The Australian/NZ Drug Busts Mega-Thread Part I

[lil angel15]

Kickboxers key to Mackay drug racket
03.08.2007

KICKBOXERS and nightclub staff were key figures in a drug racket which flourished in Mackay, the Supreme Court heard yesterday. The gang was busted after Air Express intercepted 200 ecstasy tablets in a parcel from Townsville to a kickboxing instructor in Mackay and another 200 tablets in a separate parcel from Sydney.

A covert police operative was brought into Mackay to infiltrate the group and it finally led to the arrests of six keys figures. Operation Alpha Noggin eventually led to raids on 30 Mackay properties, the seizure of 1000 ecstasy tablets and some cash, and the arrests of 17 people on 49 charges.

The final three men to be charged over the operation pleaded guilty in the Supreme Court in Mackay yesterday to supply and other drug-related charges. Darryl Keith Blayney, 28, was seen by the covert agent supplying drugs in Main Street Nightclub and was seen buying ecstasy from the groups ring leader and he admitted to police that he sold drugs inside the nightclub. Police found 19 tablets at Blayney's residence. Blayney was a kickboxer and he worked at the club at the time as a bouncer but is now a boilermaker.

Daniel Terrence Gobbo, 32, purchased drugs from the ring leader and also sent him text messages offering ecstasy for sale. Two ecstasy tablets were found in a raid on Gobbos house. Gobbo is a former kickboxer who used to operate a landscape business in Mackay. He now is a father-of-three who hopes to open a jeans franchise in Brisbane and New Zealand.

Liva Sipaia Huni, 28, sent messages to the ring leader which were intercepted. In one message he asked to buy ecstasy to sell in the nightclub saying: "Yeh. They (expletive) love them, eh." Drug paraphernalia was found at Huni's home during a raid. The drug racket was broken in May, 2003, and it took four years for the final cases to go before the courts.

At one stage during the case police sought an adjournment of nine months to have drugs analysed at the John Tonge Scientific Centre in Brisbane. Blayney was jailed for seven months to be released on immediate parole. Gobbo was jailed for five months to be released on immediate parole. Huni was ordered to do 200 hours of unpaid community service.

Daily Mercury

 

[Chronik Fatigue]

Hur hur hur, dumbarses!

Gun, explosives in King Street arrest

Ari Sharp
August 3, 2007 - 9:57AM

A routine police vehicle check has unearthed a cache of drugs, explosives and deadly weapons in Melbourne's nightclub district early this morning.

The Police Force Response Unit saw a man "acting suspiciously" as he got out of a late-model black Mercedes coupe at the corner of King Street and Flinders Street about 1.30am.

Police say the 38-year-old North Melbourne man did a 'double-take' as he saw them, so they conducted a routine vehicle check.

Finding the car to be unregistered, police then conducted a vehicle search and located a firearm, explosives, a large amount of amphetamines, an extendable baton, nunchukkas, one can of pepper spray, eight mobile phones and other equipment possibly used in trafficking drugs.

A police spokeswoman said the arrest was a combination of good luck and good policing by the Force Response Unit.

"They were just driving past and they saw this fellow getting out of this car. They saw him do a double-take at the police car and then put his head down as if he was trying to be inconspicuous.

"They just did a basic licence check on the vehicle and it was unregistered."

The man is currently assisting the police criminal investigation unit with its inquiries.

http://www.theage.com.au/news/natio...g-street-arrest/2007/08/03/1185648091517.html

 

[lil angel15]

Police seize cannabis in Forster drug raid
Posted August 3, 2007 08:19:00

A raid by Manning Great Lakes police on a home yesterday morning at Forster, on the New South Wales mid-north coast, has led to the seizure of more than $250,000 worth of cannabis.

In the raid, police found a hydroponic growing system, 129 cannabis plants with a street value of $258,000, and a bag of cannabis leaf.

A 53-year-old Forster man has been charged with cultivating a commercial quantity of the drug.

He is on conditional bail and is due to face Forster Local Court on September 19.

ABC Online

 

[lil angel15]

Guns, drugs seized from Rooty Hill home

Two shotguns and a quantity of the deadly drug ice have been seized from a house in the western Sydney suburb of Rooty Hill overnight, police say.

