The Australian/NZ Drug Busts Mega-Thread Part I

[hoptis]

Drug seizures rising at Aussie border
September 25, 2007 - 7:09PM

The number of steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs intercepted by customs officials doubled last year.

Customs officials say there were 1,405 separate seizures of performance and image-enhancing drugs (PIEDs) on the Australian border between October 2006 and July 2007.

That resulted in 145 search and seizure warrants across the country and 29 people were charged with a range of prohibited import offences.

Customs spokesman Doug Nicoll said the number of seizures doubled during the US-led Operation Raw Deal, targeting the global underground trade in PIEDs.

He said the international operation demonstrated how seriously global authorities were treating steroid smuggling.

"These results should serve as a warning to anyone considering importing PIEDs illegally that there is a high risk of detection and prosecution," Mr Nicholl said.

The penalty for illegally importing PIEDs can be up to five years jail and a $110,000 fine.

The Age

 

[lil angel15]

Police make $1m cannabis find
September 26, 2007 15:03:00

Police say they have seized cannabis with an estimated potential street value of $1 million in Sydney's outer west.

They say they recovered more than 200 hydroponically-grown plants during a search of a two-storey home in Seven Hills this morning.

A 50-year-old Punchbowl man was arrested at the house and is assisting police with their inquiries.

Police say an anonymous caller provided the information that led to the find.

Meanwhile, two men have been charged after police allegedly found a large quantity of cannabis in bunkers on a property near Tweed Heads, on the New South Wales North Coast.

A 62-year-old Terranora man has been charged with a variety of drug and firearm offences.

A 47-year-old Tomewin man will also face several drug charges.

They will appear in court next month.

ABC Online

 

[lil angel15]

Brit caught with heroin in vagina
September 26, 2007 02:48pm

A BRITISH woman is in custody after an internal search revealed she was attempting to smuggle 260 grams of heroin through Sydney airport, the Australian Customs Service says.

The 45-year-old woman was arrested yesterday after arriving on a flight from Bangkok.

Australian Federal Police said during a search of the woman and her baggage, the package of heroin was discovered in her vagina.

The woman was charged with importing a marketable quantity of a controlled drug.

She was refused bail when she appeared in Sydney Central Local Court this morning.

Herald Sun

 

[lil angel15]

Police seize drugs from home bunkers
26Sep07

TWO men are in custody after police allegedly found more than $340,000 worth of drugs in bunkers under a Terranora home yesterday.

Police raided the McAuleys Road property at 7am following a tip-off and allegedly found 166 cannabis plants, two guns, ammunition and chemicals.

Mitek Frank Holowczak, 62, and Allan Robert Grigg, 47, have been charged over the raid. Magistrate Annette Sinclair refused them bail in the Tweed Heads Local Court.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Robert Hanzic alleged Tweed-Byron Target Action Group uncovered the cannabis plants, a .38 calibre Thomson semi-automatic pistol, a Mussbery 12 gauge shotgun, ammunition and chemicals believed to have been used in making illicit drugs.

The court was told Mr Holowczak had lived at the house for 26 years and Mr Grigg had been sleeping in a car on the property for two weeks.

Mr Grigg was charged after police saw him watching the raid from his car yesterday morning.

Defence counsel Carl Edwards said Mr Grigg had been staying rent-free but in return he had watered the cannabis plants about six times using water from drums in the underground rooms. Mr Grigg had also admitted to taking four grams of cannabis leaf from a box in one of the bunkers.

Mr Edwards said his client admitted to personally using the cannabis but denied any commercial involvement.

Mr Holowczak did not address the court but police alleged that during the raid he had shown them a hidden trap door within the home.

Police alleged a steel ladder under the trapdoor led to an underground purpose-built room containing a large amount of hydroponically grown cannabis plants. A second trapdoor on this level led to a deeper underground room with more cannabis plants.

Police alleged the two rooms were built before the main home was constructed and were solely used to commercially cultivate cannabis.

Mr Holowczak faces charges of enhanced indoor cultivation of a plant for commercial purposes, possession of a prohibited drug and weapons charges.

