The Australian/NZ Drug Busts Mega-Thread Part I

[lil angel15]

House fire alerts police to drugs set up
October 3, 2007 - 9:29AM

A Melbourne couple is in hot water after a house fire alerted police to an alleged hydroponic drug stash.

The married couple in their 30s has been arrested after firefighters discovered the remains of a hydroponic set up in their house in Leah Avenue, Upwey.

The couple raised the alarm after their house, in Melbourne's outer east, caught fire about 4.30am (AEST) on Wednesday, police said.

"They think that it started due to the (hydroponic) heating elements short circuiting ... we're just looking into that a bit more," spokesman Senior Constable Leigh Wadeson said.

He said firefighters discovered hydroponic equipment when they searched the damaged building to make sure everyone was out.

"Obviously, when they've put it out they've had a walk through ... and seen some remains of what they think was a hydroponic set up," Sen Const Wadeson said.

SMH

 

[lil angel15]

Heroin and methamphetamine seized in drug bust
Jim Kelly
October 02, 2007 12:00pm

ORGANISED Crime Squad detectives have seized heroin and methamphetamine in a major weekend drug bust.

Officers intercepted a taxi in the driveway of a Westminster home on Saturday and charged a 45-year-old passenger from Sydney with possessing more than 114gms of methamphetamine and 56gms of heroin with intent to sell or supply.

A 31-year-old Girrawheen man was charged with possessing amphetamine after more drugs were discovered inside the house and a 42-year-old was charged with attempting to possess the drug with intent to sell or supply.

The charged men are due to appear in Perth Magistrates Court today.

PerthNow

 

[Morissey]

Herald Sun

How does searching ones baggage turn into searching ones vagina?

 

[lil angel15]

Coast man jailed over 4000 ecstasy tablets
12:00a.m. 5 October 2007
By Rae Wilson

A Sunshine Coast man has been jailed for two and a half years after pleading guilty to importing $10,000 worth of ecstasy tablets to a Maroochydore post office box.

Nathan William Cook, 24, of Caloundra, faced Brisbane Supreme Court yesterday charged with importing a marketable quantity of the border-controlled drug, methylenedioxymethamphetamine and possessing utensil for use.

Mr Cook, who had already served 134 days in custody, will be released on parole after he has served nine months of his sentence.

The postal package, containing 400 tablets, never arrived at its Coast destination.

A customs officer at the Brisbane International Airport mail-handling unit discovered the Ireland package had 29.4grams of pure MDMA after X-rays revealed anomalies on May 15.

The content was 59 times the marketable quantity, which is half a gram.

The court heard 28 paper cylinders were hidden inside a magazine in a package addressed to a post office box at Australia Post’s Maroochydore Business Centre in Comstar Avenue.

An Australian Federal Police investigation found that the post office box had been opened by the accused man six days before the narcotics arrived in Australia.

With help from Queensland police, a search warrant was executed at the man’s Caloundra address where post box documents and a pipe was seized.

Mr Cook, a tall man with dark hair, did not apply for bail when he appeared in Maroochydore Magistrates Court in May this year.

Barrister Simon Lewis, instructed by Ryan and Bosscher Lawyers, told the supreme court yesterday that Mr Cook was using ecstasy on the weekends, from Thursday to Sunday whenever he went out.

He said Mr Cook had been introduced to a man from Belfast, where the drug was readily available and cheap.

Mr Lewis said the Irish man could send enough pills to last Mr Cook and his friends three months.

He said Mr Cook paid just $2000 for the pills which he planned to share among his mates.

Mr Lewis said Mr Cook had no previous drug supply convictions and there was no evidence he intended to supply on a commercial level.

Sunshine Coast Daily

 

[lil angel15]

Smuggler carried 101 pellets of heroin
October 5, 2007 - 9:30AM

A man has been caught trying to smuggle more than 100 pellets of heroin concealed in his stomach into Australia, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) says.

Customs officers stopped the 36-year-old man when he arrived at Sydney International Airport on a flight from Vietnam on Sunday.

They became suspicious that he was concealing drugs after questioning him and referred him to the AFP, who took him to hospital for a medical examination.

