The Australian/NZ Drug Busts Mega-Thread Part I

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...16 years.




She said there were concerns Fogwell would have easy access to drugs if bail was granted.

"The defendant will attempt to obtain drugs to support himself," Act Snr Const Morey said.

The court heard the man had been living in an old bus at the caravan park for about four months.

Defence lawyer Alexis Oxley told the court Fogwell would not take drugs and would submit to urine tests if allowed on bail.

Magistrate Batts said she would reassess Fogwell's bail application if he were to enter a rehabilitation centre.

His matter will be mentioned again on April 4.

A 19-year-old was also arrested in relation to the drug operation, but is yet to face Bundaberg Magistrates Court.

Scenes of Crime officers were joined by members of a State Drug Investigation Group illicit laboratory team at Fogwell's caravan yesterday afternoon.

Bundaberg Criminal Investigation Branch Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Paul McCusker said the team were specially trained to deal with potentially explosive substances in amphetamine labs.

"They came up to safely dismantle the lab and package it for evidence," Act Det Snr Sgt McCusker said.

"They deal with often volatile substances."

 

[lil angel15]

Picking up some hot dance moves, and 52 drug users
Reid Sexton and Dan Harrison
February 10, 2008

More than 50 people were arrested for drug offences at yesterday's Good Vibrations music festival.

Dozens of police officers and several sniffer dogs greeted music fans as they descended on the Sidney Myer Music Bowl in their thousands for the annual event.

Police arrested 52 people for possessing drugs including cocaine, ecstasy, amphetamines and cannabis.

The number of drug arrests was higher than at other recent music events such as Summadayze and the Big Day Out, a police spokeswoman said. One person was arrested for hindering police.

St John Ambulance spokesman Jonathan Cooper said no one was treated for drug-related illnesses at the venue. This was a direct result of the police crackdown, he said.

"It's a great result. I think the amount of police at the door stopped a lot of the stuff coming in. It's one of the toughest securities at an event like this I have ever seen."

Inside, fans enjoyed music from almost 50 artists on five stages. Rain did not diminish enthusiasm as the crowd danced to a mix of international rock, rap and dance artists including Cypress Hill, the Rapture and headline act Kanye West.

theage.com.au

 

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Police charge 139 people after Sunshine Coast blitz - Operation Golf Nitrous
Last updated 12/02/2008

A week-long operation that was the first of its kind for the Sunshine Coast was wound up on Sunday with 139 people being charged with 282 offences.

Operation Golf Nitrous was a high visibility operation involving officers from the Sunshine Coast, Operations Support Command and State Crime Operations Command, targeting drug and property offences along with traffic and public order enforcement activities.

Throughout the operation, drugs were seized with an estimated street value of approximately $25,000 and property with an estimated value of $60,000 was located.

Police executed 30 search warrants and performed 2265 random breath tests and 265 street checks during the operation.

Senior Sergeant Troy Pukallus, Officer in Charge of the Sunshine Coast Tactical Crime Unit said the operation was not a response to any specific issues but was intelligence based and focused on proactive policing operations.

“On Monday February 4, police executed 15 search warrants across the Sunshine Coast District resulting in the arrest of 14 people on 35 charges and included the seizure of a number of firearms,” Senior Sergeant Pukallus said.

A 22-year-old Burnside man was charged on February 7 in relation to a number of alleged break and enters at pharmacies in the Sunshine Coast area.

He faced Maroochydore Magistrates Court on February 8 charged with 11 counts of fraud, five counts of unlawful entry of a motor vehicle, three counts of wilful damage, two counts of enter premises with intent and one count of Burglary. He has been remanded in custody and will reappear in Maroochydore Magistrates Court today.

On February 7, police located a clandestine laboratory that was allegedly producing Methamphetamine at a unit in Memorial Avenue, Maroochydore.

A 52-year-old Maroochydore man was charged with five drug related offences and he will reappear in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on February 28.

Superintendent Ben Hanbidge, District Officer of the Sunshine Coast District said that on Saturday night a public order operation conducted in the Mooloolaba precinct resulted in 31 people being arrested on 46 charges.

“Drug Detection Dogs were used as part of this operation and drugs with an estimated street value of $800 were seized,” Superintendent Hanbidge said.