Mr Edwards said the father of eight should be granted bail because he had medical conditions including an injured leg, depression and diabetes.

Sgt Hanzic opposed bail saying Mr Holowczak and Mr Grigg should only be released under exceptional circumstances. The case was adjourned to the Lismore Court on October 5.

Gold Coast News

 

[stealthtrucker]

Australian woman jailed in NZ over drugs

Australian woman jailed in NZ over drugs


September 26, 2007 - 1:15PM

A New Zealand court has jailed an Australian woman for eight years for her role in a cocaine smuggling ring.

Marie-Astrid Cristia, 44, was sentenced in the High Court in Auckland on Wednesday after a jury found her guilty earlier this year of importing and attempting to export cocaine.

Her de facto husband Dario Alexander Seguel and his brother Sergio Ivan Seguel, who admitted being part of the ring, have both been handed seven-year jail terms.

Cristia was arrested at Auckland International Airport on February 15 last year with the Seguel brothers.

They were found in possession of half a kilogram of cocaine, carried in liquid form in perfume bottles.

Prosecutors said the drugs were obtained in Chile by Dario Seguel and were then to be taken to Sydney by Sergio Seguel and Cristia, before being transported to New Zealand.

http://www.theage.com.au/news/World/Australian-woman-jailed-in-NZ-over-drugs/2007/09/26/1190486369067.html

 

[lil angel15]

$50,000 ecstasy found in raid
September 27, 2007 - 6:29AM

Two people have been charged and $50,000 worth of ecstasy tablets seized in a police raid on a home in Sydney's inner west.

Police raided a house in Rainer Street Lilyfield about 8.30am yesterday and allegedly found ecstasy tablets and manufacturing equipment including a pill press.

A 40-year-old man was arrested at the property and later charged with commercial supply of a prohibited drug, two counts of supplying an indictable quantity of a prohibited drug and possessing the proceeds of crime.

Police also searched a house at Doonside in Sydney's west at 8.30am yesterday and arrested a 40-year-old woman.

She has been charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice.

Both the man and the woman have been granted conditional bail and are due to appear at Blacktown Local Court on October 18.

SMH

 

[lil angel15]

Carlton drug bust
Wed 26 September 2007

A Carlton teenager will front court after a substantial quantity of drugs and trafficking equipment was found in his home.

Melbourne RRU members executed a search warrant at 12:30pm yesterday on the Neil Street flat where they uncovered heroin with an approx street value of $30,000 and ICE valued around $5,000.

A small amount of cannabis was also seized along with equipment for trafficking and stolen goods including a plasma TV, projector, DVD player, mobile phones and luxury watches.

The 17-year-old has been charged for trafficking and being in possession of heroin and ICE, possessing cannabis and proceeds of crime, as well as handling stolen goods.

He has been remanded to appear in the Melbourne Children’s Court today.

Victorian Police Media Unit

 

[lil angel15]

Fire leads to drug bust
DOUG ROBERTSON, POLICE REPORTER
September 26, 2007 07:15pm

A house fire at Happy Valley led police to a hydroponic cannabis crop in a double drug bust yesterday.

Detectives also found 18 "medium size" cannabis plants after raiding an uninhabited Athelstone home after a tip off to BankSA Crimestoppers.

Police allegedly found hydroponic systems in every room. They are making further enquiries with the home owner.

About $150,000 damage was caused to the Happy Valley home on James Road.

The fire was quickly contained but Fire Cause investigators traced the cause of the blaze to hydroponic equipment in one bedroom where they seized four cannabis plants.

Police were last night interviewing the occupants of the house.

AdelaideNow

 

[lil angel15]

Drug chemicals blamed for home explosion
September 27, 2007 - 9:50AM

Chemicals mixed in a secret drug lab have been blamed for an explosion and fire at a home in Adelaide's north-western suburbs.

Police said fire crews were called to the Peterhead address about 11.50pm (CST) on Wednesday and after bringing the blaze under control found chemicals in the kitchen where the blaze started.