The AFP said the man later passed 101 pellets weighing approximately 200 grams.

Preliminary examination revealed the contents to be heroin, and forensic tests are being carried out to determine its purity.

The man has been charged with attempting to import a marketable quantity of a border-controlled drug.

He is due to appear in Sydney Central Local Court on Friday morning and faces a maximum penalty of 25 years in jail and/or a fine of $550,000.

The AGE

 

[thinkpink]

The AFP said the man later passed 101 pellets weighing approximately 200 grams.

Hahaha, I pity the guy who had to sit and wait for him to pass all those pellets then sort and count them.

 

[hoptis]

Drugs sniffed out at God's Kitchen rave
October 07, 2007 12:00am

Police and sniffer dogs swooped on a Melbourne rave party overnight, making five drug-related arrests.

The God's Kitchen event at Rod Laver Arena, in Melbourne's inner east, attracted an estimated 7,500 patrons, with 43 found to be in possession of drugs of dependence, police said.

Of those arrested, three men in their 20s were charged with traffic ecstasy and two people were charged with handle stolen goods.

All were bailed to appear at Melbourne Magistrates' Court at a later date.

The remainder were cautioned or qualified for the Drug Diversion Program.

-AAP

Herald Sun

 

[lil angel15]

NSW police seize ecstasy at dance party
October 7, 2007 - 9:29AM

More than 80 ecstasy tablets have been seized by police at an all-ages dance party in Sydney, police say.

The police operation at Sydney Olympic Park also raided a karaoke bar, where officers say two illegal immigrants were found and detained.

"A police operation at an all-ages dance party in Sydney's west overnight has resulted in a number of people being charged, including two for drug supply," NSW Police said in a statement.

Officers worked with the assistance of sniffer dogs and seized 81 tablets alleged to be ecstasy, with 47 tablets found on one person and 16 on another.

Police also charged nine people with drug possession while further charges included offensive behaviour and a warning for cannabis possession.

Officers were also investigating a break and enter at nearby premises, and three dance party attendees were charged with robbery.

All those facing charges are scheduled to appear before Burwood Local Court on October 26.

"In conjunction, police also ran an operation with the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs at a nearby karaoke bar," police said.

"Two people were detained as illegal immigrants."

The AGE

 

[Splatt]

Great, why dont you release lab tests of those 81 ecstasy tablets then.

 

[lil angel15]

Three charged over car 'drug laboratory'
October 8, 2007 - 9:59AM

Three people have been charged with allegedly using a car as a mini-laboratory to produce illegal drugs.

Police said the car was stopped in the southern Adelaide suburb of Morphett Vale on Friday for a routine traffic matter.

But when the officers checked the vehicle they found containers of chemicals and indications it was being used to produce illegal drugs.

"Police are very concerned by this type of illicit drug activity as clandestine drug laboratories are highly toxic and dangerous," a spokesman said.

"The nature of the chemicals and equipment present a danger to people involved and the community who may unwittingly come into contact with chemicals used in this type of production."

Two men aged 30 and 49, and a woman aged 33, were arrested over the find and charged with taking part in the manufacture of a drug of dependence.

They were all bailed to appear in the Christies Beach Magistrates Court next month.

The AGE

 

[lil angel15]

Siblings accused of trafficking heroin
Rebecca Tucker
09Oct07

TWO Hamlyn Heights siblings accused of trafficking heroin were yesterday refused bail despite pleas one suffered cancer and the other was pregnant.

Kellie Bidmade, 36, of Vines Rd, Hamlyn Heights, slammed a courtroom door as she was led from the dock by police after the failed bail bid, muttering the decision was ``bullsh--''.

Her brother, Graham Bidmade, 44, of the same address, shook his head and muttered to himself as he was also taken from the court.

The Bidmades each face six drug-related charges, including trafficking, possessing and using heroin.

The pair, who appeared alongside each other in Geelong Magistrates' Court dock, were taken into custody on Friday after police conducted a search of their Vines Rd unit, earlier watching them complete an alleged drugs transaction in Minerva Rd.