“This operation was a first for the Sunshine Coast District and focused police resources at target areas throughout the district to address specific crime trends.”

“It is anticipated that further operations similar to Golf Nitrous will be undertaken in the district using intelligence-driven policing to target recidivist offenders along with traffic incident blackspots,” Superintendent Hanbidge said.

QLD Police

 

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Drug trafficking charge, Bucasia (near Mackay)
Last updated 12/02/2008

A 22-year-old Bucasia man has been charged with 32 drug offences after officers from the Mackay Tactical Crime Squad allegedly located a quantity of cannabis and drug paraphernalia at a residence in Bucasia yesterday.

The charges includes 25 counts of supply a dangerous drug as well as drug trafficking, possess a dangerous drug, possess the proceeds of drug trafficking and permit a place (to be used for the commission of a crime). A 21-year-old Bucasia woman was also charged with two counts of possess a dangerous drug and one count each of possess a thing and permit a place.

The pair is due to appear in the Mackay Magistrates Court on 29 February.

QLD Police

 

[Splatt]

Drivers fail to heed drink-driving warning (Drug Driving Results included)
Last updated 10/02/2008

Police are concerned by the number of motorists who are failing to take notice of drink-driving warnings after 284 drivers were found to be affected by alcohol as they left the City over the weekend.

Operation Stopper was conducted by traffic officers from both the Metropolitan South and North regions between 11pm and 7am on Friday and Saturday nights.

The traffic enforcement operation involved police setting up nine interception sites at the major arterial roads leading out of Brisbane’s Central Business District to target those driving irresponsibly. Police also targeted other roads to detect those motorists attempting to avoid the major sites.

As a result of the two-night operation, police conducted 17,157 random breath tests that resulted in 284 people being detected drink driving.

In the early hours of Saturday morning a 23-year-old Geebung woman was stopped in the city and charged with a drink-driving offence, and had her licence suspended for 24 hours. The driver was processed at that location and then released just prior to the site ceasing operations.

As the police officer involved with the initial interception returned to his police vehicle, the woman was allegedly seen to be driving away and was apprehended again. A second drink-driving charge and a charge relating to driving on a suspended licence was issued before she was released again.

The police officer finished duty and was heading home in his private motor vehicle when the same driver in the same vehicle allegedly overtook the police officer. When the woman stopped at a red light, the officer again apprehended her and further charges followed.

The woman will appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court tomorrow.

Operation Stopper included officers from the Roadside Drug Testing Unit who tested drivers at two locations for the presence of cannabis, ‘speed’, ‘ice’ and ‘ecstasy’. During the operation two people received 24-hour licence suspension after returning two positive roadside drug tests.

Inspector John Murnane, Metropolitan South Regional Traffic Coordinator Inspector said police were appalled that some motorists continue to put not only their own lives at risk but also the lives of others by drink driving.

“Over the course of the operation, police were detecting a positive breath test for every 60 tests performed, Inspector Murnane said.

“The figures are very concerning and show that there are still many motorists out there who are not heeding the message not to drink and drive.

“Police witness first hand the consequences of drink driving with people being killed or seriously injured because of motorists foolishly getting behind the wheel of a vehicle after they have had too much alcohol.

“You can only assume that they have little regard for their safety and the safety of other road users,” he said

In addition to the drink-driving detections, police also intercepted 19 motorists driving unlicenced or disqualified.

“The results show that there is a need for this type of operation, and several similar operations will be conducted in the future and the police service viewed this type of behaviour very seriously and that is why approximately 130 officers each night were used in the operation,” Inspector Murnane said.

“I urge motorists to drive safely and ensure that they do not drink and drive or drive while tired and also stick to the speed limit and make sure all occupants in the vehicle are wearing seat belts.

“If not, be warned: Police will be out and about conducting traffic enforcement operations in an effort to make Queensland roads safer for all,” he said

QLD Police

 

[Splatt]

$500,000 of drugs found in shoes - Tuesday, 12th February 2008
Joint Media Release between the Australian Federal Police and the Australian Customs Service

A 21-year-old French woman was due to appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court today after allegedly attempting to smuggle $500,000 of drugs into Australia inside three pairs of shoes.

