The Australian/NZ Drug Busts Mega-Thread Part I

[lil angel15]

Cannabis targeted from the air
02 January 2008 - 9:58AM

MID North Coast Police and State Crime Command Drug Unit Officers utilised the police airwing to search the forestry areas between Laurieton and Nambucca Heads, as part of the Mid North Coast Commands continued targeting of the drug trade.

With the assistance of the Police helicopter, police seized over 1400 cannabis plants ranging in height from 1.5 meters to relatively small plants between December 10 and December 14 2007. The collective potential street value of the seized plants is over $1.4 million.

Mid North Coast Police will continue to target all forms of the illegal drug trade.

Camden Courier

 

[lil angel15]

Police charge three men with drug offences – Rosehill
Monday, 31 Dec 2007 01:46pm

Police attached to the Rosehill Local Area Command have arrested three men last night after allegedly seizing a large amount of cash and drugs.

About 10pm police attended a hotel on James Ruse Drive following information of alleged drug activity. Police entered the hotel room and located nearly $80,000 in cash. Police also searched a car allegedly belonging to one of the three men and located approximately 2.2kg of cannabis in the boot.

The cannabis has an estimated street value of $15,000.

Three men aged 19, 27 and 23 were arrested at the scene and taken to Parramatta Police Station where they were interviewed.

The 19-year-old Auburn man was charged with supply prohibited drug.

The 27-year-old South Australian man was charged with deal with property suspected of proceeds of crime and supply prohibited drug.

The third arrest was a 23-year-old Pendle Hill man was charged with breach of bail.

The three men were refused bail to appear at Parramatta Local Court today.

NSW Police Media Unit

 

[lil angel15]

Man charged for supplying 30kg of cannabis
January 04, 2008 12:07am

A MAN was charged with supplying 30kg of cannabis after a police operation targeted an alleged large-scale commercial drug syndicate.

Timothy Thomas Purdy, 24, faced court charged with supplying the hydroponic cannabis, which was allegedly bought from co-accused Bui Son Ngoc.

Documents tendered to the court revealed police believed Mr Bui was supplying up to 50kg of the drug a day.

Detectives from the South East Asian Crime Squad watched his southwestern Sydney home, where they came across Mr Purdy's alleged involvement, the court documents revealed.

"(In the operation), Bui would stipulate a time for delivery at his premises, and then he would on-supply the cannabis a short time later," police said.

Physical and electronic surveillance led police to arrest Mr Purdy at his Waterloo home on Wednesday.

Police allege he was at Mr Bui's house between December 10 and 11 to collect 30kg of cannabis.

Magistrate John McIntosh refused bail, remanding Mr Purdy to reappear later this month.

News.com.au

 

[antheads]

No plea for two in post drug bust
By ZARA DAWTREY

LAUNCESTON: TWO of the six Launceston residents charged with importing drugs into the State in November did not enter a plea in the Launceston Magistrates Court yesterday.
The charges were laid after a joint investigation between Tasmanian and Victorian police and Australia Post revealed had that large quantities of drugs, including crystal methamphetamine and ecstasy, had been imported into Tasmania since June last year via Express Post packages.

Police believe the combined value of the drugs could be as much as $500,000, and the investigation also led to the seizure of more than $1 million worth of drugs and cash in Victoria.

Two women and four men, all of Launceston, were later arrested, and another six people were charged in Victoria.

Yesterday, Brett Matthew Freeman, 28, of Lilydale Rd, was unable to appear in court due to a leg wound, and had his case adjourned to February 5 for plea.

Mr Freeman has been charged with several drug- related charges, including two counts of trafficking in a controlled substance, and two counts of unlawfully importing a controlled substance.

The second of the two men listed to appear in court yesterday, Joseph Weston, 20, of Penquite Rd, has been charged with trafficking in and importing a controlled substance, possessing a controlled drug, and using a controlled drug.

He did not enter a plea and was bailed to appear in the Launceston Magistrates Court on January 31.

Source: The Examiner Newspaper, TAS

 

[lil angel15]

Woman charged with drug trafficking
January 05, 2008 12:29pm

A WOMAN has been charged after she allegedly attempted to smuggle drugs into Sydney from Thailand.

The 44-year-old woman attempted to take 260 drug pellets through Sydney International Airport on Wednesday on her arrival from Bangkok, police said.

Customs officials referred the woman to Australian Federal Police.

"During questioning, customs officers became suspicious the woman may have been concealing drugs internally,'' Australian Customs said in a statement.

"It will be alleged in court that the woman passed a total of 260 pellets containing a white powder.

