drug Squad and was established to investigate the alleged organised supply of cocaine.

Following extensive investigations, detectives yesterday stopped a vehicle on Dolphin Street at Coogee, in Sydney’s east, in which they allegedly located and seized about $210,000 cash and a quantity of cocaine.

A 32-year-old man was arrested at the scene and taken to Maroubra Police Station where he was subsequently charged with two counts of knowingly dealing in the proceeds of crime and supplying an indictable quantity of a prohibited drug.

A subsequent search warrant was conducted by detectives at a home on Pauling Avenue, Coogee, where they located and seized about $700,000 cash, along with a quantity of cocaine, MDMA tablets and steroids.

A 45-year-old man was also arrested by detectives overnight at a home in Vaucluse. He was subsequently charged with knowingly dealing in the proceeds of crime.

Both men have been refused bail and will appear at Central Local Court today.

Investigations are continuing.

http://www.police.nsw.gov.au/news/l...nb3YuYXUlMkZtZWRpYSUyRjY1MDAuaHRtbCZhbGw9MQ==

 

[kingpin007]

Three people charged following raid — Panania
Thursday, 04 Jun 2009 11:14am

Two men and a woman have been charged following a raid on a house in Sydney’s south west yesterday, in which police seized drugs, stun guns and cash.

About 1pm Bankstown Police, as part of Strike Force AUKANE, conducted a search warrant on a home in Kerrie Crescent, Panania as part of an ongoing operation.

During the search police allegedly seized a quantity of ecstasy, cannabis, two stun guns and a sum of cash.

A 33-year-old Panania man, a 28-year-old Bankstown man and a 28-year-old Panania woman were arrested at the home and taken to Bankstown Police Station for questioning.

The 33-year-old man was subsequently charged with two counts each of possess prohibited weapon and supply prohibited drug and one count of deal with proceeds of crime. He has been bail refused to appear at Bankstown Local Court today.

The 28-year-old man has been charged with possess prohibited drug and the 28-year old woman has been charged with deal with proceeds of crime. Both have been granted conditional bail to appear at Bankstown Local Court on 24 June 2009.

Investigations continue and police urge anyone with information about the incident to contact Bankstown Police on (02) 9783 2199 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Information can be supplied anonymously.

http://www.police.nsw.gov.au/news/l...nb3YuYXUlMkZtZWRpYSUyRjY1MTQuaHRtbCZhbGw9MQ==

 

[hoptis]

Man extradited over '$15m drug-making haul'

The AFP say the seizure of two tonnes of chemicals could have produced 150kg of 'ice'.

A 27-year-old Canberra man is being extradited to New South Wales to face charges over a huge haul of drug-making chemicals found in a furniture shipment from China.

Six men were arrested after Australian Federal Police (AFP) seized two tonnes of chemicals used to make the drug 'ice' in a shipment at Port Botany in Sydney.

Christopher Ian Burke, from Lyneham, has appeared in the ACT Magistrates Court and agreed to be extradited.

It will be alleged he was going to process the pseudoephedrine and other chemicals into illicit narcotics.

Two Sydney men and two Chinese nationals were refused bail in a Sydney court, while a fifth was granted bail.

The AFP say they have cracked a major international drug ring with the seizure of the chemicals, which they say could have produced 150 kilograms of 'ice' worth more than $15 million.

AFP Commander David Stewart says the chemicals are so volatile, they could have triggered a major explosion if a barrel was dropped or if temperatures outside rose above 28 degrees Celsius.

ABC News

 

[kingpin007]

Police smash Horsham drug ring
Thursday, 04 June 2009 11:51am
A pill press was among the number of items found during a series of raids yesterday targeting a drug operation in the Horsham area.

Local police searched four Horsham properties yesterday afternoon as part of Operation Esteem, a six-month long investigation targeting the trafficking of amphetamines and manufacturing of ecstasy in the area.

Police seized money, a firearm, cannabis, amphetamines, ecstasy and drug manufacturing equipment including a pill press as part of the raids.

Police arrested eight people, all from Horsham, and charged three people with almost 80 drug-related offences, including traffick amphetamines, ecstasy and cannabis and conspiracy to traffick.

A 21-year-old woman facing 11 charges, a 33-year-old man facing 15 charges and a 21-year-old-man facing 53 charges were remanded and will appear at the Horsham Magistrates Court tomorrow; five other people were released pending summons.

Region 2, Division 4 Superintendent Graeme Arthur said further searches and arrests were planned for the future.

“This investigation has sparked ongoing enquiries in relation to what appears to be a growing trend to use houses for the purpose of manufacturing drugs,” he said.

