The Australian/NZ Drug Busts Mega-Thread Part I

[kytnism]

related to above article

Man faces ecstasy trafficking charge

October 31, 2007 02:28pm
Article from: AAP (news.com.au)

A 22-YEAR-OLD man has been granted bail after facing a Gold Coast court charged with selling more than $600,000 worth of ecstasy tablets.

Rocco de Palma, of Nerang, today appeared in Southport Magistrates Court charged with one count of drug trafficking and one of supplying a dangerous drug.

Police allege de Palma sold thousands of ecstasy pills with an estimated street value of $640,000 on the Gold Coast in the past 18 months.

The arrest followed the execution of a search warrant on a property at Nerang on September 9.

De Palma was released on bail and his case adjourned to December 7.

...kytnism...

 

[Splatt]

Net falls on heroin trade in south east corner
31/10/2007

Police have today netted 15 people in a drug operation focusing on heroin supply and trafficking in the south east corner of Queensland.

Dawn raids on more than 50 homes, businesses and blocks of land were conducted today as part of Operation Delta East, a 12-month intensive investigation which worked with information from the public and intelligence gathered by police.

About 200 detectives, general duties police, forensic and scientific officers, and about 50 police recruits were involved in the execution of the warrants this morning. Police from State Crime Operations Command, Operations Support Command, Metropolitan North and South regions and South Eastern Region assisted in the execution of the warrants and arrests.

Today police arrested 15 people on 34 offences including trafficking, supply of dangerous drugs, possession of dangerous drugs and utensils and other related offences.

Police seized about $135,000 cash believed to be tainted property or the proceeds of crime, a small number of notes believed to be counterfeit, and quantities of heroin, cannabis and ICE. About $75,000 was seized from one Inala address.

State Crime Operations Command’s State Drug Investigative Unit’s Detective Inspector Marty Mickelson said police would continue to crack down on local networks and individuals involved in the supply and trafficking of drugs.

“Today’s closure of this investigation has netted a number of people who we believe are key figures in the local heroin trade in the Brisbane area. We are satisfied we have had an impact on a network of people but the success of this investigation today will also be felt on the streets by those involved in drug activity.

“We are gathering intelligence at all levels of the supply and distribution of drugs, including information on those individuals involved in the production of drugs in Queensland. We will continue to target these networks and persist in the prosecution of individuals involved in drug activity,” Detective Inspector Mickelson said.

Two of the 15 charged today have been arrested with serious drug offences. An Inala man, 27, was arrested for trafficking, produce a dangerous drug, possession of a dangerous drug and supply a dangerous drug. He will appear in the Richlands Magistrates Court tomorrow.

A Stretton woman, 22, was also arrested and charged with offences including possession of dangerous drug including Heroin, morphine, cannabis and appeared in the Holland Park Magistrates Court today.

The others arrested today have been dealt with by way of drug diversion or issued with Notices to Appear. Those issued Notices to Appear will all appear on November 22 in courts in Brisbane, Beenleigh and Western Districts.

 

[lil angel15]

Woman charged after drug premises raided - Operation Plante
1 November 2007

A woman will appear in court today following the execution of a search warrant on a drug house in Sydney’s south-west.

Police from Wetherill Park’s Region Enforcement Squad, as part of Operation Plante, have been proactively investigating a number of organised drug syndicates in South West Sydney involved in the enhanced indoor cultivation of cannabis.

About 12:20pm yesterday, police executed a search warrant at a premises on Junction Road, Lansvale.

Police located a sophisticated indoor cannabis cultivation system operating inside the premises.

Police seized 391 cannabis plants and approximately 500 grams of cannabis leaf.

A 55-year-old Cabramatta woman was arrested at the scene and taken to Cabramatta Police Station where she was charged with drug premises, enhanced indoor cultivation – commercial quantity, possess prohibited drug, supply prohibited drug and stealing electricity.