Police informant Acting Sergeant Dale Menzies, of the Geelong Regional Response Unit, told the court officers followed the Bidmades back to their address where they found heroin, other drugs and cash.

The court heard police had been watching the Bidmades for some time, earlier noticing people coming and going from their unit, including known heroin users.

Mr Bidmade, who was allegedly found with about three grams of heroin, $630 and a small amount of cannabis, pleaded with magistrate Peter Couzens to grant him bail so he could pursue treatment for a recently-diagnosed recurrence of skin cancer.

His sister, who allegedly had a small amount of heroin and $790, also applied for bail, arguing she was to ``get my boy back next week'' and had recently returned a positive pregnancy test.

Both appeared without legal representation.

Mr Couzens refused bail, agreeing with police prosecutor Senior Constable Geoff Lamb, who argued both Bidmades posed an unacceptable risk of reoffending.

The court's decision prompted an outburst from Ms Bidmade as police escorted her from the court.

The siblings were remanded in custody to reappear in the same court for a further mention on October 17.

Geelong Advertiser

 

[lil angel15]

Six arrested in drug bust on Vic army base
October 9, 2007 17:38:00

Five Defence Force members have been arrested during a drug bust at the Latchford Army Base in north east Victoria.

Police believe the arrests have significantly disrupted an ecstasy trafficking ring within the Defence Force.

Detectives from Wodonga and Albury and the Military Police Investigation Unit carried out several search warrants at the Latchford base, east of Wodonga, over the past week.

They recovered cash and other evidence relating to the sale and distribution of ecstasy.

Three Defence Force members are charged with drug trafficking, another two are charged with harassing a witness.

A 30-year-old civilian man is also charged with trafficking ecstasy.

The six men will appear at the Wodonga Magistrates Court later this month.

Police say their investigations are continuing.

A spokeswoman for the Defence Department says the use of drugs is not tolerated in the force.

She says the department is assisting police with their investigation into the alleged drug offences.

She says discipline of the Defence Force members will depend on the outcome of the investigation.

ABC Online

 

[hoptis]

Five soldiers charged over ecstasy trafficking ring
October 10, 2007 01:48am
Article from: AAP

SIX men, including five soldiers, have been charged over an alleged ecstasy trafficking ring at the Latchford army base at Wodonga, in Victoria's northeast.

The six were arrested yesterday following two raids conducted by Wodonga detectives and military police at the base, east of Wodonga, police said.

A quantity of drugs and cash were allegedly seized.

Two soldiers were charged with one count each of trafficking a drug of dependence, another with one count of possessing a drug of dependence and two others face a count each of harassing a witness.

A 34-year-old civilian was also charged with trafficking.

All were bailed by police to appear in the Wodonga Magistrates' Court on October 30.

An Australian Defence Force spokeswoman declined to comment on the case itself because it was in police hands.

But she said the ADF was cooperating with police and would not condone or tolerate its personnel being involved with prohibited substances.

"Use of prohibited substances is not compatible with an effective and efficient defence force," she said.

"It can undermine safety, discipline, morale, security and the ADF's reputation."

News.com.au

 

[lil angel15]

Cocaine pellet ruptures in man's stomach
October 10, 2007 - 12:20PM


A South African man's alleged attempt to smuggle drugs into Australia nearly proved fatal after a pellet of cocaine ruptured inside his body, federal police say.

The 40-year-old man arrived at Sydney airport on a flight from Dubai on September 30.

Customs officers became suspicious he was concealing drugs internally and called in the Australian Federal Police (AFP).

The man was receiving medical treatment when a pellet ruptured inside his body, requiring immediate intervention to prevent a fatal overdose, police said.

The man was allegedly concealing 48 pellets in his stomach, containing approximately 480 grams of a white powder that tested positive for cocaine.

He was charged with attempting to import a marketable quantity of a border controlled drug and is expected to face Sydney's Central Local Court on Wednesday.

It was the second alleged internal concealment detected at the airport that day, Australian Customs said in the joint statement with the AFP.

A 36-year-old Australian man was also stopped by customs officers after arriving on a flight from Vietnam.

