The Australian/NZ Drug Busts Mega-Thread Part I

[lil angel15]

Mum 'smuggled drugs in fairy books'
ANDREW DOWDELL, COURT REPORTER
December 06, 2007 01:25pm

A "DEVOTED" mother has been jailed by a District Court for smuggling millions of dollars worth of drugs inside children's fairytale books."

The Adelaide woman, who's name is suppressed, helped to import more than one kilogram of pseudoephedrine in 2005 and 2006.

The powder seized could have helped create more than $4-million worth of methylamphetamine.

Judge Dean Clayton jailed the woman for three years and five months, with a 14-month non parole period.

He said the woman received a parcel from Malaysia containing 22 children's books in August 2005.

"The cover of the books had been reconstructed to create an envelope in which white powder was located," Judge Clayton said.

He said the drugs had a potential street value of `between $2.463m and $4.105m'.

The woman was also convicted of laundering large amounts of money through accounts in Malaysia, Singapore and Nigeria.

Judge Clayton said the woman had been in an abusive relationship with a convicted criminal who forced her into the international drug ring.

"I accept he made threats against you that led to your offending," he said.

But he said the woman had not explained how her offending was made possible.

"Where did the money go? Where did the ephedrine go?" he asked.

Judge Clayton said he `anguished' over the decision to send the `devoted mother' to prison, but said the crime was too serious to impose a suspended sentence.

He said the woman's sister would have to care for the children, aged five and three, until she was released.

Adelaide Now

 

[poledriver]

Marijuana crop uncovered

December 07, 2007 06:49am
Article from: AAP

VICTORIAN detectives have charged a man after uncovering a marijuana crop in a raid on a property in the state's north.

Police from Seymour, north of Melbourne, and Special Operations Group (SOG) members used a search warrant to conduct a raid on the property at Whroo, at about 4am (AEDT) yesterday, Victoria Police said.

"Police raided the property after investigations led officers to believe that a large marijuana crop may be on the rural property," Senior Constable Adam West said.

"Members located approximately 700 plants being grown in an area screened off by trees and fencing," he said.

A 25-year-old man from Hillside appeared before an out-of-sessions court hearing and was charged with cultivating a commercial quantity of drugs.

He was remanded in custody to appear at the Seymour Magistrates Court today.

news.com.au

 

[poledriver]

Child porn and drug charges after Surry Hills raid

December 7, 2007 - 6:09AM

A woman has been charged with child porn and drug offences after a raid in inner Sydney, police say.

The woman was arrested at a house in Denham Street, Surry Hills, at about 6pm (AEDT) yesterday after police were given a tip-off.

Police said they found still images and movies of child pornography and bestiality at the house.

Ecstasy, amphetamine, LSD were also seized, they said.

The woman was charged with two counts of disseminating child pornography and one count each of possessing child pornography and supplying an indictable quantity of prohibited drugs.

She was refused bail to appear at Central Local Court today.

smh

 

[Splatt]

Man to face court after cash and suspected drugs found in vehicle - South Hay

Friday, 07 Dec 2007 08:34am

A man will face court after police allegedly found thousands of dollars in cash and powder believed to be amphetamines during a random breath test in the state’s south west this week.

About 10.30pm on Wednesday (5 December) police attached to Deniliquin Local Area Command were conducting random breath testing on the Sturt Highway at South Hay when they stopped a Mitsubishi sedan.

The male driver was breath-tested and returned a negative result. However police will allege false information was provided to them and the man was allegedly disqualified from driving.

A subsequent search of the car allegedly revealed thousands of dollars in cash and a bag containing about 60 grams of white powder, believed to be amphetamine.

The driver and his female passenger were arrested and taken to Hay Police Station for questioning.

The 66-year-old South Australian man was charged with deal with property suspected of being proceeds of crime, drive whilst disqualified and provide false/misleading information.

He was granted conditional bail and is due to appear at Hay Local Court on 7 January 2008.