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

NSW Police Media Unit

 

[lil angel15]

Qld-SA drug network cracked, say police

Police think their raids in Queensland and SA have shut down a cannabis trafficking network. (ABC News)

Authorities say they have shut down an organised crime network that had been trafficking cannabis into Queensland from South Australia.

Twelve people, about half of them from Queensland, have been arrested as part of Operation Cygnus, which involved the Crime and Misconduct Commission and Queensland and South Australian police.

Properties in south-east Queensland were raided yesterday.

More than 20 properties have been raided in South Australia, with police finding hydroponically-grown cannabis, ice pipes, cash, pornography and other drugs.

In all, police say they seized $175,000 in cash and 25 kilograms of cannabis.

Police claim the cannabis was being sealed in plastic bags and hidden next to a modified fuel tank in a four-wheel-drive, then smuggled from South Australia to Queensland.

"Overnight a gentleman would drive straight through from Adelaide into Queensland and rendezvous with a couple of people," said Len Potts, of Queensland police.

Two of those arrested in SA have faced Adelaide Magistrates Court and been granted bail.

Inspector Peter Giles of the SA Police has described the drug bust as significant.

"It's certainly not every day of the week or every week that within Australia you see an operation that has the success to the degree of what's been revealed over the last two days," he said.

ABC Online

 

[Splatt]

Drug charge - Warwick, Queensland

A 31-year-old Bundaberg man will appear in the Warwick Magistrates Court today on a number of drug-related charges. Police searched a vehicle on Wood Street at Warwick yesterday afternoon and allegedly located a quantity of methyl amphetamine inside an esky.

The man was charged with supplying a dangerous drug, possession of a dangerous drug and possession of property used in the commission of a crime.

QLD Police


Southport Detective Spotting:
There are Undercover Detectives doing rounds in Southport in a SUV cream colour 5 cylinder people mover with a hatch back today. They were seen pulling over people and may be drug detectives. Four people in the car and all older blokes. It does not look like a traditional D car. Has lights installed in the headlights.

 

[lil angel15]

Vic police seize $1 million in drugs
November 5, 2007 - 2:25PM

Police have seized about $1 million worth of drugs as part of an operation targeting Melbourne's western suburbs.

The three-month operation culminated on Friday when police from Altona North Regional Response Unit [RRU], with the assistance of Geelong RRU, Embona Taskforce and Footscray police arrested six people and seized a large haul of drugs.

Raids were launched at 6.30am (AEDT) on Friday on addresses at Williamstown, Essendon and Yarraville in an operation aimed at a network trafficking a large quantity of ecstasy and amphetamines.

About 25,000 ecstasy tablets with an estimated value of $1 million, $18,000 in cash, a sawn-off shotgun, three vehicles and furniture were seized in the haul.

Four men and two women were charged with trafficking a large commercial quantity of ecstasy and ice and trafficking a commercial quantity of ecstasy and crystal meth.

They faced an out-of-sessions hearing on Friday evening and were remanded in custody to appear at the Melbourne Magistrates' Court for a filing hearing on Monday.

SMH

 

[lil angel15]

Speed disguised as 'Himalayan herbs'
November 05, 2007
SEVERAL people are being questioned after Customs seized about 1kg of pseudoephedrine hidden in a package of tablets at the Sydney Mail Centre.

Customs said the drug, in tablet form, was hidden in a parcel from India containing 47 bottles labelled "Himalaya pure herbs".

Pseudoephedrine is a precursor chemical commonly used in the manufacture of methamphetamine.

Customs said the tablets, which were seized on October 25, contained up to 1kg of pure pseudoephedrine, which could have a street value of $1.5 million when converted to methamphetamine.

"The drugs were concealed within professional packaging which indicates a sophisticated attempt to beat border controls," Customs' national director of enforcement and investigations Brian Hurrell said.

Investigators were questioning several people after properties at Dandenong in Victoria were searched, but no charges had been laid.

People found guilty of importing a commercial quantity of pseudoephedrine face fines of up to $550,000 and 25 years' imprisonment.