A 12 gauge shotgun and a model 4/10 sawn-off shotgun, as well as ammunition, were allegedly found at the house.

Police also allegedly found cannabis and ice during their search.

A 24 year old man was arrested at the property and questioned at Mt Druitt Police Station, where he was charged with possession of shortened firearms and drug possession.

He has been refused bail to appear in Central Local Court today.

IBN News

 

[lil angel15]

Pensioner arrested after drug lab find
Reko Rennie
August 3, 2007 - 3:57PM

Victoria Police have arrested a 75-year-old man and a 47-year-old man after a search found a drug laboratory at a house in Essendon this morning.

The two men from Sunshine were arrested after police from the Clandestine Laboratory Squad executed a search warrant for a house in Cooper Street, Essendon.

Police also found methamphetamine pre-cursor chemicals and paraphernalia.

"(These materials) were consistent with the manufacture of methamphetamines," a Victoria Police spokeswoman said.

Police said no drugs were found in the house.

Both men are being interviewed by police at St Kilda Road Police Complex.

No charges have yet been laid.

"The arrests are the culmination of a three-month operation by Clandestine Laboratory Squad Detectives in a bid to reduce the manufacturing of illegal substances throughout Victoria," a police spokeswoman said.

The AGE

 

[lil angel15]

Drug dealers jailed
August 3, 2007 13:00:00

A couple has been jailed for selling amphetamines from a North Hobart hotel room.

Mark Anthony Bell, 32, and Julie Anne Medley, 36, pleaded guilty in the Hobart Criminal Court to trafficking in methylamphetamine between August and October 2005.

The Chief Justice, Peter Underwood, said Bell was the motivator and Medley was a willing participant in a case of greed involving a drug that caused addiction and misery.

Bell was jailed for at least one year and Medley was sentenced to a minimum of eight months.

ABC Online

 

[lil angel15]

Couple jailed for heroin import attempt
August 3, 2007 19:44:00

A Sydney court has jailed a couple who swallowed heroin in order to smuggle the drug into Australia from Vietnam, apparently to pay off gambling debts.

When 36-year-old Hung Nguyen fell unconscious on a Sydney-bound flight last September, it was feared he had bird flu.

But a scan at a Sydney hospital revealed he had swallowed 81 pellets of heroin, some of which had burst inside him.

His 35-year-old wife, Ngoc Anh Pham, had ingested or internally concealed more than 90 pellets of the drug, with a street value of up to $1 million.

She had convinced her husband to help smuggle the drugs to pay off her $60,000 gambling debt.

The couple pleaded guilty to importing heroin and were today sentenced in the District Court.

Pham was jailed for nine years with a non-parole period of five years and four months.

Her husband, Nguyen, was jailed for at least four years.

ABC Online

 

[lil angel15]

Bikie bailed after drugs
Emily Power
August 04, 2007 12:00am

You'll be watched: Rodney Mathews was warned before being bailed yesterday.

A SENIOR Melbourne bikie has walked from court on bail after being charged over a cache of weapons, drugs and explosives allegedly found in his car outside a city strip club.

A court heard Rodney Mathews was a sergeant-at-arms of the Black Uhlans motorcycle club.

A magistrate described the police case against Mr Mathews, 37, as chilling, but released him on bail after hearing it would take up to a year for forensic testing of the suspected drugs.

Melbourne Magistrates' Court heard police approached Mr Mathews in his unregistered late model black Mercedes-Benz coupe outside the stripclub in King St at 1.20am yesterday.

They allegedly found an unloaded semi-automatic pistol, five cylinders marked "explosives", homemade nunchakus, a silver baton, a can of pepper spray, a 60cm shard of wooden dowel and live ammunition.

Police said they also found three bags of suspected methamphetamine, $350 cash, digital scales, plastic zip-lock bags and mobile phones.

A search of Mr Mathews' house in North Melbourne uncovered suspected marijuana seeds, a small number of firecrackers and two containers of a white powder substance, Sen-Det John Lane told the court.

He said special operations group officers had also found detonator cord.

