The Australian/NZ Drug Busts Mega-Thread Part I

[lil angel15]

Drugs, taser found by Qld police
11th October 2007, 17:53 WST

Three people have been arrested after drugs and weapons were found in a search of a south-east Queensland home.

Police said officers searched a Moore Park house at Bundaberg and found a large sum of cash, amphetamines, cannabis, a firearm, a taser gun and drug utensils.

A 23-year-old man was charged with possession of a firearm, tainted property, amphetamines and ecstasy, a restricted weapon, drug utensils and bringing stolen goods into Queensland.

A 44-year-old man was charged with two counts of possessing a dangerous drug, and possession of a utensil.

The men will appear in the Bundaberg Magistrates Court on Friday.

A 43-year-old woman was also charged with producing a dangerous drug and will appear on December 10.

The West

 

[Splatt]

Twelve charged, Sunshine Coast District
12/10/2007

Police have charged nine men and three women after search warrants were executed this morning at the Bandidos and Gypsy Jokers club houses, local businesses and residences in the Sunshine Coast District.

The officers allegedly located drugs including methyl amphetamines and cannabis, drug utensils and weapons including batons, firearms, pepper spray and a knife.

Three women, a 37-year-old from Bokarina, a 39-year-old from Mooloolaba and a 31-year-old from Palmwoods and eight men, a 47-year-old from Shelly Beach, 45-year-old from Palmwoods, a 44-year-old from Kin Kin, a 43-year-old from Noosaville, a 42-year-old from Cootharaba, a 39-year-old from Landsborough, a 35-year-old from Glenview and a 27-year-old from Belli Park, were arrested.

The charges included possession of a dangerous drug, possession of utensil, possession of a restricted item and obstructing police.

They were all issued with a notice to appear and are expected to appear in Sunshine Coast District Magistrates Courts in November.

A 20-year-old Shelly Beach man was also charged with failing to appear. He is due to appear in the Noosa Magistrates Court today.

QLD Police News

No one listens to me when I tell them QLD has a few major ongoing operations (more still to come) with drug production, trafficking and dealing. I said this about a month ago in this thread, but removed the post necause it wasnt a news article... And to the boys I told them what they're in for, probably think im a D or informant now. Well obviously the word did get around because they actually hiding their drugs now. All they got is possession out of this big police operations.

 

[Splatt]

Produce drug charge, Hervey Bay
11/10/2007

Two men aged 35 and 40 will appear in the Hervey Bay Magistrates Court on November 1 after police allegedly located an illicit laboratory at a residence on William Street, Urangan (Hervey Bay) today. The men were charged with producing a dangerous drug, possessing a dangerous drug and possessing utensils.

QLD Police Media

 

[Splatt]

Man faces court over suspected drug find
Friday, 12nd October 2007

A 27-year-old dual Vietnamese-Australian citizen will appear in Melbourne Magistrates Court today charged with attempting to import heroin into Australia.

The man was stopped and questioned by Customs officers when he arrived at Melbourne International Airport on a flight from Vietnam on Thursday (11 October).

During questioning, 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 for medical examination.

It will be alleged in court that the man passed three pellets believed to contain 215 grams of heroin.

The estimated street value of the heroin is $64,500.

The man has been charged with attempting to import a marketable quantity of a border-controlled drug contrary to section 307.2(1) of the Commonwealth Criminal Code Act 1995.

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

Customs News

 

[lil angel15]

Drugs found in late-night car raid
15th October 2007, 10:45 WST

Police say they found a big amount of methylamphetamine and cash hidden in a car they stopped near a Northbridge night spot on Saturday morning.

A 20-year-old man has been charged with drug-related offences after police searched the Holden Commodore he was driving on Rod Street about 12.30am.

Police allegedly found clip-seal bags of methylamphetamine under a seat and $2000 cash.

A search of the man’s Langford home allegedly located more methylamphetamine and drug related paraphernalia, and a stolen computer.

The man was charged with possessing a prohibited drug with intent to sell or supply, one count of unlawful possession, one count of selling a prohibited drug and one count of receiving.

He is scheduled to appear in Perth Magistrate’s Court today.