The Australian

 

[lil angel15]

Man and woman arrested, $2 million cannabis seized - Fairfield West
7 November 2007

Police have put another massive dent in Sydney’s illegal drug trade with the arrest of two people and seizure of more than $2 million worth of cannabis.

Detectives attached to the Wetherill Park Region Enforcement Squad executed search warrants on two houses in Rawson Road at Fairfield West, in Sydney’s south-west, about 7am today.

Elaborate hydroponics set-ups were allegedly discovered inside both premises.

Police seized 415 cannabis plants and a quantity of leaf matter with an estimated combined street value of $2 million. A sum of cash was also allegedly found at one of the premises.

A man and woman were arrested at the scene and taken to Cabramatta Police Station where they are continuing to assist investigators with their inquiries.

Since 1 January this year, Wetherill Park Region Enforcement Squad investigators have seized more than 5000 cannabis plants with a potential street value of $15 million.

16 people have been arrested as part of ‘Operation Plante’ resulting in 60 charges being laid.

Police are anticipating further positive results.

“This operation is about stopping the cultivation and distribution of dangerous drugs,” Wetherill Park Region Enforcement Squad Commander, Detective Inspector Gus Viera, said.

“We have already significantly dented this distribution network and stopped a large quantity of cannabis hitting the streets,” Detective Inspector Viera said. “The operation is continuing.”

NSW Police Media Unit

 

[Chronik Fatigue]

Police uncover drug labs in Melbourne

November 7, 2007 - 3:36PM

Victorian police have uncovered a multi-million dollar drug operation following early morning raids across Melbourne.

Eight properties in Westall and Huntingdale in Melbourne's south-east, Yarraville in the inner west, and South Melbourne, were raided on Wednesday by 22 officers from the organised crime taskforce Purana.

The head of the taskforce, Detective Inspector Gavan Ryan, said officers found documents relating to fraud and a significant amount of cash.

He said they also uncovered a drug laboratory at a factory in Westall, which had recently ceased operating.

"It appears to have been going, from what our information is, for some years ... we've taken out some people today that have probably been cooking for some time, some years," he told reporters.

Mr Ryan said it was a multi-million dollar operation, and police were checking all links to organised crime syndicates.

Two brothers, aged 40 and 31, were arrested in the raids but are yet to be interviewed, he said.

© 2007

AAP

 

[lil angel15]

Informant tells of coke deal
Jennifer Cooke
November 8, 2007

WATCHED by police, recorded on video and heard via the listening device he wore, "Tom", a NSW Crime Commission informant, swapped a kilogram of cocaine for up to $170,000 cash in a legally sanctioned drug deal using the boot of a former NSW detective's Statesman.

And much of that money was used to pay off a gambling debt of Tom's boss, a District Court jury heard yesterday.

Tom told yesterday of his role in volunteering to the commission in December 2004 the existence of 9.9 kilograms of what he believed to be cocaine imported from Argentina in a briefcase two months earlier and which was buried in bushland in Wahroonga.

The importation had been aided by baggage handlers at Sydney Airport and carried out in association with the career criminal Michael Hurley, former rugby league star Les Mara and Tom's boss, Shane Hatfield, Tom agreed.

Between excerpts played to the jury of audio and visual recordings from a joint taskforce investigation, Tom outlined his continuing, but lawfully protected, role as a cocaine supplier during early 2005.

On February 10, 2005, Tom and Hatfield met Robert Pavan, at a Bondi park to discuss supply of the drug, the jury heard through the static recorded on Tom's listening device. Pavan agreed to Hatfield's $160,000 price, Tom affirmed.

The supply occurred in St Johns Lane, Newtown, on February 23, 2005. Tom agreed the method used was similar to the "four to five times" he supplied cocaine in the same lane in 2004.

Pavan had been in the vicinity "more often than not" and provided the registration number of a vehicle that reversed into the lane, Tom said. He said he would swap the cocaine for cash in the boot, which had been opened from inside the car, without interacting with the occupants.