"The scene was secured and police Drug Investigation Branch members attended to assist and make the area safe," a police spokesman said.

A 29-year-old woman was arrested and charged with taking part in the production of amphetamines.

She was refused bail and was expected to appear in court later on Thursday.

Damage to the house was estimated at about $25,000.

The AGE

 

[Splatt]

Herald Sun

Heres the package that was found up her, as I'm sure everyone wants to see it

Bigger picture in their image gallery.

 

[lovebrisvegas]

lol... yuck... thanks for that splatt

 

[lil angel15]

Drugs, weapons seized in police raids
Daniel Sankey | September 27, 2007 - 2:06PM

Drugs and weapons - including a concealed sword, crossbows and pepper spray - have been seized by police during morning raids on bikie gang clubhouses and other premises.

A Queensland Police spokesman said 19 properties - including homes, businesses and three clubhouses associated with an outlaw motorcycle gang - were raided this morning.

A total of 23 drugs and weapons charges were laid following raids by a total of 100 police on premises at Caboolture, Kunda Park, Noosaville and Tewantin from 6am today.

Drugs, pepper spray, handcuffs, a concealed sword, extendable batons, crossbows and steroids were seized.

Eight men aged between 22 and 50 years and two women, both aged 20, were taken into custody. All have since been released.

They will face charges including possession and production of dangerous drugs, possession of utensils and unlawful possession of weapons.

All alleged offenders will appear next month at Magistrates Courts at Noosa Heads, Maroochydore and Caboolture

Brisbane Times

 

[lil angel15]

Doof doof music leads to charges
September 28 | Coast Police

Doof, doof, doof, doof, doof doof, doof!

Aah! The sound of a loud, deep base from a car stereo system – loved by some and a real annoyance to others.

At 2pm on Wednesday, a Noosa beat officer pulled over a Holden Commodore station wagon on Noosa Parade and questioned its 32-year-old driver about the excessive noise from his car stereo.

But it turned out that was the least of his problems.

Police inquiries revealed he did not hold of a driver’s licence because he had been disqualified from doing so in 2005. He had also been picked up on two other occasions for disqualified driving and has previously had the car impounded.

The beat police detained the man while they searched the car and allegedly found a small amount of cannabis.

A drug-detection dog was brought to the scene, which allegedly lead to the discovery of a further 50 grams of the drug hidden in a steering wheel compartment.

A man will appear in the Noosa Heads Magistrates Court in October to face charges including disqualified driving and possession of dangerous drugs.

Sunshine Coast Daily

 

[Splatt]

Gold Coast - Operation Pyramid results
30/09/2007

Gold Coast - Operation Pyramid results


Police continue to be frustrated by the number of motorists who continue to ignore the warnings and drink and drive.

Operation Pyramid was conducted in the Surfers Paradise (CBD) in the early hours of Saturday, September 29 and this morning.

The operation is designed to intercept and or deter motorists who choose to drive vehicles while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Over the two nights police performed 4642 breath tests with 121 drink drivers.

Senior Sergeant Errol Dellit, Officer in Charge, Gold Coast Traffic Branch said it was very disappointing to see this number of drink drivers on our roads.

“I do not know what more we can do to stop drivers thinking they can drink and drive and get away with it.

“The highest reading was a man who blew .224% which is more than four times the legal limit and would result in a severe lack of response time and puts lives at risk.

“It is obvious some drivers are just not getting the message and police will continue these sorts of traffic operations to ensure we do what we can to get these people off the streets,” Senior Sergeant Dellit said.

This is the third Operation Pyramid so far this year.


Other results from this operation were as follows:
117 x traffic infringements
4 x disqualified drivers
12 x unlicensed drivers
7 x possession of drugs
1 x fraud
1 x stolen plates
1 x obstruct police
1 x due care

http://www.police.qld.gov.au/News+and+Alerts/Media+Releases/2007/09/Gold+Coast+Operation+Pyramid+results.htm

 

[Splatt]

Man charged with drug offences – near Muswellbrook
29 September 2007

A man will appear in court today charged with possessing and cultivating cannabis at a rural property near Muswellbrook.