Customs officers at Brisbane International Airport stopped the woman when she arrived on a flight from Hong Kong on 10 February.

During a search of her baggage officers became suspicious of three pairs of shoes.

An x-ray of the shoes revealed a possible concealment. One of the shoes was drilled and tested positive for cocaine.

The Australian Federal Police will allege in court that the shoes contained approximately one kilogram of cocaine and 850 grams of heroin.

The estimated potential street value of the drugs is $500,000.

The drugs will undergo forensic testing to determine the purity and exact weight.

The woman has been charged with importing a marketable quantity of a border controlled drug under the Criminal Code Act 1995.

The maximum jail penalty for this offence is 25 years imprisonment.

Images Here!

Customs

 

[Splatt]

How does this garden grow? Very high, with $1m in marijuana
February 12, 2008 - 4:41PM

Police lay out all the marijuana plants and hydroponic equipment in the front garden of the Liverpool house.

As gardens go, this is not what the occupant of this Liverpool house wanted to see - a million dollars worth of marijuana plants stacked neatly on his front lawn by police.

Following an anonymous tip-off, Liverpool police raided the house in Medley Avenue at 8am, arresting a 39-year-old man and discovering large marijuana plants growing in every room of the house.

"The people that live in the street have taken great interest in, of course," Inspector Paul Kitley from Liverpool police said of the cannabis plants stacked neatly in rows on the front lawn of the drug house.

The bust - 355 plants in total which police value at $1 million - was one of the biggest Inspector Kitley had seen in such a built-up area, he said.

"The whole house, every room, was just chock-a-block full of plants," he said.

Someone phoned a constable at Liverpool police station last night and said there was something suspicious about the house.

"The constable's done a bit of leg work and gone around last night and decided there was something there, because he could hear the whirring of the exhaust fans for the plants," Inspector Kitley said.

He informed his superiors and the house was raided this morning.

Now Inspector Kitley and Liverpool police want to express their thanks to the anonymous person who provided the original information.

Even Police Minister David Campbell got in on the act, expressing his thanks to anonymous informant.

"$1 million dollars worth of drugs that could have been sold to our kids is now off the streets as a result of an anonymous tip-off.

"I'd like to formally thank that person for coming forward and encourage others to do the same."

Inspector Kitley said the pot haul would be taken to a secure evidence room before being burnt in about a week.

The 39-year-old man was taken to Liverpool police station where he is assisting with inquiries.

Sydney Morning Herald

 

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Queensland men charged over transnational drug smuggling operation - Thursday, 14th February 2008
Joint Media Release between the Australian Federal Police, Queensland Police and the Australian Customs Service

Four Queensland men are expected to face court today over their alleged involvement in a transnational drug smuggling operation that used international mail services.

The arrests follow a joint agency operation involving the Australian Federal Police, Royal Thai Police, Australian Customs Service and Queensland Police.

The AFP will allege in Maroochydore Magistrates Court that a 36-year-old Sunshine Coast man arranged the importation of approximately a kilogram of cocaine from Thailand.

Royal Thai Police arrested a 39-year-old American man, allegedly involved in the smuggling operation, in Bangkok yesterday.

Over the past 10 months, Customs officers in Sydney seized a number of mail items destined for Queensland that were found to contain cocaine.

Members of the joint investigation team executed a series of search warrants at Maroochydore, Gympie and Bli Bli yesterday.
Police seized a laptop computer, mailbox keys, cash, a Subaru Liberty sedan and documents pertaining to the investigation.

Further search warrants were executed today at premises in Paddington, Mooloolaba and Maroochydore.

The 36-year-old Sunshine Coast man will face 14 federal charges of importing a marketable quantity of cocaine and one charge of dealing with the proceeds of crime under the Criminal Code Act 1995. He also faces Queensland charges of trafficking a dangerous drug possessing property obtained from trafficking a dangerous drug under the Drugs Misuse Act QLD 1986.

A 38-year-old Sunshine Coast man will also face Maroochydore Magistrates Court charged with aiding and abetting the importation of a marketable quantity of cocaine.