He urged anyone with further information that may assist with the investigation to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit the website at www.crimestoppers.com.au

http://www.vicpolicenews.com.au/more-news/567-police-smash-horsham-drug-ring.html

 

[kingpin007]

Drug police bust 72-year-old man and 62-year-old wife

June 05, 2009 10:42pm

Police arrested a 72-year-old man and his 62-year-old wife after executing a drug warrant in Doncaster.
Investigators from the Diamond Valley Divisional Tasking Unit attended at 67 Church Road after receiving information alleging that drugs were being produced and sold from the couple's home.

After conducting a search of the residence, police located a large amount of money, 2.8 kilograms of cannabis and hydroponic equipment alleged to have been used for the cultivation of cannabis.

Police also arrested a 37-year-old Doncaster man who turned up at the house during the search.

As a result of the second arrest, a further warrant was executed at another address and more drugs, cannabis and amphetamines were found, as well as a smaller amount of money.

Senior Constable Stephan Harabalakosa, a member of the Diamond Valley DTU said that members were happy with the result but were surprised at the age of the people involved.

"It was a pretty sophisticated set up that we believe has been operating for a number of years. Hopefully, this result will have some impact on the availability of cannabis in the local area," he said.

"The age of the couple surprised us but at the end of the day they were committing an offence so we arrested them like anyone else. "

All three have been bailed to appear at Melbourne Magistrates Court on June 10.

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,25594951-2862,00.html

 

[kingpin007]

Ecstasy, cocaine luggage find: man charged

Posted 2 hours 21 minutes ago


Northern Territory police have charged a man caught at Darwin Airport for drug trafficking.

Police allege the 24-year-old man was carrying 1,000 ecstasy pills and five grams of cocaine on a flight from Adelaide to Darwin.

They say they found the drugs in his luggage when he arrived in Darwin early this morning.

The man has been charged with possession and supply of a commercial quantity of MDMA and a trafficable quantity of cocaine.

He is being held in custody and will face the Darwin Magistrates Court early next week.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/06/06/2591280.htm?section=justin

 

[kingpin007]

Life for Canadians on cocaine and ecstasy charges



Tristan Swanwick

June 06, 2009 12:00am

A CANADIAN man who masterminded the smuggling of more than $130 million worth of drugs into Queensland has been sentenced to life in jail.

In one of the toughest sentences given in the state for drug importation, Dale Christopher Handlen, 42, was jailed for at least 22 years yesterday.

Handlen and his accomplice, Dennis Paul Paddison, 32, appeared in the Supreme Court in Brisbane charged with importing commercial quantities of border controlled drugs and attempting to possess border controlled drugs.

Justice Peter Applegarth sentenced Handlen to life imprisonment with a non-parole period of 22 years.

http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,27574,25593048-3102,00.html

 

[Sustanon]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/06/06/2591280.htm?section=justin

I dont get it. If someone is going to smuggle, smuggle a massive amount once and get out of it otherwise theyll eventually get caught. For a 1000 pills n 5g of coke no way near worth it.

 

[kingpin007]

Drug dealers charged
Mark Russell
June 7, 2009

GEELONG police have arrested three men after seizing cash and drugs including cocaine, amphetamines, ecstasy and ice during a raid on a house in Belmont.

Leading Senior Constable Dale Smith, from the Geelong Tasked Crime Unit, said the three-month operation had shut down a major drug business working in the area.

A $90,000 Audi and several vending machines were also seized in the raid on a house in Henry Street at about 6pm on Friday.

One of the arrested men, Benjamin Bryant, 25, of Belmont, was remanded in custody to appear at Geelong Magistrates Court on Wednesday to face charges of trafficking and possessing commercial quantities of amphetamines, ecstasy, cocaine and ice.

Two other men, Toby Williams, 19, of Corio, charged with possessing and trafficking ecstasy, and Rhys Kelly, 21, of Highton, charged with trafficking and possessing amphetamines, were bailed.

http://www.theage.com.au/national/drug-dealers-charged-20090606-bz8f.html

 

[kingpin007]

Ecstasy pills seized at festival

8th June 2009

POLICE seized 15 ecstasy pills from a man at a music festival in Coffs Harbour yesterday.
Officers were on patrol at the showground for the extravaganza, A Warm Winter’s Day, and were near toilet blocks when they were told about suspicious activity in the male toilets.
Police found a 20-year-old man in a cubicle with a female. They searched him and found white tablets in his pocket.
They arrested him and took him to Coffs Harbour Police Station, where he was charged with deemed supply of a prohibited drug.
Also at the festival, police evicted an 18-year-old man for intoxication.
As many as 1200 tickets were sold for the festival, which featured local and national line-ups.

http://www.coffscoastadvocate.com.au/story/2009/06/08/ecstasy-pills-seized-festival/

 

[kingpin007]

Buck-a-pill man faces court

Leah Fineran

June 7th, 2009

A MAN who bought 800 ecstasy tablets for $800 in Surfers Paradise will face a committal hearing after he was caught by police.