SMH

 

[lil angel15]

Drugs man fined
MADELINE HEALEY
October 10, 2007

TEXT messages ordering ``bic'', a street name for ecstasy tablets, helped convince a magistrate that a Belmont man was guilty of dealing drugs in Warrnambool.

After a contested hearing in the Warrnambool Magistrates Court yesterday, Shaun Smyth, 26, of High Street, avoided an immediate jail sentence but was handed a suspended sentence and $1000 in fines.

Smyth was caught by police on Raglan Parade on March 4 this year with 20 ecstasy tablets in three snap-lock bags, six bags of methamphetamines, eight empty bags, $480 cash and a mobile phone containing more than 150 text messages.

He had pleaded guilty to possessing the ecstasy and amphetamines, but not guilty to trafficking the drugs and possessing the proceeds of crime.

Constable Tiernan McNeill told the court he found the drugs at 3.55am when he pat searched Smyth, who had been at C59 nightclub.

Magistrate Michael Stone allowed the text messages, from Smyth's inbox and outbox, to be submitted by police as evidence, despite Smyth's barrister Graeme Davis arguing they should not be allowed.

Some of the messages read out in court included references to ``bic'' or ecstasy, ``whizz'' or cocaine, as well as requests for money.

Mr Davis argued many references, such as a message reading ``Need a pound ASAP'', could mean anything. ``The pound could have meant a pound of mince meat,'' Mr Davis said.

One message sent a few days before Smyth was arrested read ``Will you have bics tonight if so how much are they''?

Police said a reply was found in the phone which said, ``Yeah 30''.

In finding Smyth guilty, Mr Stone said he had taken messages like ``Hey get me a bit of bic'' into account. During sentencing, Mr Davis asked Mr Stone to consider that Smyth had left the drug scene, was working full-time and no longer attended rave parties.

Mr Stone said the message had to get out that if people trafficked drugs they would be dealt with seriously. ``You are a person who is spreading this disease, this scourge around society,'' Mr Stone said.

For trafficking and possessing, he sentenced Smyth to a month in jail suspended for 12 months.

For possessing proceeds of crime and failing to appear in court, he fined him $1000.

The Standard

 

[lil angel15]

Three arrested in Sydney drug raids

A man and two women have been charged with supplying illegal drugs following an undercover police operation in inner Sydney.

Officers say they carried out simultaneous raids on inner-city homes yesterday after their undercover investigation into the drug supply in Surry Hills and Kings Cross in August.

Police say they found $6,000, cannabis and a substance believed to be the drug, 'ice', in a Kings Cross apartment yesterday.

Two women, aged 26 and 27, and a 40-year-old man were arrested there.

The man has been charged with supplying a prohibited drug, as well as over four outstanding warrants.

He was refused bail to face Central Local Court today.

One of the women faces the same charge, while the other was charged with possessing an illegal drug.

They have been granted bail and will face court on October 30.

ABC Online

 

[Splatt]

What happens when you put pseudoephedrine in restricted classes, that only prevent and make more impure "base"/speed in Queensland (by starting from phenylephrine to make dirty amphetamine analogues and people wanting a goodf hit) and around Australia and not concentrate on stealthy importations and big rings?

Well this happens on a near daily basis, not all are printed (it is upto police, whether they are investigating into something bigger and letting it happen for a while, or other reasons) but I will quote today's Queensland chemist break ins:

Pharmacy break in, Logan Central
10/10/2007

Police are investigating the break and enter of the Amcal Chemist on Benz Street, Logan Central this morning. Just after midnight a person smashed the front glass panel of the store to gain entry and stole pseuodoephedrine based products. The person is believed to be male and was wearing light blue denim jeans, grey long sleeved pull over with a green stripe down both sleeves, gloves, a bandanna or scarf covering the face, a multi-coloured striped woollen hat and running shoes.

QLD Police Media Unit

Armed robbery charges, Southport
10/10/2007

A 37-year-old Tweed Heads man will appear in the Southport Magistrates Court this morning on charges relating to the alleged armed robbery of a chemist on the Gold Coast.

A 33-year-old woman has also been charged over the incident at the Greg Keily Chemist at the intersection of Marine Parade and Railway Street about 9pm on Monday.