The woman has been released pending further inquiries.
Police inquiries into the white powder are continuing.

http://www.police.nsw.gov.au/news/latest_releases?sq_content_src=%2BdXJsPWh0dHBzJTNBJTJGJTJGd3d3LmViaXoucG9saWNlLm5zdy5nb3YuYXUlMkZtZWRpYSUyRjE4Ny5odG1sJmFsbD0x

 

[lil angel15]

Drug bust: Sydney nightclub shutdown
December 8, 2007 - 9:29AM

Two youths have been charged with drug supply and a nightclub shut down in Sydney's west.

Police issued a 72-hour closure order on a nightclub in Penrith at 4.30pm yesterday after investigating the supply of ecstasy in the Penrith area.

Two 17-year-old males were arrested at houses in Penrith and Cranebrook about 8.30pm yesterday.

Police said the pair were working as contract staff within the club.

The youths were both charged with drug supply offences and granted bail to appear at Parramatta Children's Court on a date to be fixed.

SMH

 

[poledriver]

$12m worth of ecstasy off the street

By staff writers

December 10, 2007 03:48pm
Article from: NEWS.com.au

ABOUT $12 million worth of ecstasy has been seized and a father and son arrested in one of the nation's largest ever drug busts.

Western Australia police said they had charged a 54-year-old man and his 24-year-old son following their arrest on Saturday in the state’s largest ever seizure of the drug.

Police said they discovered 19.74kg of MDMA powder inside a plastic container. That much powder could produce about 240,000 ecstasy tablets.

They estimated its street value, when processed into tablets, at about $12m.

“This seizure will have a significant reduction in the availability of MDMA tablets in the community of Western Australia,” a police spokesman said.

The two men appeared in Rockingham Magistrates Court today and were remanded in custody until December 17.

news.com.au

 

[lil angel15]

Drug ring smashed, four arrested
December 10, 2007 12:10pm

POLICE have smashed a multimillion-dollar drug ring, arresting four men after eight raids across Sydney

The operation yesterday netted hundreds of thousands in cash, quantities of ice and ecstasy, also known as MDMA, and drug lab equipment capable of producing millions of dollars worth of the illegal substances.

Strike Force Blueberry was established in April to investigate a syndicate suspected of making and supplying the drugs.

A 37-year-old man was arrested yesterday afternoon at an alleged clandestine drug lab at an industrial premises at Padstow in Sydney's southwest, police said.

Officers seized equipment and chemicals capable of producing millions of dollars of amphetamines and charged the man with manufacturing a large commercial quantity of a prohibited drug.

The man is due to appear in Bankstown Local Court today.

Police raided seven other houses and industrial sites at Prospect, Seven Hills, Castle Hill and Wentworthville in Sydney's northwest, and at Rockdale and Monterey in Sydney's south.

Another property at Padstow was raided and police also went to a property at Wetherill Park in Sydney's west.

They seized more than $340,000 in cash, false IDs and large quantities of ecstasy and ice.

Officers also arrested and charged a 30-year-old man with manufacturing and supplying a large commercial quantity of a prohibited drug.

He will appear in Blacktown Local Court today.

Two other Sydney men associated with the raided premises were pulled over in a car near Maclean, on the NSW north coast.

A 61-year-old and a 63-year-old were charged with drug offences and will appear at Grafton Local Court today.

Drug squad commander Greig Newbery said the drug operation had been put of business.

"This lab had the potential to yield extremely large quantities of MDMA and amphetamine-type substances," Det-Supt Newbery said.

News.com.au

 

[hoptis]

Drugged-up alien-fearing death crash driver has sentence cut
AAP
December 11, 2007 11:31am

A MAN who believed aliens were chasing him when he rammed a stolen truck into an oncoming car, killing its driver, has had his sentence reduced.
Roderick Nigel Martin was in a drug-induced psychosis when he stole a 16-tonne tiptruck from Bacchus Marsh, west of Melbourne, on July 19, 2003.

After driving for more than 50km on the wrong side of the Western Highway and forcing other oncoming vehicles to swerve off the road, he slammed into Raymond Turner's car, killing the 66-year-old instantly, at Windermere, near Ballarat.