Mr Mathews has not been charged over the items allegedly found at his home.

Prosecutor Sen-Constable Nathan Greenwood said police opposed bail on the grounds Mr Mathews was a risk to the community.

He told magistrate Jelena Popovic it would take up to a year for the seized substances to be tested.

Defence lawyer Shane Tyrrell told the court there was no evidence the alleged offences were connected to the Black Uhlans or that Mr Mathews was dealing drugs.

Mr Tyrrell said Mr Mathews was negotiating with his former de facto over a default mortgage repayment and if he was not bailed the bank would sell it.

Ms Popovic told Mr Mathews her instinct was there was "more than meets the eye" to the allegations, but accepted forensic drug testing would take up to a year.

"I don't trust you one little bit and they (the police) will be watching you very carefully," Ms Popovic told him.

"I don't know what Mr Mathews is up to . . . I wouldn't trust him as far as I could throw him.

"Everything about this matter chills me."

Mr Mathews faces 11 charges including trafficking a drug of dependence, possessing an unregistered pistol and ammunition, possessing controlled weapons without lawful excuse and dealing with cash suspected of being the proceeds of crime.

Ms Popovic set an 11pm to 7am curfew and ordered Mr Mathews to appear in court again on August 20.

Herald Sun

 

[lil angel15]

Six kids found in 'drug lab' house
4th August 2007, 7:23 WST

A woman has been charged with neglect after six children were found living in a house used as a clandestine drug lab in north-western NSW, police say.

Police executed a search warrant at a home in Inverell last Monday.

The house, in an advanced state of disrepair, was deemed unsafe for police to continue the search.

Occupants, a 32-year-old man, a 32-year-old woman, three girls aged three, six and 13 and three boys aged six weeks, eight and 15 were evacuated, police said.

The house was secured and a police guard placed at the premises.

Local police returned to the house on Tuesday with officers from the State Crime Commands Chemical Operation Branch and NSW Fire Brigades HAZMAT unit.

After the residence was declared safe, officers seized other items they allege were used in the manufacture of illicit drugs.

The house was again secured overnight and officers continued with the operation on Wednesday.

A 32-year-old woman has been issued with a court attendance notice for neglecting a child or young person in her care.

The woman was granted conditional bail to appear at Inverell Local Court on September 13.

The West Australian

 

[lil angel15]

Drugs seized at Surfers unit
August 06, 2007 04:09am

GOLD Coast police have seized a large quantity of drugs and other property at a Surfers Paradise unit.

Police said officers found materials used in the production of dangerous drugs when they went to a Surfers Paradise apartment complex around 12.30pm (AEST) yesterday.

A 31-year-old Surfers Paradise man has been charged with one count each of production of a dangerous drug, possession of a dangerous drug, breach of bail, possession of tainted property and obstructing police, and two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm.

A 27-year-old Surfers Paradise woman has been charged with one count each of production of a dangerous drug and possession of a dangerous drug.

They are both due to appear in the Southport Magistrates Court today.

Herald Sun

 

[lil angel15]

Police in Perth seize 1,000 ecstasy tablets
Posted August 6, 2007 12:16:00

A 28-year-old man has been charged with a number of drug offences after police say they found methamphetamine and ecstasy tablets in his car.

Police say they discovered the drugs in a car parked in a laneway in Como about 5:00 am on Saturday.

It is alleged they found a bag of methamphetamine, more than 1,000 ecstasy tablets, a set of scales and some cash.

He has been charged with possession of a prohibited drug with the intent to sell or supply.

The man from Brookdale is expected to appear in court today.

ABC Online

 

[Scoobymoo]

Is it me or does there to seem to be a hell of a lot of drug related arrests and therefore drug activity going on lately? Makes you think just what they are missing though given the number of arrests!!

S.

 

[Splatt]

Third man charged for 89kg cocaine import in 2001 - Monday, 6th August 2007
Joint media release - Australian Customs and the Australian Federal Police

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) yesterday charged a man extradited from Costa Rica with conspiracy to import 89kg of cocaine seized in a joint AFP-Customs operation in Queensland six years ago.