She has been bailed to appear in the Southport Magistrates Court on November 22.

Police charged the man and woman last night with one count each of robbery with violence while armed in company and unlawful use of a motor vehicle.

QLD Police

 

[Splatt]

Alleged drug mule at Sydney Airport risks death
Wednesday, 10th October 2007
Joint media release - Australian Customs and the Australian Federal Police
(Longer Version)

A 40-year-old South African man is expected to face Sydney Central Local Court today charged over an alleged attempt to internally smuggle drugs into Australia that almost proved fatal.

One pellet of cocaine, allegedly ingested by the man, ruptured inside his body while in hospital, requiring immediate medical attention to prevent a fatal overdose.

The man was stopped by Customs officers after arriving at Sydney International Airport on a flight from Dubai on Sunday 30 September.

Customs officers referred the man to the Australian Federal Police (AFP) on the suspicion that he was concealing drugs internally.

While undergoing medical treatment that day, a pellet filled with cocaine ruptured inside his stomach. The man was treated with an anti-narcotic medicine.

Customs Northern Airports Operations National Manager Gayle Brown said this was the second alleged internal concealment detected by Customs in the one day at Sydney Airport.

A 36-year old Australian man was also stopped by Customs officers on the same day after arriving on a flight from Vietnam," Ms Brown said.

AFP National Manager Border Roman Quaedvlieg said this incident graphically illustrates that syndicates who organise internal drug couriers have no regard for the safety of their mules.

"If it wasn't for the fact that this man was detected as an alleged courier and received prompt medical attention, he could have died from a toxic drug overdose," Assistant Commissioner Quaedvlieg said.

The man passed 48 pellets containing approximately 480 grams of a white powder that tested positive for cocaine. Further forensic examination is being undertaken to determine its purity.

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

The maximum penalty for importing a marketable quantity of drugs is 25 years imprisonment and/or a fine of $550,000.

Australian Customs News

 

[kingpin007]

October 11, 2007 02:45pm

POLICE investigating suspected outlaw motorcycle gang members on the Gold Coast have seized 1,500 ecstasy tablets in raids today.

Police stormed four homes at Currumbin, Burleigh Heads, Reedy Creek and Lower Beechmont, with the stash allegedly found at the Currumbin home.

Each property had been the home of a person with known contacts to gang members, they said.

The source of the tablets were still being investigated.

A 27-year-old man from Burleigh Heads has been charged with possessing a dangerous weapon, possessing a dangerous drug and possessing tainted property.

A 38-year-old Reedy Creek man has been charged with possessing a dangerous drug, possessing a utensil and possession of illegal fireworks.

A 41-year-old Lower Beechmont man has been charged with possessing utensils.

All three will appear in the Southport Magistrates Court at a later date.

http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,20797,22568560-3102,00.html?from=public_rss

 

[lil angel15]

'Drugs smuggled in bra'
October 11, 2007 02:30pm

A 25-YEAR-OLD woman has been arrested for allegedly trying to smuggle opiate drugs concealed in her bra into a Queensland prison.

Corrective Services Minister Judy Spence today said the woman from Acacia Ridge woman had been charged after allegedly attempting to smuggle 11 balloons filled with a white powder into Woodford Correctional Centre, north of Brisbane, about 1.30pm yesterday.

She faces one count of supplying a dangerous drug within a correctional centre.

"When the visitor was being searched she removed from her bra 11 small water balloons containing what appeared to be crushed tablets and handed them to detectives," Ms Spence said.

"The substance has now been handed over to police for testing at the John Tonge Centre."

She said authorities believed the powder was Subutex, which can be used to treat opiate addiction by preventing symptoms of withdrawal from heroin and other opiates.

She said if the powder was Subutex, it could be worth up to $22,000 in a prison.

The find should be a message for those who had thought about smuggling drugs into a prison, she said.

"We have intelligence officers, electronic drug detection instruments and one of the largest drug detection dog squads in Australia," she said.

"The message is simple: If you attempt to smuggle drugs or other contraband into our prisons, you will be caught, you will be prosecuted and you may end up doing jail time yourself."

Courier Mail