The West

 

[lil angel15]

Seven arrested in huge cannabis bust in Adelaide
BEN WAY, POLICE REPORTER
October 15, 2007 01:30pm

HUNDREDS of thousands of dollars worth of cannabis has been seized and seven people arrested after police busted a statewide drug ring this morning.

Ten properties – ranging from Myponga in the south to Glenelg in the west and Holden Hill in the north - were raided by police, including the drug squad and organised crime investigation branch

A total of 130 plants were seized – equivalent to 43,300 three-gram street deals .

The bust centred on a ‘very elaborate’ crop-growing operation in Myponga, where 48 plants - 24 seedlings and 24 grown plants - were found in a shed at James Track, along with elaborate electrical equipment for tending the crop.

The equipment included ventilators on the roof, extraction fans, rainwater tanks, and a $20,000 generator.

Five men and two women were arrested for drug-related crimes, including production, possession for sale, and sale of cannabis.

Police also are searching a propety in Rose St, Glenelg.

Adelaide Now

 

[lil angel15]

Prison officer charged with drug supply
October 15, 2007 06:40pm

A PRISON officer has been charged with corruption and supplying drugs to prisoners in a Perth jail.

The officer was arrested by Corruption and Crime Commission (CCC) staff as he reported for work this morning at Perth's Casuarina prison, CCC operations director Nick Anticich said.

Mr Anticich said the officer was accused of supplying amphetamines to prisoners.

The officer has been charged with one count of corruption, one count of possession of a prohibited drug with intent to sell or supply, one count of supplying a prohibited drug and one count of possession of an implement used in connection with smoking a prohibited drug.

Mr Anticich said the investigation into the officer was ongoing.

The man is due to appear in the Perth Magistrates Court on Friday.

Herald Sun

 

[lil angel15]

Man charged over 2kg drug import
October 16, 2007 - 10:45AM

A Sunshine Coast man has been charged with importing two kilograms of pseudoephedrine after authorities discovered the substance in packages sent through the mail.

Customs officers at Sydney's international mail centre selected two packages from Thailand for examination on October 7.

The packages allegedly consisted of 10 containers of "creative monohydrate", but were declared as clothing, Customs and the Australian Federal Police (AFR) said in a statement.

One of the containers contained a quantity of white powder that tested positive to ephedrine.

The collective weight of the substance in the 10 containers was 11kg.

Further forensic testing found the presence of around 2kg of pure pseudoephedrine.

"This could have been converted into street-ready methamphetamine worth around $2.5 million," the statement said.

AFP agents substituted the powder with another substance and the packages were delivered to a post office box in Nambour.

A 33-year-old man from Mooloolah Valley was arrested after the packages were retrieved.

He appeared in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Tuesday charged with importing a marketable quantity of a border-controlled precursor drug.

He was remanded in custody to reappear in the same court.

AFP national border manager Roman Quaedvlieg (Quaedvlieg) said the work of both agencies was critical in preventing criminals from making and selling drugs.

SMH

 

[lil angel15]

Drug trafficker fined $1000 in Colac court
Tony Prytz
16Oct07

A YOUNG man who provided cannabis to a minor, had ecstasy and sold cannabis to fund his own drug habit was a former Venturer scout with an unblemished reputation, a court heard yesterday.

Joel Currer, 22, of Alexander St, Colac, pleaded guilty to charges of trafficking drugs, supplying cannabis to a minor, possessing ecstasy and using cannabis.

Colac Magistrates' Court heard police raided Currer's home on September 1 this year and found cannabis and ecstasy.

Currer made admissions about drug uses and supplying cannabis to a person who was not 18.

Currer admitted selling small amounts of cannabis on about 20 occasions. He told police he sold the drugs to help pay for his own drug use. Currer said the ecstasy was for his own use.

Robert Morgan, for Currer, said his client was a former Venturer scout, an active member of the CFA who took part in community programs like Do Care.

``He is ashamed, embarrassed and disappointed by his actions,'' he said.

A character witness, architect Geoff De La Rue, said Currer had made a silly mistake but was otherwise of good character.

Magistrate Michael Coghlan said he gave Currer credit for his early guilty plea but warned him that trafficking cannabis had a maximum prison term of 15 years.

He said some people described cannabis and ecstasy as recreational drugs. ``That is not an expression with which I can agree,'' he said.