"The pellets are currently undergoing forensic testing.''

The woman has been charged with importing a marketable quantity of a controlled drug and will appear in Parramatta Bail Court today.

News.com.au

 

[Scoobymoo]

While not condoning any of these actions, I always find it fascinating the different ways people try to import/smuggle drugs. Pellets in the stomach always sends shivers down my spine, and via post or express post just makes me laugh.
S.

 

[lil angel15]

13 drug arrests at Southbound music festival

Thirteen people were allegedly caught in possession of drugs during a music festival in Western Australia's south-west.

Two people have been charged with drug possession, while seven others have received infringements and four were given cautions by police.

About 20,000 people converged on Busselton for the Southbound music festival on Friday and Saturday.

Eight people were arrested in total, including three people for assaulting police.

Busselton's Senior Sergeant Scott Morrissey says most people were well behaved out of the 20,000 strong crowd.

ABC Online

 

[lil angel15]

Three nabbed trying to smuggle ice in NT
January 7, 2008 - 5:54PM

Three men have been charged with trying to smuggle into Australia large amounts of pseudoephedrine, used to make the drug ice.

A five-month joint investigation culminated in their arrests, the Australia Federal Police (AFP) said in a statement.

AFP agents and Northern Territory police seized a laptop computer and documents after searching two homes in rural suburbs outside of Darwin.

They arrested a 56-year-old man at Berry Springs while two men, aged 35 and 52, were arrested at Darwin International Airport. The older man had just returned to Darwin on a flight from Indonesia.

The trio were due to appear in Darwin Magistrates Court on Monday charged with conspiring to import a border-controlled precursor into Australia.

The AFP said they faced a maximum fine of $550,000 and/or imprisonment for 25 years.

Customs were also involved in the investigation into allegations the men were arranging a large importation of pseudoephedrine into Australia.

Pseudoephedrine can be used to illegally produce methamphetamine, known as ice in its crystallised form.

SMH

 

[js2k6]

i know this one's a little bit old.
but it wasn't in here, a couple of my friends got done back in the end of may 07.
here's the article


_______
Charges over drugs seizure
Reko Rennie
May 28, 2007

Police have seized three-quarters of a kilogram of amphetamines and $5000 in cash after stopping a man for a preliminary breath test.

Officers became suspicious of the driver after pulling him over and decided to search his car, a 1997 Mercedes Benz in South Melbourne on Saturday.

They arrested three occupants of the car and executed warrants on homes in Bundoora, where they found ecstasy pills, amphetamine powder and cannabis.

Police charged a Bundoora, 25, with trafficking, possessing and cultivating drugs and possessing the proceeds of crime. He was bailed to appear at the Melbourne Magistrates' Court at a later date.

A 23-year old man will be charged on summons with possessing drugs, while a third man was questioned and released without charge.

theage.com.au
_______________
http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/charges-over-drugs-seizure/2007/05/28/1180205119316.html

 

[lil angel15]

Council worker pleads guilty to cannabis, LSD possession

A Darwin City Council worker has pleaded guilty to growing cannabis and having two acid tabs hidden in a book at his property in the rural area.

Thirty-one-year-old horticulturist Troy Barbagallo was charged with cultivating three cannabis plants and possessing LSD after police raided his Lambells Lagoon home in November last year.

The court heard police searched the property because Barbagallo's ex-girlfriend went to them and told them about the hydroponics set-up.

Magistrate Hugh Bradley warned the council worker against further drug experimentation and fined him a total of $680.

ABC Online

 

[lil angel15]

Canadians face court on cocaine smuggling charges
January 8, 2008 13:00:00

Two Canadian citizens accused of attempting to bring a large quantity of cocaine into Australia have appeared in the Brisbane Magistrates Court.

Forty-three-year-old Robert Michael Steinebach and 24-year-old Candice Maree Brayton were arrested at the Brisbane International Airport yesterday after arriving on a flight from Hong Kong.

It is alleged the pair were trying to import between six and 10 kilograms of cocaine which was found in the false bottom of a suitcase.

Brayton appeared briefly in court this morning and was remanded in custody until a further committal mention hearing next month.

Steinebach denies any involvement but his application for bail was refused to allow federal police more time to establish his connection to Brayton. He is due to again face court via video link on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Northern Territory police have arrested two men at Darwin Airport for alleged drug possession.

Police say an estimated 65 grams of cannabis was found in a 22-year-old man's bag as he tried to board a plane for Groote Eylandt yesterday.

A 48-year-old man was found to have 35 grams of the drug hidden in his pockets on the same flight.