Surveillance video played in court yesterday showed two men in the front seats of the Statesman that backed into St Johns Lane at 8.40pm on February 23, 2005. It was owned by a former NSW drug squad detective, Ian Charles Finch, who is serving more than three years in jail and who has testified to involvement in two 2004 cocaine transactions there.

Finch's brother, Superintendent Ken Finch, who had led the NSW police force contingent of the joint taskforce until that night, identified his brother from surveillance footage and removed himself from the investigation.

The jury has heard that no scientific evidence links the cocaine with either David Darley Dowe, whom the Crown alleges was in the Statesman with Ian Finch, or Ronald John Hamer, to whom Finch has said he gave the cocaine the next day. Both men have denied involvement in relation to the supply of a commercial quantity of cocaine.

Tom said he took only $50,000 back to Hatfield; the rest went to settle a punting debt with Pavan..

The trial continues today.

SMH

 

[chopped_chimp]

Massive police, customs operation nets $50m of drugs
2:42PM Thursday November 08, 2007

Two major police and customs operations have busted two drug rings worth over $50 million, destined for the New Zealand drug market.

Customs investigations manager Bill Perry said Auckland Metro Crime and Operations Support (AMCOS) and New Zealand Customs Service officers seized more than 150kg of methamphetamine and Contac NT - a precursor for the manufacture of methamphetamine.

The two hauls, with an estimated street value over $50 million, represented the most significant border seizure of controlled drugs in recent months, he said.

Tagged Operation Ponch and Operation Silver, both shipments were intercepted by officials in commercial consignments from China, he said.

In Operation Ponch, police and customs found around 32 litres or 32kg of methamphetamine in liquid with an estimated street value of up to $35 million in a shipment imported through the Port of Tauranga.

One man has been charged , he said.

In Operation Silver, 127kg of Contac NT was seized in a second shipment from China.

One man has been arrested and charged with possession for supply of a Class C controlled drug, pseudoephedrine and importing the Class C controlled drug, pseudoephedrine.

The drugs were concealed in roof tiles and were discovered after customs and police stopped the container, and used extensive physical examination techniques and X-ray screening equipment, he said.

"This methamphetamine and the precursors intercepted were destined for the local market and for the local clandestine laboratories to make the drug P.

"These operations show the success of joint customs and police led operations and demonstrate how authorities must remain vigilant at the border to act against international crime syndicates that continue to find new and inventive ways to conceal their illegal trade."

New Zealand Herald

 

[chopped_chimp]

'Farcical' $10m drug plotters jailed
10:18AM Thursday November 08, 2007

Three men are today starting lengthy jail terms over their failed bid to import $10 million of cocaine into New Zealand.

Justice Rhys Harrison described the trio as "rank amateurs, who lurched along in a haphazard, desperate and at times farcical manner".

The group's ringleader, Juan Carlos Pissano Briaturi, 46, was yesterday sentenced to nine years in jail, while his brother Roberto Mannel Pissano Briaturi, 33, was jailed for five years.

Their friend, Horacio Gabriel Bandera, 40, was locked up for four years and eight months.

On Monday, the three men - all from Uruguay - were found guilty by a jury in the High Court at Hamilton on charges of conspiring to import and conspiring to export cocaine.

In 2005, police tapped the men's phonelines, listening into calls to the group's drug supplier in Uruguay, and a potential buyer for the drugs in Australia.

The group planned to bring 10kg of cocaine into New Zealand, impregnated in clothing, before extracting the drug using chemicals including ether, acetone and hydrochloric and sulphuric acid.

Most of the drug would then be sent on to Australia.

However, the plan crumbled after the group was unable to source the ether it needed.

Crown prosecutor Philip Crayton yesterday described the plan as "drug dealing at the top level" and said it was important to deter others from trying a similar scheme.

But a lawyer for one of the men said the plot was never any more than talk.

"Realistically, this never was going to happen," Gavin Boot, representing Roberto Pissano Briaturi, said.