At his trial, Martin, then 36, was said to have been suffering drug-induced delusions and hallucinations at the time of the crash and believed aliens had taken over the world.

He was acquitted of murdering Mr Turner in June 2005 but later found guilty of manslaughter, charges of reckless conduct endangering life and theft by a Victorian Supreme Court jury and sentenced to 14 years' jail with a non-parole period of 10 years.

In March this year, he lodged an appeal against the severity of his sentence and today, the Court of Appeal quashed his original sentence and imposed a new period of 11 years' imprisonment with a minimum of eight years.

In a written judgment, Court of Appeal justices Chris Maxwell, Geoffrey Nettle and Robert Redlich said they took into account Martin's remorse and early offer to plead guilty to manslaughter.

He was re-sentenced to 11 years' jail and ordered to serve at least eight years before being eligible for parole.

The appeal justices said they also took into account the 1,618 days that Martin already had served.

Martin did not appear in court for today's judgment.

Herald Sun

 

[lil angel15]

Major drug ring busted
Neil Hickey
December 11, 2007 11:52am

A SIX-month-long police investigation has smashed a major drug ring in far north Queensland, with the arrest of almost two dozen people and the seizure of drugs worth $70,000.

As part of Operation Foxtrot Size, officers in Cairns and surrounding areas seized more than 2000 ecstasy tablets, 66 grams of methylamphetamine and 130 LSD tablets in raids in raids over recent weeks and this morning.
The offensive also netted cannabis, suspected stolen property, firearms and restricted items.

Police today charged 23 people with 82 offences, saying several of the accused have links to the Cairns nightclub scene.

Detective Superintendent Brian Wilkins said the drug ring had focused on the supply and trafficking of drugs in commercial quantities in and around the Cairns area.

"Todays operation has netted quite a number of individuals who we believe are key players in the supply and distribution of drugs, particularly ecstasy in the Cairns area, he said.

"They have been well organised and able to source drugs quite readily."

A number of the accused will appear before the Cairns Magistrates Court today.

Others have been issued with notices to appear in court on January 9.

Courier Mail

 

[lil angel15]

Elderly drug trafficker convicted
December 11, 2007 11:40:00

In Tasmania's Launceston Supreme Court, a 70 year old man has been convicted of trafficking a controlled substance and cultivating a controlled plant for sale.

Branko Marinkovic pleaded guilty to the charges, after police found 23 cannabis plants in his home last year, as well as 25 snaplock bags each containing one ounce of cannabis.

Marinkovic has been fined $1,000 and sentenced to three months imprisonment, suspended on the condition he adheres to a three year good behaviour bond.

ABC Online

 

[lil angel15]

Pair to front court over drug raids
December 12, 2007 14:32:00

Two men are due today to face Wollongong Local Court, on the New South Wales south coast, after two drug raids at Albion Park and at Kiama.

Police say they searched two cars at Albion Park Rail yesterday afternoon and found a quantity of drugs and cash.

Police say they then executed a search warrant on a house at Kiama last night and found more drugs, a large sum of cash and a semi-automatic pistol.

They say the drugs, ecstasy and 'ice', have an estimated street value of $114,000.

A 32-year-old man from Albion Park and a 23-year-old man from Bankstown are due to appear in court today, while a third man, a 29-year-old from Kiama, has been given conditional bail to appear in court next month.

ABC Online

 

[lil angel15]

Five arrested in major drug bust
By Joel Christie
December 12, 2007 07:50am

Police seized about 400 hydroponic cannabis plants and $120,000 cash ... during a State Crime Command operation overnight.

FIVE people will face court today for their involvement in a large drug syndicate exposed during three house raids in Sydney's south west overnight.

Police seized about 400 hydroponic cannabis plants and $120,000 cash during the State Crime Command operation last night, which has ended a three month investigation into marijuana dealings.

Strike Force Cobley was set up in September this year to investigate an "Asian criminal syndicate" believed to be cultivating and distributing commercial amounts of cannabis.

"Following inquiries, officers from State Crime Command's Asian Crime Squad executed three search warrants at Campsie, Greenacre and Belmore yesterday," a police spokesman said.