A 37-year-old Brisbane man is expected to face Brisbane Magistrates Court today charged with conspiracy to import a marketable quantity of cocaine under the Criminal Code Act 1995 and supplying cocaine under the Drugs Misuse Act QLD
1986.

A 31-year-old Sunshine Coast man is also expected to face Maroochydore Magistrates Court today charged with conspiracy to import a marketable quantity of cocaine.

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

QLD Police

 

[Splatt]

Thirty-three caught smuggling drugs internally in 2007
Thursday, 14th February 2008

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

A 42-year-old Spanish woman today became the seventh person this year to be charged with smuggling drugs internally.

Australian Federal Police and Customs officers caught 33 people attempting to smuggle drugs internally in 2007, including 16 Australian citizens or permanent residents.

AFP National Manager Border and International Tim Morris said the agencies were working together to combat the dangerous and potentially deadly practice of smuggling drugs internally.

"The work of both agencies has stopped 7.2 kilograms of heroin and 1.7 kilograms of cocaine - worth a combined total of $2.5 million - from reaching Australian streets," Assistant Commissioner Morris said.

"People who engage in this illegal activity not only put their lives in danger from the drugs they are carrying but also risk severe penalties, including death, in the countries they transit."

Customs Acting National Director Passengers Division, Gillian Savage, said that Customs officers were trained to be on the lookout for any signs which suggest people might be carrying drugs internally.

"Officers are trained to risk assess passengers and identify those individuals who may be of interest to Customs and other law enforcement agencies.

"Customs officers work closely with a range of federal and state law enforcement agencies to ensure that Australia's borders are protected from a range of threats, including drug trafficking," Ms Savage said.

The majority of the alleged couriers, including all the Australians, were concealing heroin internally. Five people were charged with smuggling cocaine.

Those charged arrived on flights from Vietnam, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, Cambodia, China, Malaysia and India.

The youngest of the 33 alleged couriers was a 21-year-old Singaporean, the eldest was a 71-year-old Australian and 15 of them were women.

Six Africans were among the 15 people charged with smuggling drugs internally in the last three months of 2007.

Assistant Commissioner Morris said the AFP and Customs were working with law enforcement agencies in Australia and overseas to combat this dangerous method of drug smuggling and to dismantle criminal syndicates attempting to smuggle drugs using internal couriers.

In 2007 AFP agents and Customs officers participated in a series of workshops in Vietnam and Cambodia aimed at tackling the trade in illicit drugs throughout the region. More are planned in 2008.

In December, the AFP arrested three men alleged to be major organisers of an international syndicate using internal couriers to smuggle drugs into Australia.

The woman charged today was stopped by Customs officers when she arrived in Sydney off a flight from Dubai on 7 February.

Preliminary tests on a hairpiece the woman was wearing tested positive to cocaine and she was referred to the AFP. The wig was later found to contain approximately 700 grams of cocaine.

The AFP will allege in court that the woman also passed 39 pellets containing approximately 200 grams of a white powder believed to be cocaine.

She will appear in Sydney Central Local Court charged with importing a marketable quantity of a border controlled drug under the Criminal Code 1995.

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

 

[lil angel15]

Two drug traffickers jailed after police sting
Karen Matthews
16Feb08

TWO Geelong drug traffickers, arrested as part of a major police operation last year, have been jailed.

Steven Dare, 40, formerly of Pattison Ave, North Geelong, had pleaded guilty in Geelong County Court to charges of drug trafficking, reckless conduct endangering serious injury and firearms offences.

Handing down sentence yesterday, Judge Geoffrey Chettle said Dare was arrested last year following lengthy investigations into a sophisticated drug operation in Geelong.

He said a total of 13,000 phone calls and text messages intercepted by police showed Dare to be trafficking drugs on a daily basis.

The judge said that between January 22 and March 2, 2007, an undercover police operative made eight purchases of amphetamines at a cost of $1340 from Dare.

He said that on each occasion the police operative accompanied Dare to his supplier where the drugs were purchased.

Judge Chettle said that between January 11 and 12, 2007, Dare and others were at a house in Thomson when an argument developed.

He said Dare got a cut-down rifle, fired it twice at one of the men but did not hit him.

Dare was convicted on all counts and sentenced to a total of six years and three months' jail with a non-parole period of four years and three months.