``It is a particularly foolish thing to be engaged in trafficking any drug of dependence.

``If you engage in this type of behaviour again you will be likely to be imprisoned.''

Currer was convicted and fined a total of $1000.

The Advertiser

 

[Splatt]

Russian bodybuilders convicted over Customs steroids detection
Tuesday, 16th October 2007

Two Russian bodybuilders have today been convicted and fined a total of $5,000 for attempting to import banned performance and image enhancing drugs into Western Australia.

Customs officers at Perth International Airport stopped and questioned the two men, both Russian citizens, after they arrived on a flight from Moscow last Tuesday (9 October) Customs alleged.

During a search of their luggage, Customs officers located a total of 11 vials containing the steroids Stanozolol, Testosterone Propionate and Nandrolone Decanoate.

The two men were part of a group of bodybuilders taking part in a competition in Perth at the weekend.

Importation of steroids into Australia without appropriate permits is prohibited under Section 233(1)(b) of the Customs Act 1901.

Customs investigators arrested and charged the two men with importing prohibited imports.

The two men, Mr Dmitry Artamonov 40, and Mr Arkady Semiletov 44, faced Perth Magistrates Court today where they were convicted and fined $2,500 each. They are to be held in custody with their passports detained until the fines are paid.

Customs National Manager Investigations Richard Janeczko said the investigation formed part of an ongoing national crackdown on the smuggling of performance and image enhancing drugs into Australia.

"This case should serve as a reminder to anyone thinking about trying to bring these kinds of drugs into the country that they run a high risk of being caught and prosecuted," Mr Janeczko said.

Customs Media Release

 

[Splatt]

Men charged over pharmacy burglaries
16/10/2007

Two Gold Coast men aged 21 and 29 have been charged this afternoon in relation to the recent spate of pharmacy burglaries in the Logan and Oxley areas.

It is alleged the men were both involved in the burglary of the Soul Pattinson Chemist at the intersection of Nottingham and Beaudesert roads at Calamvale on September 18.

Police have also charged the 29-year-old with the burglary of the Beaudesert Medical Pharmacy on September 29, the burglary of Ormeau chemists on Vaughan Drive and Pascoe Road on September 26 and the burglary of the Grand Plaza Pharmacy on September 18.

The 21-year-old was charged with one count of burglary and the 29-year-old with five counts of burglary.

Oxley and Logan detectives initially charged the men along with two women, also from the Gold Coast, yesterday after police allegedly located stolen vehicles, firearms and stolen property in bush land off Beaudesert Road, Browns Plains.

The 21-year-old was initially charged with three counts of unlawful use a motor vehicle, and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm and break and enter.

The 29-year-old was initially charged with two counts of unlawful use of a motor vehicle and stealing, and one count of possession of a firearm, possession of a dangerous drug and evade police.

A 25-year-old woman was charged with three counts of unlawful use of a motor vehicle and one count of possession of a firearm. She also appeared in Richlands Magistrates Court today and was remanded in custody to appear on October 19.

A 24-year-old woman was charged with two counts of unlawful use of a motor vehicle and will appear in Richlands Magistrates Court on November 5.

Ongoing investigations led police to further charge the men this afternoon in relation to the pharmacy burglaries.

The pair appeared in court today and were remanded in custody to appear on October 19. The 29-year-old will appear in Richlands Magistrates Court and the 21-year-old in Southport Magistrates Court.

Investigations are continuing.

QLD Cops

 

[lil angel15]

Pharmacy burglars steal cold pills
12:00a.m. 17 October 2007
By Amy Remeikis

The thieves were in and out of the Mooloolah Valley Pharmacy in under a minute.

But co-owner Libby Malter worries about the extent of damage the resulting drugs made from the pseudoephedrine-based products stolen from her chemist early yesterday morning will cause in the future.

Pseudoephedrine is found in many over-the-pharmaceutical-counter cold and flu medications, and is a sought-after ingredient in the production of methamphetamines, including speed.

It was the only thing taken from Ms Malter’s store just after 3am yesterday and she said the thieves knew exactly what they were after.

“They threw two very large rocks through the glass entrance doors and they must have been wearing productive clothing, because the glass was very jagged,” she said.