Christopher Francis Harvey, 27, from Sawtell, NSW, was arrested on Thursday after police found eight bags of 100 tablets each and some cannabis hidden in a beanie in his bag.

On Friday Southport Magistrates Court was told Mr Harvey and a friend, Richard Vincent Preece, 27, had left their hometown to take Mr Preece's new car to the Gold Coast for a `try out'.

On arriving on the Coast, Mr Harvey allegedly bought the pills in Surfers for $1 each.

In a letter tendered to the court, Mr Harvey said he bought the ecstasy tablets without his friend knowing and hid them in his travel bag.

Solicitor Chris Rosser, representing both Mr Harvey and Mr Preece, said the quality of the drugs was unlikely to be substantial, given the price of each pill.

Mr Rosser asked for a committal hearing date later this year to allow time for the drugs to be tested.

Currently both Mr Harvey and Mr Preece are facing matching charges of drug possession, possessing drug use items and drug utensils.

Magistrate Michael Hogan accepted the drugs testing could be lengthy and granted the pair bail on strict reporting conditions.

Mr Hogan also conditioned Mr Harvey's bail on the payment of a $7000 surety.

Mr Rosser said Mr Harvey's five-months pregnant girlfriend planned to drive up and post the surety on Fruday afternoon.

Mr Harvey and Mr Preece will return to Southport to face a committal hearing on October 29.

http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/2009/06/07/86031_gold-coast-news.html

 

[kingpin007]

Home drug crop arrest



June 08, 2009 09:30am

A MAN faces drugs charges after police were called to a disturbance at Modbury North.

When police arrived at the house at 11.50pm last night, they allegedly found a hydroponic cannabis operation with 15 plants.

The 27-year-old occupant was charged with drug offences as well as property damage and the theft of electricity.

He was bailed to appear in the Holden Hill Magistrates Court later.

http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,27574,25603091-2682,00.html

 

[kingpin007]

Duo jailed for attempted drug trafficking

Posted Tue Jun 9, 2009 8:00pm AEST

Two men have been sent to prison for attempting to bring a large quantity of marijuana into the Northern Territory.

Anthony William Jesson, 51, and John Shillito, 49, have both been convicted of attempting to supply about 10.5 kilograms of marijuana.

Shillito claimed bikers had forced him to transport the drugs from Adelaide to Darwin because he was unable to repay a $2,000 gambling debt.

Justice Dean Mildren found the story improbable, and sentenced Shillito to four years in prison, with a minimum non-parole period of two years.

Jesson received an eight-year sentence, with a five-year non parole period.

Justice Mildren said there were no mitigating factors, because he refused to plead guilty, and he was clearly the brains behind the operation.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/06/09/2593624.htm


on same day -->

Man arrested over heroin concealed as alcoholic spirits

Tuesday, 09 June 2009
This is a joint AFP and Customs media release.

A 47-year-old Australian man faced Sydney Central Local Court today charged with importing approximately 800 grams of heroin into Australia.

Customs and Border Protection officers at Sydney International Airport selected the man for questioning after arriving in Sydney on a flight from Bangkok yesterday (Monday 8 June).

During a subsequent baggage examination, officers x-rayed and conducted narcotic tests on two bottles labeled as alcoholic spirits. Those tests returned a positive result for heroin and the man was referred to the Australian Federal Police (AFP).

He was later charged with importing a marketable quantity of a border-controlled drug, contrary to section 307.2 of the Criminal Code Act 1995.

Further forensic testing will be conducted on the substance found within the two bottles to confirm its exact weight and purity.

The maximum penalty for this offence is 25 years imprisonment and/or a $550,000 fine.

http://www.afp.gov.au/media_release...ed_over_heroin_concealed_as_alcoholic_spirits


and--->

Two alleged drug couriers arrested at Australian airports

Wednesday, 10 June 2009

Two people have been arrested in Sydney and Melbourne for the importation of narcotics concealed within their bodies.

The two unrelated cases saw the Australian Federal Police (AFP) arrest a

26-year-old Malaysian woman at Sydney International Airport on Saturday morning and later that same day, a 49-year-old Australian man was arrested in Melbourne.