All three houses were fortified with security screens and heavy doors, which had to be removed by police to gain entry.

The raids started about 10pm at Evaline St, Campsie, where police seized the $120,000 and arrested a 27-year-old Riverwood man.

He was charged with knowingly dealing with the proceeds of a crime because no marijuana was found on the premises.

At the same address two other men were arrested after police found a 30kg bag of cannabis in a car.

The 27-year-old Cardiff man and the 35-year-old Belmore man were charged with supplying and possessing a commercial quantity of cannabis and supplying a prohibited drug.

Search warrants at Abel St, Greenacre and Allegra St, Belmore a short time later resulted in the seizure of about 400 hydroponic plants and two arrests.

A 52-year-old Belmore man and a woman from Greenacre were charged with cultivating a commercial quanitity of cannabis.

All four men were refused bail and are due to appear to Burwood local court later today.

The woman was also refused bail and will appear in Bankstown local court later today.

Daily Telegraph

 

[Splatt]

Customs brings 'undetectable' paper steroids to book
Wednesday, 12nd December 2007

Customs investigators have uncovered evidence Australia is being targeted by performance and image enhancing drug (PIED) suppliers with products claimed to be undetectable at the border.

Overseas websites promoting so-called 'paper steroids' promise buyers they can minimise the chance of the shipment being intercepted by Customs at the border.

It follows the conviction of a 36-year-old Perth school teacher on 7 December for importing cardboard impregnated with the steroids Stanozolol and Methenolone Acetate.

Mr Francis Joseph Farrelly pleaded guilty in the Perth Magistrates Court to six charges of importing a prohibited import under the Customs Act 1901.

He was convicted and ordered to pay a total of $7500 in fines and court costs.

Customs investigations began on 6 June 2007 when officers at the Perth International mail Centre seized a parcel from the United Kingdom containing paper steroids. Search and seizure warrants were executed on a property in Inglewood on 14 June.

This is believed to be first conviction in Western Australia for importing paper steroids.

Customs Director Investigations WA, Tom Ramsay, said that Australia was not immune from world-wide trends in steroid manufacture and distribution.

"This is why Customs, along with other law enforcement agencies, maintains an extensive network of international offices. We also work closely with partner agencies around the world to share information and intelligence on the latest drug trends."

Mr Ramsay said some overseas-based websites were even promoting paper steroids as a method to beat Customs border controls and successfully import PIEDS into Australia.

"This most recent seizure should indicate this is clearly not the case," he said.

"It is also an indication our border controls are working and that suppliers are constantly being forced into new methods of importation in an effort to beat those controls."

Performance and image enhancing drugs cannot be imported without a permit from the Therapeutic Goods Administration.

Big Pic here


Customs Media Release

 

[Splatt]

Melbourne man to face court over drug courier allegation
Wednesday, 12nd December 2007

A 52-year-old Thomastown man will appear in Melbourne Magistrates Court today charged over an alleged attempt to import drugs internally.

The man was stopped by Customs officers upon arrival at Melbourne International Airport on a flight from Vietnam yesterday (11 December).

Customs officers became suspicious that he may have been concealing drugs internally.

He was referred to the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and taken to hospital, where he was found to have internally concealed three packages containing a total of 400 grams of powder.

Preliminary testing of the powder indicated the presence of heroin. The powder is currently undergoing forensic testing to determine the purity.

The man has been charged with attempting to import a marketable quantity of a border-controlled drug under the Criminal Code 1995.

The maximum penalty for this offence is 25 years imprisonment.

Customs Media Release

 

[Splatt]

Cocaine seized in oil filters
Joint media release - Australian Customs and the Australian Federal Police
Tuesday, 11st December 2007

Two people are expected to face Sydney Central Local Court today charged with attempting to import almost two kilograms of cocaine after a joint Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Customs operation.

In May 2007, the AFP Joint Airport Investigations Team (JAIT) commenced operations regarding the importation of narcotics into Australia from West Africa.

The JAIT is a collaborative investigation team comprising of the AFP, Customs and state police.