The 45-year-old Peruvian national was extradited by the Australian Government and escorted by the AFP from Costa Rica to Brisbane yesterday morning. He is expected to appear in the Brisbane Magistrates Court today.

The AFP will allege that the man was an integral part of the conspiracy to import the cocaine. The shipment arrived on the vessel "Sparkles Plenty" on 3 May 2001 into Moreton Bay near Brisbane.

The man was overseas at the time of the seizure and became subject to an Interpol worldwide alert. The man was located in Costa Rica and was arrested by local authorities on 25 August 2006.

With assistance from the Attorney-General's Department, the man was successfully extradited and arrived in Australia yesterday morning where he was charged.

At the time of the seizure, the cocaine was worth approximately $22.5 million.

The man believed to be the captain of the vessel was arrested in Brisbane in May 2001 and later sentenced to 25 years imprisonment. Another man involved in the matter was extradited from the US in 2002 and given a 22-year jail sentence.

AFP National Manager Border Rudi Lammers said that this is the second successful extradition in relation to this case.

"This is the final of three men to be charged over what was, at the time, the largest detection of cocaine in Queensland history," Assistant Commissioner Lammers said.

"It marks a significant achievement for the AFP, its international network and the Australian and overseas agencies involved."

The investigation involved the AFP, Customs, Queensland Police and New Caledonia, US and Costa Rican law enforcement agencies.

AFP agents charged the man with conspiracy to import cocaine pursuant to the Customs Act 1901.

 

[lil angel15]

Former child soldier smuggled opium
Katie Bice
August 07, 2007 12:00am

A FORMER Iranian soldier tried to smuggle 1.2kg of opium into Australia for pain management of his war injuries, a court heard yesterday.

Farhad Davoudi Beni, 42, became an opium addict more than 20 years ago when he was prescribed it to deal with injuries he suffered in a rocket explosion in 1984.

The County Court heard Beni was picked up by Customs officials at Melbourne airport when he returned home from Dubai on January 10, last year.

An X-ray of his luggage revealed a compartment under the lining which, when examined, contained bags of opium with a combined weight of 1.18kg.

After initially denying he knew anything about the packages, Beni admitted he had bought them for $700.

The opium was for personal use as a pain medication and would have lasted him up to a year, the court was told. Beni, of Ringwood, pleaded guilty to one count of importing a border controlled drug. The court heard Beni was recruited as a child soldier at age 16 into Iran's war with Iraq and saw traumas that "haunt him to this day".

Defence lawyer David Sexton said after leaving the army his client and his family fled Iran for Pakistan, where they lived as refugees for two years.

Mr Sexton said it was during this time that Beni's addiction to opium grew.

Mr Sexton said his client used a family trip home to Iran in 2005 as an opportunity to stock up on the drug and bring it home.

"It was simply an act borne out of desperation," he said.

Judge Tony Duckett bailed Beni for sentence on a date to be fixed.

Herald sun

 

[lil angel15]

Four charged with trafficking in Nth Qld
August 7, 2007 - 8:14AM

North Queensland police have arrested and charged four people with trafficking of methamphetamines, cannabis and ecstasy.

The four Townsville residents, including three men aged 31, 20 and 20 and a woman aged 19, have been charged with a total of 29 offences including trafficking supply and possession of a dangerous drug.

All will appear in Townsville Magistrate's Court this month.

Meanwhile, police in south west Queensland have charged a 33-year-old man and 25-year-old woman with drug trafficking after intercepting their drug-packed vehicle on Monday.

A police spokeswoman said traffic police stopped the vehicle on the Cunningham Highway at Goondiwindi around 8.20am (AEST).

They allegedly located a large quantity of cannabis and cash inside the vehicle and charged the couple with one count each of trafficking and possession of a dangerous drug and possession of the proceeds from the commission of a crime.

They briefly appeared before the Goondiwindi Magistrates Court and are due to re-appear in on September 4.

SMH

 

[lil angel15]

Man charged over theft of pseudoephedrine tablets
August 7, 2007 - 12:33PM

Police have charged a man after the theft of cold and flu tablets, commonly used in the manufacture of the illicit drug crystal methamphetamine.