The 26-year-old Malaysian woman was stopped by Sydney Customs and Border Protection officers when she arrived on a flight from Phuket, Thailand.

During baggage examinations officers became suspicious that the woman may have been concealing drugs internally. She was referred to the AFP and taken to hospital for a medical examination.

It will be alleged in court that she had concealed internally 25 packages containing a white powdered substance, which presumptive testing indicated was heroin. The woman was charged with importing a marketable quantity of a border controlled drug contrary to section 307.2 of the Criminal Code Act 1995 and will appear in Sydney Central Local Court today.

On Saturday at Melbourne International Airport, a 49-year-old man from Lalor was questioned by Customs and Border Protection officers after he arrived on a flight from Ho Chi Minh City. While being questioned officers became suspicious that he may have been concealing drugs internally and he was referred to the AFP.

It is alleged that the male passenger was concealing internally two packages containing a white powder substance which presumptively tested positive for heroin. The male was remanded in custody and is due to reappear in Melbourne Magistrates Court on 15 September 2009.

Further forensic testing will be undertaken to confirm both substances, their weight and purity.
The maximum penalty for this offence is 25 years imprisonment and/or a $550,000 fine.

http://www.afp.gov.au/media_release...drug_couriers_arrested_at_australian_airports

 

[kingpin007]

'Drug lab' raids net nine



June 10, 2009
Article from: Australian Associated Press

NINE people have been arrested on drug and corruption charges after a series of police raids in Adelaide.

Police said raids on 10 houses today uncovered two clandestine drug laboratories along with related equipment, cash, cannabis plants and 6.5 grams of amphetamines.

Four men aged between 32 and 46 and two women aged 32 and 52 were charged with drug offences.

They were granted bail to appear in court at a later date for a range of offences including manufacturing a controlled drug and possessing drug-making equipment.

Another three people, a 32-year-old woman, a 43-year-old man and a 49-year-old man alleged to be a Finks bikie, were charged with corruption-related offences.

They were bailed to appear in court on August 7.

Detective Superintendent Scott Duval of the Drug Investigation Branch declined to reveal the circumstances of the alleged corruption offences, which included the bribery and corruption of a public official and the abuse of public office.

However, he said the charges related to ongoing investigations involving the state's Department of Transport, Energy and Infrastructure, adding further arrests were possible.

The 32-year-old woman was a former employee of the department.

Supt Duval said police would allege the four accused of drug offences were part of an organised criminal network that took part in the manufacture of amphetamines.

He said the drug investigations were ongoing and further arrests were expected.

"The manufacture of illicit drugs causes substantial harm to the community,'' Supt Duval said.

"The immediate disruption and dismantling of this organised drug network is a pleasing result and will significantly assist in efforts to remove illicit drugs from the streets.''

Supt Duval said clandestine drug labs held the lure of big money, but operators risked serious injury as well as arrest.

"Any illicit drug activity can be lucrative, and that is why we take it so seriously,'' he said.

Clandestine drug labs were also extremely dangerous and involved the use of toxic chemicals with the potential to explode, he said.
Story

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25616001-12377,00.html

 

[kingpin007]

Former top cop to face drug trial

10.6.09

A Sydney court has decided that former New South Wales Crime Commission assistant director Mark Standen will stand trial on drugs charges.

Standen has been charged with conspiring to import and supply psuedoephedrine to make the drug ice, and perverting the course of justice.

He was arrested just over a year ago and has been in custody ever since.

A Sydney magistrate has decided there is enough evidence to proceed with a trial in the Supreme Court.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/06/10/2594519.htm?section=justin

 

[kingpin007]

Toddler removed from drug house

June 11, 2009
Article from: Australian Associated Press

A TODDLER has been removed from a house in Sydney's west after police allegedly found cannabis growing inside.

Officers discovered a hydroponic cannabis system hidden behind a false wall in a bedroom after being called to a house on Reservoir Road, Mount Pritchard.

Officers searched the house after reports of a domestic disturbance about 8.45am (AEST) yesterday.

Police said they found 67 cannabis plants with an estimated street value of $250,000 after carrying out a search warrant.

The hydroponically grown plants were found in two rooms of the house.

Officers also seized hydroponic equipment including lamps and exhaust fans as well as cannabis leaf and cash.

Department of Community Services (DoCS) workers removed the 18-month-old girl after police found her in the house.

A 28-year-old woman and a 27-year-old man have been charged with cultivate by enhanced indoor means a prohibited plant in the presence of a child.

They have been refused bail to appear at Liverpool Local Court today.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25619202-12377,00.html