In a separate hearing in Geelong County Court recently, Jason Waugh, 27, of Herring Ct, East Geelong, pleaded guilty to drug trafficking, possessing methylamphetamine and being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm.

Judge Chettle said Waugh was part of the same drug network as Dare.

He said police telephone intercepts revealed Waugh contacted Dare many times between December 2006 and June 2007, looking for payment for drugs.

He said that on December 29, 2006, drugs, jewellery and antique coins were found in Waugh's car after he was pulled over by police for a routine check. They also found 14 grams of methamphetamine in a toothbrush holder in the glovebox of his car.

Waugh told police he had been asked to transport the drugs for a standover man but was unwilling to give any more information.


He was convicted on all counts and sentenced to four years' jail with a non-parole period of 2 1/2 years.

geelongadvertiser.com.au

 

[hoptis]

68 arrested for drugs at Good Vibrations
February 17, 2008 06:41am

SIXTY-eight people have been busted for possessing illicit drugs at a Sydney music festival that drew a crowd of 40,000.

Police used drug-detection dogs and high-visibility crowd control measures for 14 hours at the Good Vibrations festival in Centennial Park yesterday.

The checks ended at midnight and 68 people were found with drugs, including cannabis, amphetamines, cocaine and ecstasy, police said.

Most were charged with drug offences and some issued with cannabis cautions.

In one case, police allege a 34-year-old was found with 23 ecstasy tablets and cannabis.

The man, from Chester Hill, has been charged with possessing and supplying an indictable quantity of a prohibited drug.

He is to appear at Waverley Local Court on March 12.

Another 12 were charged with offences including offensive behaviour, resisting arrest and assaulting police.

Park rangers issued 140 infringements to people trespassing at the event.

News.com.au

 

[hoptis]

Two face charges after drug raid
February 17, 2008 - 9:03AM

Two men face drug trafficking charges today after police seized more than 1000 cannabis plants during a raid in Melbourne's north.

Fawkner detectives found the 1025 hydroponic plants in a factory in Merri Concourse, Campbellfield, about 10am yesterday, police said.

A 40-year-old Southbank man and a 31-year-old Sydenham man were arrested at the scene.

Police said the men would face a bail justice today and Melbourne Magistrates' Court tomorrow.

They face charges of cultivate and trafficking a commercial quantity of drugs and theft.

AAP

The Age

 

[poledriver]

Woman charged with importing heroin

February 18, 2008 06:55am

Article from: AAP

POLICE have arrested a woman for allegedly smuggling almost 900 grams of heroin in internally concealed packages.

Australian Federal Police (AFP) said the 39-year-old Australian woman was stopped by customs officers on a flight from Thailand to Sydney on Thursday.

She produced two internally concealed packages containing white powder, believed to be heroin, police said.

The woman was taken to hospital, where a medical examination recovered 165 heroin packages totalling about 880 grams.

She has been charged with importing a border-controlled drug and is due to appear at Sydney Magistrates Court today.

Source : news.com.au

 

[lil angel15]

Agony for 3 ecstasy accused
23.02.2008

TWO men and a woman were remanded in custody on a string of drug and other charges when they appeared at bail hearings in Grafton yesterday.
Paul Stephen Kruger, 26, a floor and wall tiler from Grafton and Dean Michael King, 28, of Grafton, appeared on drug charges and Lisa Connelly, 43, a barmaid, of South Grafton, appeared on drug charges and a charge of solicit/encourage/persuade/endeavour to persuade/propose murder. It is alleged that on January 24 and January 30, 2008, she did solicit a known person to murder another man.

The three, charged after a series of simultaneous drug raids across the Grafton area on Thursday morning, were taken individually, their heads covered in towels, from the Grafton police station to the courthouse for their brief appearance in court yesterday.

All are due to appear in court again on Monday.

Connelly faces a total of 18 charges, 16 of them drug related. They relate to alleged offences from November 16, 2007 to February 21, 2008. She is alleged to have supplied 525 ecstasy (MDMA) tablets twice and 390 on a separate date.

She faced a further charge of having goods on her premises ($340) suspected of being stolen.

Connelly and a number of young women sobbed throughout her court appearance yesterday.