A 29-year-old man from Campbelltown in Sydney's south-west has been charged with receiving stolen property and breaking and entering.

He was refused bail by police and is due to appear in Campbelltown court later today.

Police laid charges yesterday after investigating the large-scale theft of pseudoephedrine-based cold and flu tablets from a Campbelltown medical centre on July 21.

The tablets were enough for the manufacture of more than one kilogram of methamphetamine, with an estimated street value of more than $80,000, police said.

SMH

 

[lil angel15]

Cannabis seized in Sydney raids
August 09, 2007 06:12am

TWO drug raids in Sydney have netted cannabis with an estimated street value of $360,000, police said.

Police executed simultaneous search warrants on two houses, at Campsie and Brighton-le-Sands, just before 4pm (AEST) yesterday.

An extensive hydroponic system and 72 cannabis plants ranging from an early stage of growth to more than three metres long wes allegedly found at the Campsie house.

Police also allegedly found six grams of the prohibited drug ice, significant amounts of cannabis leaf and other drug paraphernalia at the house.

About 45 grams of cannabis and drug paraphernalia were also found at the Brighton-le-Sands house, police said.

News.com.au

 

[lil angel15]

Police uncover underground hydro set up in the state's north
9 August 2007

As a result of an ongoing investigation police have executed a search warrant on a property in Northern NSW uncovering a cache of firearms and drugs.

Shortly before 10.30am officers from the Tweed/Byron Target Action Group executed a search warrant at a property on Kyogle Road, Kunghur.

Upon arrival police located a 40-year-old man on the property.

Officers conducted a search of the residence and will allege they located an amount of white powder believed to be amphetamines and pseudoephedrine. A number of firearms and prohibited weapons, a large quantity of ammunition, a quantity of explosives, cannabis seeds and cannabis seedlings were also located.

The man was taken to Murwillumbah Police Station for questioning.

A further search of the property located a concealed underground bunker which housed an elaborate hydroponic set up.

A number of plants and hydroponic equipment were seized from the bunker.

The man was subsequently charged with a number of offences including, enhanced cultivation of cannabis for commercial purpose, possess precursor for the manufacture of prohibited drugs, possess a prohibited firearm, possess a prohibited weapon, possess a prohibited drug and possess explosives.

He is due to appear at Murwillumbah Local Court today.

NSW Police Media Unit

 

[lil angel15]

Alleged drug operation smashed
9th August 2007, 9:00 WST

Police allegedly uncovered an elaborate hydroponics cannabis operation in a hidden room of a house following a drug raid in High Wycombe yesterday.

Forrestfield officers searched the Berle Way property yesterday morning and allegedly found a hidden room behind a false wall in a hallway linen cupboard.

“Police allege the ceiling of the 1m by 3m room had been fitted with exhaust fans and heating lights above seven large plants which were set up in hydroponic pots,” police spokesman Ian Hasleby said.

“Officers also searched a bedroom and found cannabis seedlings and a shed at the rear of the property housed another hydroponics set-up and several more small cannabis plants.”

The 38-year-old occupant was arrested and charged with one count of cultivating a prohibited drug and one count of possessing a smoking implement.

He will face Midland Magistrates Court on August 14.

The West Australian

 

[lil angel15]

Two plead guilty to trafficking speed
Posted August 9, 2007 18:44:00

In the Hobart Criminal Court two men have admitted to being members of a sophisticated commercial drug operation.

Adam Arnol Jones of West Hobart and Jamie Barrett of Gagebrook have pleaded guilty to trafficking the drug methamphetamine in 2004.

The court heard that Jones was one of the ringleaders of the group, sourcing and obtaining the drugs interstate.

He transported the drugs back to Tasmania in cars on the Bass Strait ferry.

Jones and other members of the group would cut up the drug into one milligram sachets to be sold to the public by Barrett and other street dealers.

Crown Prosecutor Michael Shirley said police surveillance of the men's phone calls and financial records provided definitive evidence of drug trafficking.

Mr Shirley said the group made thousands of dollars from sales of the drug and showed no remorse about their actions.

They will be sentenced in two weeks.

ABC Online