- NZPA

New Zealand Herald

Interesting way of transporting Coke! I wonder how much of this goes on? Especially with recent reports that plenty of clothing from China has high levels of formalderhyde inside it. Would this effect the end result once removed from the clothing?

 

[lil angel15]

Landlady 'rented rooms for drug farm'
November 8, 2007 - 3:12PM

A Sydney woman earned $2000 a month by sub-letting rooms of her home for use as a cannabis farm, a court has been told.

Scarlet Mong, 48, faced Bankstown Local Court today over allegations that she earned "drug rent" while leasing out the upstairs of her rented two-storey home at Fairfield, in Sydney's west.

Police said they found a sophisticated hydroponic setup and more than 150 cannabis plants over the home's entire second floor when they carried out an early morning raid on the premises today.

They told the court that officers also found six kilograms of cannabis leaf in sealed bags and nearly $17,000 cash, and that the plants had an estimated street value of about $400,000.

Police documents tendered to the court said Mong, who lived downstairs, told officers she had been sub-letting the upper floor to a man named David for $2000 a month.

Meanwhile, another Fairfield resident, Van Luan Dam, 38, appeared before the same court today on similar charges.

Police said Dam, who lived two doors down from Mong but was apparently unconnected to her, was arrested this morning after 250 plants worth an estimated $1.5 million were found inside his house.

Both Mong and Dam were remanded in custody to appear at Liverpool Local Court on November 14 via audio-visual link.

Documents tendered to the court said Mong, an unemployed divorcee, had admitted knowing about the drug farm at her home.

"She stated she was fully aware of the cannabis cultivation occurring on the second level of the premises and indicated a male known only as 'David' was due to sublet the property while she returned to China," the documents stated.

"The accused indicated 'David' moved the equipment and cannabis plants into the house in August 2007 and agreed to pay her $2000 a month in rent for doing so."

Police said Mong also faced charges of unlawfully diverting electricity after the discovery of a number of transformers and power boards on the property.

In denying Mong's application for bail, Magistrate Paul Falzon said there had been recent, similar cases where power boards used in the diversion of electricity had overheated and caused house fires.

Mr Falzon said Mong was a flight risk as those involved in operating drug houses often had multiple passports and identities which allowed them to flee the country.

SMH

 

[lil angel15]

Oblivious suspect walks past media into marijuana bust
COLIN JAMES
November 08, 2007 01:20pm

A man is arrested after wandering into a drug bust at Wingfield this afternoon. Picture: MIKE BURTON

A MAN walked past media crews at a major marijuana bust this afternoon, patted a german shepherd guard dog - and was promptly arrested by police.

Port Adelaide detectives were searching an industrial shed at Wingfield and had uncovered an elaborate hydroponic cannabis operation worth more than $250,000 when the suspect arrived.

The 44-year-old Lewiston man is now being interviewed at Port Adelaide Police Station over the drug operation.

Detectives raided two sheds on a George St property and discovered 26 plants of varying maturity in a purpose-built room inside one of the sheds.

As police searched the initial property, information led to another property in the same street.

Using bolt-cutters, police entered the property and searched a truck.

The truck was being used as another "grow room" in the elaborate operation. Marijuana was also found growing in a shipping container.

A total of 26 plants were seized at the property and police said the total street value of both hauls was about $500,000.

Two other nearby properties were searched but no other drugs were found.

Advertiser

 

[lil angel15]

Man to face trial over $645,000 drug haul
4:58p.m. 8 November 2007
By Rae Wilson

A Sippy Downs man has been committed to stand trial for allegedly possessing about $645,000 worth of cocaine, ecstasy and speed.

Desmond Edward Siddons’s legal team conceded there was a case to answer and allowed the case against him to be committed to the Brisbane Supreme Court.

Police allegedly found the drugs in the 36-year-old’s Sippy Downs home, in his car and at a storage unit at Fort Knox Storage in Maroochydore on April 24 this year.

A certificate handed to Maroochydore Magistrates Court yesterday itemised 7104 ecstasy tablets, 1115g of cocaine with a pure weight just over 651g and 1375g of speed.