“There was a police run through here shortly before; they must have waited for that and then hit.

“I guess the street value makes it all worth it for them. They always manage to work around the precautions and are able to chemically break down the product – if only they put their good brains to better use.”

It is the second pharmacy robbery in a week on the Sunshine Coast.

Thieves who targeted a Mountain Creek chemist last week were after the same products.

But president of the Queensland branch of the pharmaceutical guild and Nambour pharmacy owner Tim Logan said the guild had met with police and insurance agencies last week to discuss how to better protect their stores and products.

“You’ll probably find pharmacists keep less stock of these medications and keep them in a more secure storage overnight,” he said.

“They know where the products are kept and head straight to them, so we intend to make it as difficult as possible for them.

“We just hope that they will soon get the message that it is pretty futile and that they might consider becoming more productive members of society.”

Sunshine Coast Daily

 

[Splatt]

Double drug detection at Sydney Airport
Wednesday, 17th October 2007

Two people have been charged in separate incidents with attempting to import drugs into the country through Sydney International Airport in the past five days.

In the first incident, a 47-year-old man with dual Vietnamese-Australian citizenship was stopped by Customs officers when he arrived on a flight from Vietnam on Friday (12 October).

During questioning, Customs officers became suspicious that the man was concealing drugs internally.

He was referred to the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and taken to hospital for a medical examination where he allegedly passed four pellets weighing around 250 grams. The powder is currently undergoing forensic testing to determine the drug and purity.

The man appeared in Sydney Central Local Court on Tuesday 16 October and was charged with attempting to import a marketable quantity of a border controlled drug.

In the second incident, a 32-year-old Australian man was stopped by Customs officers when he arrived on a flight from Vietnam on Monday (15 October).

During questioning, Customs officers became suspicious that he may have been concealing drugs internally. The man was referred to the AFP and taken to hospital for medical examination.

It will be alleged in court that the man passed 93 pellets containing around 250 grams of powder. Presumptive testing indicated the presence of heroin. The man is expected to face Sydney Central Local Court today.

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

The maximum penalty for these offences is 25 years imprisonment and/or a fine of $550,000.

Customs News

 

[hoptis]

Police officer 'wounded in groin with used syringe'
October 17, 2007 09:21am

A BRISBANE police officer will be tested for disease after a woman he was questioning allegedly wounded him in the groin with a used syringe.

The detective was questioning the woman at the criminal investigation branch at Fortitude Valley, in inner Brisbane, when she pulled the syringe from her pocket and threw it about 7.30pm (AEST) yesterday, police said.

The officer suffered a puncture wound to his groin.

A 35-year-old woman was charged with one count each of serious assault of police, possessing tainted property, unlawful possession of suspected stolen property and failure to dispose of a needle or syringe.

She is due to appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court today.

Police said she was being questioned over property offences at the time of the alleged attack.

News.com.au

 

[Splatt]

Edit: hoptis beat me to it

In related news someone I know recently got charged $1200 for possession of 0.002g of amphetamine, but charged for 0.22g (they weighed the baggie), They found 1000 syringes in his boot, but the police officer nearly got pricked by an open one in the back of his vehicle (after he said there were no needles in the car........) by a conscented search (fool), he was fined $1200 for poissession and unlawful disposal of a used syringe and no conviction recorded. Funnily enough they didn't question an ounce of epsom salts in a baggie besides asking "is this ice?" and he replied "no, my friend uses it for bowel problems, its epsom salts" and was left in his car, along with empty G vials with tiny bits of G left in them

 

[lil angel15]

Man to face drug charges after Grafton raid

A man has been charged after a police drug raid near Grafton, on the New South Wales north coast, earlier this week.

A search of a property on Wooli Road at Pillar Valley on Tuesday morning uncovered cannabis plants and leaf with an estimated street value of almost $400,000.

A 49-year-old man was arrested and taken to Grafton police station where he was charged with commercial cultivation and possession.

He was granted conditional bail and is due to reappear at Grafton court in December.

ABC Online

 

[lil angel15]

Stopped traffic
LEONIE JOHNSON
18Oct07

DRUGS and thousands of dollars were discovered by police in an idling car which the occupants were asleep inside yesterday at Yabulu.