The 22-year-old will face court in Darwin this afternoon, while the 48-year-old will appear in Alyangula Court next week.

ABC Online

 

[Splatt]

 

[poledriver]

The article

Customs media release
Two charged over cocaine in suitcase - Monday, 7th January 2008

Joint Media Release - Australian Federal Police and the Australian Customs Service

A 24-year-old Canadian woman and a 43-year-old Canadian man will appear in Brisbane Magistrate's Court today following an alleged attempt to import cocaine hidden inside a false suitcase compartment.

The pair was selected by Customs officers at Brisbane International Airport for a baggage search when they arrived on a flight from Hong Kong yesterday.

An x-ray of the woman's suitcase revealed a possible concealment. Customs officers subsequently drilled into the bag to discover a white powder.

Preliminary testing of the powder indicated the presence of cocaine. The drugs are currently the subject of further forensic testing to determine the weight and purity.

The woman was arrested and charged by the Australian Federal Police with importing a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug contrary to the Commonwealth Criminal Code 1995.

The man was also arrested and charged by the Australian Federal Police with aiding and abetting the importation of a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug contrary to the Commonwealth Criminal Code 1995.

The maximum penalty for these offences is life imprisonment.

Customs

 

[lil angel15]

17 arrested in drug raids
12:00a.m. 9 January 2008

Sunshine Coast police continued their war on drugs yesterday.

More than 35 detectives and police officers raided 25 homes across the Coast as part of Operation Hamper.

They netted 17 alleged offenders on 41 charges. Almost all the charges – 36 – were drug-related.

Five charges related to outstanding warrants and assault matters.

A number of cannabis plants and drug utensils were seized during the operation.

The 17 people arrested will begin appearing in Sunshine Coast courts over the next few weeks.

It is the latest operation in a long line of police operations targeting the Sunshine Coast drug trade.

Police said the raids were a result of information received over the past few weeks.

They said it was “part of an ongoing strategy to reduce the supply and availability of illicit drugs, especially during the school holidays”.

The Daily

 

[lil angel15]

Drug matters take up courts time
09.01.2008

EIGHT people appeared separately in Gympie Magistrates Court on Monday on drug related charges.

Each pleaded guilty and was placed on a bond to be of good behaviour for four months with a recognizance of $150.

Stuart Peppinck, 36, of Wattle Street, Kilkivan was charged with possession of a water pipe on December 6; Wayne Vernon Henderson, 43, of Wattle Street, Kilkivan, was charged with possession of cannabis sativa on December 6; Michael Andrew Whatnall, 34, of Horseshoe Bend, was charged with possession of a water pipe and scissors used in connection with a dangerous drug; Tony John Dakin, 35, of Hyland Road, was charged with possession of methylamphetamine on August 7, 2007; Nathan John McGill, 24, of Bethany Lane, Monkland, was charged with possession of a water pipe on December 12; Misty-Lee Nicole Stevans, 18, of Duke Street, was charged with possession of cannabis sativa, a water pipe and two cones on November 22; Samantha Smith, 18, of Coop Street, Gympie, was charged with possession of a dangerous drug, a utensil used in connection with a dangerous drug and two counts of obstructing police on December 12; Kavou Delma Jones, 21, of Coop Street, was charged with possession of two grams of cannabis sativa, a grinder and a bong used in connection with a dangerous drug and one count of contravening a requirement.

Gympie Times

 

[lil angel15]

Bikie gang five in drugs bust
Jordan Baker
January 9, 2008 - 11:34AM

Police have arrested five bikies during a raid on a drug laboratory in Sydney's north west.

After a five-month investigation involving the Australian Crime Commission and the NSW Police Force's drug squad, officers raided several properties and believe they dismantled a criminal methylamphetamine syndicate.

Five men - aged 57, 50, 48, 43 and 27 - were charged with drug offences. All are alleged to be members or associates of different outlaw motorcycle groups.

Police they found a clandestine laboratory, drug manufacturing equipment and chemicals at Annangrove. Specialist drug squad detectives dismantled the laboratory.

During subsequent searches at other properties in the north west, police also found a second laboratory, as well as $130,000 and weapons.

NSW Police Force Drug Squad Commander Detective Superintendent Greig Newbery said the supply of illicit drugs would not be tolerated.

"We will allege that this operation has led to the dismantling of a criminal syndicate involved in the illicit drug trade," he said.

"The people charged are alleged to be members or associates of bikie gangs and yesterday's operation is part of this organisation's ongoing focus on OMCGs.