Video footage from the storage facility and photographs of all the property were also handed to the court.

Police also allegedly found a Harley-Davidson motorcycle, a custom-built Chopper motorcycle, a 250cc Yamaha trail bike and $23,150 possibly linked to drug proceeds when they executed the search warrants in April.

The Daily

 

[lil angel15]

Fined for possession drugs
9/11/07

STAWELL - A Glenorchy man who suffers from multiple sclerosis has been fined $2000 for possesion of cannabis, amphetamine and a prohibited weapon and storing explosives.
Fourty three year-old Darren Parkhill was also convicted and discharged for use of the drugs, while a trafficking charge was withdrawn.

Police attended at Parkhill's address in Green Street, Glenorchy at approximately 7.45am on August 21 this year and executed a search warrant under the Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Act.

An extensive search of the premises and in the laundry attached to the rear of the house saw police locate:

Four individual plastic bags containing a total of 125 grams of cannabis.

Two Bundaberg tobacco tins containing a total of six grams of cannabis.

One Marlboro tobacco tin containing five grams of cannabis.

Five individual silver foils containing approximately 1.5 grams of amphetamines.

One set of digital weight scales.

A further search of the home saw police locate one blue cooler bag containing five one ounce large zip lock bags with a total of 160 grams of cannabis, six half ounce clear plastic bags containing a total of 84 grams of cannabis and eight quarter ounce clear plastic bags with a total of 56 grams of cannabis inside.

Two large heat lamps, a 150 watt temperature gauge and a large plastic bag containing fireworks were also found in the bedroom.

Inside the bag was eight sparklers, 11 assorted firecrackers and a large quantity of igniters, one zip lock bag with $100 in two dollar coins and one zip lock bag with $60 in one dollar coins.

A 104 centimetre bladed sword was also located and seized from the main living area of the house.

After being conveyed to the Stawell Police Station, Parkhill said in a taped interview that he had purchased the cannabis the day before, in Stawell, for $1200 cash. The defendant said that the drugs were for his own use and were already packaged in assorted weights when purchased.

Parkhill gave evidence in court relating to his drug use.

He said that he was a regular user of the drugs to cope with his illness and explained the various ways in which he used the substances.

Magistrate Andrew Capell handed down the aggregate fine, after taking into consideration Parkhill's early guilty plea, his co-operation with police and the fact that he had not been in trouble for a long time.

Stawell Times

 

[lil angel15]

Townsville drug lab shut down
November 9, 2007 - 9:01AM

Police have shut down a drug lab in north Queensland and charged two men over recent burglaries at two pharmacies in the Townsville area.

Police executed a search warrant on a residence in Townsville about 11.30am (AEST) yesterday and allegedly found a man in the process of manufacturing methylamphetamine in an illicit drug laboratory.

The 26-year-old man has been charged with six drug offences, including producing a dangerous drug.

He and a 28-year-old man also were charged in relation to the theft of cold and flu medications from two pharmacies this week.

Police allege the two men robbed the E Pharmacy and Chemist on Pilkington Street, Garbutt, on Tuesday, and the Aitkenvale Discount Drug Store on Ross River Road yesterday morning.

The 26-year-old man was charged with two counts of entering premises with intent.

The 28-year-old was charged with production of a dangerous drug and entering a dwelling with intent.

Both men will appear in Townsville Magistrates Court later today.

Brisbane Times

 

[lil angel15]

Charges laid over Helensvale drug raid
Katherine Feeney
November 9, 2007 - 7:44AM

A man and woman were charged with drug offences following a police search at a Helensvale residence yesterday.

The search allegedly uncovered a quantity of cannabis, ecstasy tablets, LSD and methamphetamine (ice) as well as a sophisticated hydroponics set-up.

Bail has been refused for the 30-year-old man who was charged with seven offences including producing a dangerous drug, supplying a dangerous drug and stealing electricity.

The 23-year-old woman, who was released on, was charged with possession of a dangerous drug, permitting premises to be used for a drug offence and possession of a utensil.