On 6 December 2007, Customs officers at Sydney Air Cargo selected for examination a parcel which had originated from West Africa.

The parcel, addressed to a commercial premise in Mascot, contained two oil filters. Closer examination of the filters allegedly revealed 1.96kg of a powder substance later identified as cocaine.

AFP officers substituted the powder with an inert substance prior to the delivery of the parcel. As a result, a 47-year-old Sydney woman was arrested at Mascot in Sydney on 10 December.

She has been charged with attempting to import a marketable quantity of a border controlled substance contrary to Section 307 of the Criminal Code Act 1995.

A 47-year-old Sydney man is alleged to have posted the parcels while in Africa. He was arrested at Mascot on 10 December. He was also charged with attempting to import a border controlled substance contrary to Section 307 of the Criminal Code Act 1995.

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

Customs Media Release

 

[poledriver]

Police smash $200k drug ring

December 13, 2007 06:30am

TWELVE people have been arrested and $200,000 worth of the drug ice seized in a major sting operation in NSW and the ACT.

Heavily armed police arrested two men and a woman about 12pm (AEDT) yesterday outside a licensed premises at Tumblong, south of Gundagai, in southern NSW.

During the arrest, police allegedly seized an amount of ice from a vehicle worth an estimated street value of $200,000.

A 41-year-old man was charged with 22 counts of supplying a prohibited drug and a 36-year-old man and an 18-year-old woman were questioned and released pending the investigation.

A short time later, police simultaneously executed search warrants on four houses at Young, north of Gundagai.

Eight people were arrested during the raids and police allegedly seized amounts of ice and cannabis.

Three men aged between 22 and 31 were charged with offences ranging from possessing, cultivating and supplying a prohibited drug.

There were refused bail and are due to appear in Wagga Wagga Local Court later today.

The other five were released pending further inquires.

At 1pm (AEDT) yesterday, local and Australian Federal Police officers raided a property at Tharwa, south-west of Canberra.

A 49-year-old man was arrested and police allegedly seized $50,000 in cash.

NSW Police will seek his extradition from the ACT to face charges of knowingly taking part in supplying a prohibited drug.

Strike Force Elmore was established in August to target the interstate distribution of ice, or methylamphetamine.

Strike Force investigator Shane White said police will continue to hunt down offenders participating in drug rings.

"This game of cards is not over and we have a few tricks up our sleeves, and if you are going to peddle drugs bring a toothbrush and a novel because were going to hunt you down," Supt White said.

news.com.au

 

[lslslsls]

NEWS: Sydney Morning Herald - 13/12/07 - 'Drug ring smashed'

Drug ring smashed

December 13, 2007 - 9:43AM

An international crime taskforce has prevented more than $13.7m worth of ice and ecstasy hitting Australia's streets.

40 people have been arrested worldwide, including 14 Australians, in a joint operation involving the Australian Joint Asian Crime Group and American and Canadian police.

$6.7m worth of real estate and $2.3m in cash have also been seized worldwide.

AAP reports: Twelve people have been arrested and $200,000 worth of the drug ice seized in a major sting operation in NSW and the ACT.

Heavily armed police arrested two men and a woman about 12pm (AEDT) yesterday outside a licensed premises at Tumblong, south of Gundagai, in southern NSW.

During the arrest, police allegedly seized an amount of ice from a vehicle worth an estimated street value of $200,000.

A 41-year-old man was charged with 22 counts of supplying a prohibited drug and a 36-year-old man and an 18-year-old woman were questioned and released pending the investigation.

A short time later, police simultaneously executed search warrants on four houses at Young, north of Gundagai.

Eight people were arrested during the raids and police allegedly seized amounts of ice and cannabis.

Three men aged between 22 and 31 were charged with offences ranging from possessing, cultivating and supplying a prohibited drug.

There were refused bail and are due to appear in Wagga Wagga Local Court later today.

The other five were released pending further inquires.

At 1pm (AEDT) yesterday, local and Australian Federal Police officers raided a property at Tharwa, south-west of Canberra.

A 49-year-old man was arrested and police allegedly seized $50,000 in cash.