"We believe these arrests will significantly impact on the distribution and supply of methylamphetamine in Sydney and New South Wales."

SMH

 

[lil angel15]

81-year-old woman charged with drug offences – Young
Wednesday, 09 Jan 2008 11:06am

Police from Cootamundra Local Area Command have arrested another person in relation to an ongoing drug operation.

Strike Force Elmore was established in September 2007 to investigate the supply of prohibited drugs in Young and surrounding townships.

Seven people have been arrested since the operation commenced.

The most recent arrest was on Monday (7 January) when an 81-year-old woman attended Young Police Station.

She was charged with one count of cultivate prohibited drug (cannabis) and supply prohibited drug (cannabis).

She was granted conditional bail and is due to appear in Young Local Court on 5 February 2008.

NSW Police Media Unit

 

[lil angel15]

Cannabis raid nets four
By Daniel de Nardi

Four people were arrested and a large quantity of cannabis seized following raids across Sydney's south-west on December 20.

Gangs squad detectives joined local police for search warrants on houses in Mount Pritchard, Fairfield and Greenfield Park.

Police seized 64 cannabis plants, 12.5kg of dried cannabis head and hydroponics equipment. The drugs have an estimated potential street value of more than $400,000. A man, 40, was arrested in Mount Pritchard.

The raids follow an investigation into criminal activity by organised crime syndicates operating in south-west Sydney and the Illawarra.

Liverpool Champion

 

[Splatt]

Customs Updates while BL was down:

Hefty fine for steroid smuggling
Friday, 11st January 2008


Customs efforts to prevent a sophisticated attempt to smuggle more than 17,000 dianabol (steroid) tablets has cost a Brisbane man almost $12,000.

Mr James McLeod yesterday pleaded guilty in Brisbane Magistrates Court to importing prohibited goods and possessing prohibited goods under the Customs Act 1901.

He was fined $11,000 and ordered to pay a further $999 in court costs.

Customs National Manager Investigations, Richard Janeczko, said the penalty should send a signal to potential smugglers of performance and image enhancing drugs that Customs had the skills and capability to detect, investigate and prosecute sophisticated attempts to bypass Australia's strict importation laws.

"While steroids might be freely available in countries such as Thailand, their importation into Australia is strictly controlled," Mr Janeczko said.

Customs investigations began on 11 June 2007 when officers at the Sydney International Mail Centre examined a parcel which had been sent from Thailand.

Inside the package, Customs officers found 17,101 tablets hidden within six commercially sealed tins marked as containing almonds and peanuts.

The tablets were later identified as dianabol. Dianabol is a performance and image enhancing drug and cannot be imported into Australia without a permit from the Therapeutic Goods Administration.

As a result of the detection, Customs investigators executed three search and seizure warrants in Toowong and Sunnybank.

Link to press release

Woman arrested over drug importation - Wednesday, 9th January 2008
Joint Media Release - Australian Federal Police and the Australian Customs Service

A 51-year-old Australian woman is expected to appear in Sydney Central Local Court today charged with allegedly smuggling drugs into Australia.

Customs officers at Sydney International Airport stopped the female passenger for a baggage examination when she arrived on a flight from Cambodia, via Thailand, on Saturday 5 January.

During questioning, officers became suspicious that she may have been concealing drugs internally.

The woman was referred to the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and taken to hospital for a medical examination.

It will be alleged in court the woman passed a total of 119 pellets suspected of being heroin.

The pellets are currently the subject of forensic testing to determine the purity of the drug and the value.

The woman has been charged with importing a marketable quantity of a border controlled drug under the Commonwealth Criminal Code 1995. The maximum penalty for this offence is a fine of $550,000 and/or 25 years imprisonment.

Link to media release

 

[lil angel15]

Housemates on 16 drugs charges
January 16, 2008 04:02pm

POLICE have laid fresh charges against two young men arrested this week for trafficking drugs from their northern Brisbane home.

Zambian-born Kondanani Zyambo, 22, and housemate Ben Michael Thomsen, 21, were arrested on Monday in Kelvin Grove after police allegedly caught them selling cannabis, methylamphetamine and heroin.

Both men were refused bail during a brief appearance yesterday in the Brisbane Magistrates Court where they each faced 12 charges including one count of trafficking a dangerous drug and five counts of supplying a dangerous drug.

Police have since charged the men with four additional counts of supply each. Neither were present in court today for a brief hearing into the new charges.

No fresh application for bail was made. They will be required to appear in court again next month via video-link from prison.

Fourteen other men and women who allegedly bought drugs from Zyambo and Thomsen will appear in court over the next month.

news.com.au