Both offenders are due to appear in Southport Magistrates Court today.

Brisbane Times

 

[lil angel15]

Four arrested in dawn drug raids - Redfern Local Area Command
9 November 2007

Police have arrested four people during dawn drug raids at Redfern, in Sydney’s inner-south, amid community concerns about recent overdose deaths in the area.

Detectives from Redfern Local Area Command - assisted by officers from neighbouring commands and specialist units - executed simultaneous search warrants on four houses in Eveleigh and Vine Streets about 6.45am today.

Officers allegedly seized a quantity of cannabis and a white powder substance, thought to be heroin.

This morning’s raids form part of Operation Vidal, initiated by police in response to recent community concern about a perceived increase in drug activity in the area known as ‘The Block’.

In the past three weeks, there have been three fatal overdoses in that area - two of those occurred this week. Police are awaiting the results of toxicology tests; however, it’s believed the victims, all from outside the local area, had used heroin with a high purity.

Two men, a woman and a male youth were arrested at the scene this morning and taken to Redfern Police Station for questioning by investigators.

A 21-year-old man was subsequently charged with a breach of bail offence. He’s been refused bail and is due to appear in Central Local Court this afternoon.

A 20-year-old woman was charged with stolen property offences and possessing a prohibited weapon (baton) and conditionally bailed to appear in court at a later date.

A 16-year-old boy will be dealt with under the Young Offenders Act for the offence of possessing a prohibited drug (cannabis).

A third man was released pending further inquiries.

Redfern Local Area Commander, Acting Superintendent Brad Monk, said investigations are ongoing and police would continue to crackdown on illegal drug activity in the area.

“In recent times we have seen a spike in the number of overdoses in the Redfern area, particularly around The Block,” Superintendent Monk said. “Tragically there have been three deaths in as many weeks, reinforcing just how dangerous drugs such as heroin are.”

In recent times, there has been a slight increase in heroin detection in some parts of New South Wales; however, there is no evidence to suggest there has been a flood of heroin onto the market.

NSW Police Media Unit

 

[lil angel15]

Cannabis syndicate shut down
09Nov07

QUEENSLAND police have seized 63 cannabis plants, 4.6kgs of dried cannibas and $4.4 million in cash as part of Operation Foxtrot Dizzy which officially closed today.

Foxtrot Dizzy, a six-month police investigation, involved officers from State Crime Operations Command, Operations Support Command, Metropolitan South, Central and Southern Police regions raiding a number of locations throughout Brisbane, Coomera, Coominya and Barcaldine.

These simultaneous early morning raids resulted in the seizure of a large quantity of cannabis with police also locating two commercial cannabis sites.

A police statement released today indicated the operation had uncovered $4.4 million in cash that had been restrained. Financial investigators from the Crime and Misconduct Commission assisted in the operation and this cash and other property including real estate interests would be the subject of further proceeds of crime action.

Detective Superintendent Brian Wilkins from State Crime Operations Command said the principal focus of Foxtrot Dizzy was on the commercial supply, trafficking and production of large quantities of cannabis.

"Today's operation has netted a number of individuals who we believe are key players in a well organised cannabis distribution ring operating in Brisbane. Today's closure will impact on the supply of cannabis in Brisbane for sometime to come," he said.

"This is the second large scale drug operation closed in the metropolitan area in the past week. We continue to receive reliable information from the public and other community sources in respect to people producing, dealing and supplying illicit drugs to the community."

"These criminals need to know that we are constantly monitoring and targeting their activities. We will continue to target these networks, aggressively pursue their assets and profits derived from crime and actively prosecute the individuals involved," said Det Supt Wilkins.

Today's raids resulted in the arrest of six people on 56 charges including the trafficking, production and supply of dangerous drugs.

Of those arrested today five men and one woman who will appear in the Brisbane and Southport Magistrates courts tomorrow charged with trafficking and an array of other serious drug related offences.

A 38-year-old man already in custody will also be charged with drug trafficking.

Gold Coast