About 10.30am yesterday, Muswellbrook Police executed a search warrant on a property on Bureen Road, Bureen. Police allegedly located a complex hydroponic set up at the house with cannabis plants, heads and leaf located. They also allegedly located a quantity of a white substance believed to be cocaine.

The 26-year-old Bureen man has been charged with possess, supply and cultivate cannabis. He was refused bail to appear in Muswellbrook Local Court today.

NSW Oink News

 

[hoptis]

Trio charged with drug offences
October 01, 2007 09:58am

THREE people will appear in court today after police seized drugs and cash from a unit in Brisbane's west over the weekend.

Police searched the Paddington unit on Saturday, and allegedly found ecstasy and amphetamines in various locations, including the freezer.

A 21-year-old man has been charged with six drugs-related offences, including supplying a dangerous drug to a minor.

A 23-year-old man and a 16-year-old girl have been charged with one count each of possessing a dangerous drug.

They will appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court today.

News.com.au

 

[hoptis]

Man arrested in Mt Gambier drug raid
01/10/07

South-east South Australian police have seized a large quantity of ecstasy tablets after a weekend raid at a Mount Gambier nightspot.

Police were called to the licensed premises on Penola Road shortly before 3:00am AEST on Saturday, after reports of a disturbance.

They arrested and charged a Mount Gambier man for possessing for sale and selling a drug of dependence after allegedly finding 92 ecstasy tablets.

Police say quantities of LSD and amphetamines were also seized.

The 41-year-old man has been bailed to appear in court at a later date.

Meanwhile, a Nuriootpa man was arrested for offensive behaviour after he was caught streaking on Penola Road in Mount Gambier shortly before midnight on Saturday.

Police say the 21-year-old was visiting the region as part of an end-of-season football trip.

He has been bailed to appear in court at a later date.

And an out-of-control car which careered into a building on Riddoch Street in Penola on Saturday caused about $2,000 to the property.

The vehicle sustained about $15,000 damage.

ABC News

 

[lil angel15]

Gold Coast man linked to Melbourne drug raids
October 2, 2007 10:06:00

A 37-year-old Gold Coast man was arrested overnight as part of a cocaine trafficking investigation in Melbourne.

Police allege the man from Coolangatta travelled to Melbourne to distribute cocaine to Victorian buyers every two weeks.

Victorian police raided properties in south-east Melbourne last night and discovered cocaine with a street value of about $80,000 and a large amount of cash.

A spokeswoman says four other men were arrested in Melbourne as part of a four-month interstate investigation.

It is understood the Coolangatta man will be charged with drug offences.

ABC Online

 

[hoptis]

Parents return from trip to find a drug lab at home
By Sam Riches
October 02, 2007 12:00am

AN Adelaide couple came home from holidays - to find a clandestine drug laboratory in their house.

The Unley Park couple went their house yesterday and found their daughter sleeping with an Athelstone man, 23, upstairs.

They called police, who arrived with drug detection dogs.

The dogs found "items of interest in relation to the use and possession of drugs".

The man was arrested for breach of bail and as investigations continue, police will speak to both him and the couple's daughter in relation to drugs and the alleged drug laboratory.

The Advertiser

 

[hoptis]

Police charge five over coke haul
October 2, 2007 - 6:40AM

Victorian police have charged four men and seized cocaine worth up to $80,000 after drug raids across Melbourne's up-market inner southern suburbs.

The four arrested men were a 34-year-old from Toorak, a 37-year-old from South Yarra, a 38-year-old from St Kilda, and a 46-year-old from South Melbourne.

A fifth warrant was executed in Queensland and a 37-year-old Coolangatta man arrested.

Police said the over-night raids were the culmination of a four-month operation aimed at cocaine trafficking from Queensland to Melbourne.

A large amount of cash was seized in the raids, as well as cocaine with an estimated street value of between $70,000 and $80,000, police said.

The four Melbourne men were charged with drugs offences early today and are expected to face Melbourne Melbourne Magistrates' Court this morning.

The Age