Unknowing good samaritans contacted emergency services after noticing a car sitting with its engine running at the Mobil service station about 1.30am.

Police then stumbled across more than they bargained for while attending the run-of-the-mill call.

Northern Region Drug Squad officer-in-charge Detective Senior Sergeant Mick Walker said a significant amount of cash and speed was discovered.

"A car had been left running at the Mobil at Yabulu," he said.

"People were concerned that there were two occupants inside and were worried for their welfare.

"Police and the Queensland Ambulance Service responded and when the doors were opened drug paraphernalia was seen in the vehicle.

"The couple were asleep.

"A subsequent search of the vehicle has located 195g of methamphetamines (more commonly known as speed), $17,100 in cash and assorted drug paraphernalia."

Det Sen-Sgt Walker said the street value for the drugs was about $60,000.

A 39-year-old man and 44-year-old woman will face Townsville Magistrates Court today.

Det Sen-Sgt Walker said the de facto couple was from interstate and had been living out of a hire car for several months.

They have both been charged with several serious drug offences.

These include trafficking in methamphetamine, possession of a dangerous drug with a circumstance of aggravation, possession of proceeds, possession of a utensil and possession of things used in commission of a crime.

This is the second major drug bust in Townsville in just over a month.

In September more than $170,000 of cannabis, gold bars, cash and a rifle
were detected when police made a massive drug bust near Woodstock.

More than 20kg of cannabis valued at $176,000 was seized, one of the largest cannabis busts in the region this year.

Police found 15 pounds, or 6.8kg, of dried cannabis in the car that was pulled over on the Bruce Highway, near Woodstock.

Then following searches of two properties a further 25 pounds, or 13kg, of cannabis was found buried in a Woodstock backyard.

Police arrested a 51-year-old man and his 39-year-old nephew at the Woodstock property.

The vehicle driver, a 38-year-old Mundingburra man, was also arrested.

Townsville Bulletin

 

[lil angel15]

Federal Police arrest four at Melbourne Airport

Two men have been charged with drug-related offences, after being arrested by Federal Police at Melbourne Airport.

They were detained while waiting to board a domestic flight this morning.

Two Craigieburn men, aged 23 and 32, have been charged with trafficking a drug of dependence.

They were allegedly found in possession of 75 tablets and a powdered substance, believed to be methamphetamine.

Two other men, aged 21 and 25, also from Craigieburn, have been released and ordered to undertake a drug rehabilitation program.

ABC Online

 

[lil angel15]

Drug dealer in prison
Genevieve Gannon
19 October 2007


A QUEANBEYAN man was sent to jail this week for his role in a drug syndicate.
The trials of six people implicated in the seizure of $700,000 worth of the drug known as ice continued on Tuesday, October 16.

In August they were charged with offences relating to the sale and distribution of crystal methylamphetamine, on Tuesday they each appeared before magistrate Roger Prowse at Queanbeyan Local Court.

The first to appear, Wayne David Hughes, 35, of Karri St, Queanbeyan, faced two charges, one of driving while disqualified and one of supplying a prohibited drug.

He was found guilty of both charges.

He has not held a valid licence since 1995 and at the time of the trial was disqualified from driving until 2014.

To this period of disqualification Magistrate Prowse added another two years.

With regard to the charges of supplying a prohibited drug the court heard that Hughes participated in an illegal transaction but did not benefit financially from it.

Hughes furnished an undercover police officer with a substance found to contain 0.06g of methylamphetamine.

Magistrate Prowse said that supplying such a substance was a dangerous and illegal act, and had the undercover policeman been an ordinary consumer who had taken the drug, and the transaction had resulted in the death of the consumer, Mr Hughes would be facing charges of manslaughter, which carries a penalty of up to nine years. Magistrate Prowse inferred that given this was the case, the sentence of nine months imprisonment which he handed down was lenient.

Hughes was also sentenced to four months for his driving offence, his drug-related sentence carries with it a non-parole period of six months and three weeks.

The four other members of the drug syndicate also appeared in court, including one juvenile.

The trials of the four adults were adjourned until November 20.

Queanbeyan news

 

[Splatt]

Yep and 60mg of meth kills people way too often!

Probably even 20-30mg or less cos of impurities or cuts..