NSW Police will seek his extradition from the ACT to face charges of knowingly taking part in supplying a prohibited drug.

Strike Force Elmore was established in August to target the interstate distribution of ice, or methylamphetamine.

Strike Force investigator Shane White said police will continue to hunt down offenders participating in drug rings.

"This game of cards is not over and we have a few tricks up our sleeves, and if you are going to peddle drugs bring a toothbrush and a novel because were going to hunt you down," Supt White said.

Sydney Morning Herald

 

[poledriver]

Ruthless drug group smashed

December 14, 2007

THE Australian arm of a global drug syndicate busted by an international coalition of police was run by a ruthless, persistent group of eight cells that would kill their own in the interests of business, police said.

The operation seized 600 kilograms of cocaine, 111 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine, also known as ice, and 83 kilograms of ecstasy, and arrested 40 people, 14 of them in Australia, police said. It had prevented ice and ecstasy worth $13.7 million from hitting Australia's streets.

Detective Chief Inspector John Lehmann, of the Australian Joint Asian Crime Group, said the syndicate was based in Vancouver, where most of the drugs were made and distribution organised. Eight cells operated in Australia, and as they were busted new ones formed.

"They were desperate to ply their trade, and there's only one reason for that, and that's because it's a huge money-making venture. They were quite ruthless and willing to expend members of their syndicate so [they] could keep continuing to import and supply drugs here in Australia."

The operation also involved US and Canadian police. Almost $7 million worth of real estate and $2.3 million in cash were also seized.

Police expect other suppliers to step in and fill the gap created by this bust.

The Australian arm of the investigation seized 28.6 kilograms of ice, and 23 kilograms of ecstasy tablets in Sydney and Melbourne. Australian law enforcement officers were tipped off to the existence of the group by their Canadian counterparts in July.

smh.com.au

 

[lil angel15]

NZ student jailed for drug offences

A 17-year-old Auckland private secondary school student has been jailed for four years for drug offences.

Chun Lee was convicted of importing meth-amphetamine with an estimated street value of $US200,000.

In April this year, police uncovered the drugs in a package containing hairdryers that had come from the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou.

The High Court judge said he could have jailed Chun Lee for nine years but took into account his young age and his guilty plea.

Radio Australia

 

[Splatt]

[EDIT: Post moved from Roadside Drug Testing (QLD). hoptis]

Operation Mandrel nets drugs
Last updated 14/12/2007


More than 490 motorists were stopped and breathalysed during the sixth ‘Operation Mandrel’ traffic enforcement campaign in the Labrador/Southport area. Fifty-five motorists were issued with infringement notices for offences including using a mobile phone; fail to wear seat belt, and driving unregistered, uninsured and defective motor vehicles. Three people were issued with Notices to Appear for unlicensed driving.

Operation Mandrel was conducted along the north and south bound lanes of Olsen Avenue, Labrador between 11am and 5pm yesterday and involved police and Vehicle Inspectors from the Department of Transport as well as Fraud Investigators from Centrelink.

Acting Senior Sergeant Scott Bolitho, Officer-in-Charge, Southport Police Station said the aim of Operation Mandrel has been to reduce the incidents of road trauma by targeting driver behaviour and vehicle defects within the Southport policing area.

“During Operation Mandrel a 14-year-old Labrador boy was issued with a Notice to Appear for unlicensed driving after he was stopped while allegedly driving his mother’s Ford Festiva,” he said.

“A 26-year-old Labrador man is due to appear in the Southport Magistrates Court today charged with one count each of possess dangerous drug and possess property obtained through trafficking or supply. He was stopped during ‘Operation Mandrel’ and after a routine licence check police allegedly located a quantity of amphetamines.

“These operations have been ongoing since June 2007 with more than 2,700 motorists breath-tested, 300 traffic infringement notices issued, three people charged for driving under the influence of liquor and 15 disqualified/unlicensed drivers detected.”

“Police will continue to maintain a high visibility in an effort to deter traffic offences and reduce road trauma on the Gold Coast, Acting Senior Sergeant Bolitho said.

Poilice QLD