Police prosecutor Senior Constable Adam Brown said the charges were very serious and police had a very strong case.

He said there were concerns for the safety of the community and for the person who was the intended target of the alleged murder proposal.

Her defence solicitor, Neil Johnson, said Connelly had received treatment for a psychiatric condition and she suffered from depression and anxiety.

"She has significant local ties and her mother is in court today," he said.

He said Connelly and her mother had property interests in Grafton and were prepared to offer them as surety if bail was granted.

But registrar Chris Darby said there was a presumption against bail and he would refuse it.

King was charged with five counts of supplying a prohibited drug, three counts of possessing a prohibited drug, one count of cultivating a prohibited plant and one of having goods suspected of being stolen or otherwise illegally obtained ($200).

He is alleged to have been involved in the supply of a total of 1460 ecstasy tablets.

Sen Const Brown said there was also a strong case against King and asked that bail be refused.

Mr Johnson, who also represented King and Kruger, said King had a trivial criminal history and he suffered from an extremely painful folic disorder and was booked in for an operation on Monday. But Mr Darby again cited concerns for community safety in refusing bail.

Kruger faced 11 charges, most of them relating to the alleged supply and possession of prohibited drugs. He was also charged with having $11,945 that was suspected of being stolen or otherwise unlawfully obtained.

Mr Johnson said the case against Kruger was the weakest of the three and consideration needed to be given to the strength of the case. He said the case against Kruger was questionable on the supply charge.

But Mr Darby said it was not his duty to determine guilt or otherwise and refused bail.

The Daily Examiner

 

[lil angel15]

650 ecstasy pills found
Karen Matthews
23Feb08

MARTIN Sloan, the son of Bandidos national secretary Kim Sloan, has appeared in court with his girlfriend Natalie Stefanovic on major drug charges.

Mr Sloan, 22, and Ms Stefanovic, 20, both of O'Connell St, Geelong West, appeared in Geelong Magistrates' Court yesterday charged with trafficking ecstasy, possessing ecstasy and dealing in property suspected of being the proceeds of crime.

Mr Sloan is also charged with one count of recklessly causing serious injury.

Senior Constable Anthony Reyntjes said that at about 8am yesterday police executed a search warrant on the couple's home, searching for evidence in relation to a serious assault.

Instead they found 646 ecstasy tablets and more than $10,000 cash.

Sen-Constable Reyntjes said that when he entered the house he saw a door ajar half way down the hall.

He said he looked behind the door and saw Ms Stefanovic. Five five plastic bags of pills were floating in the toilet.

``Another bag of pills identical to those found in the toilet was in the lounge room,'' he said. ``A total of 646 ecstasy tablets were found as well as cash totalling $10,255 from four different locations throughout the house.''

Sen-Constable Reyntjes said a set of scales, deal bags, a list of names with figures alongside and three mobile phones were also seized along with clothing believed to have been worn by Mr Sloan on January 8.

The officer said that about 10.55pm on January 8, two victims and their friends went to the bottleshop next to the Belmont Hotel.

He said their car was in front of Mr Sloan's car and when Mr Sloan tooted the horn, a verbal altercation followed.

Sen-Constable Reyntjes said the two victims were then assaulted in the car park with baseball bats and golf clubs.

Both suffered cuts and bruises and one received three stab wounds to his back.

Michael Brugman, appearing for both the accused, said Ms Stefanovic, a hairdresser, had never been in trouble and Mr Sloan's prior appearances related mainly to driving offences.

He said the tablets had been left at the house by someone else and the cash was from savings to go towards bills.

Magistrate Ron Saines said he was satisfied the police had a strong case in relation to the drug trafficking charges.

He granted bail on grounds the delay in drug analysis could take up to 10 months, that the couple had never been in custody before and occupied a stable residential address.

Each was bailed with a surety of $50,000, to reappear at Geelong Magistrates' Court on April 7. They must report weekly to police.

Geelong Advertiser

 

[lil angel15]

Man charged over drug haul
February 22, 2008 06:47am

A MAN has been refused bail after police seized about $15,000 worth of methylamphetamine in Sydney's east.

Police searched a home in Beauchamp Road, Maroubra, at about 2.30pm (AEDT) yesterday and seized the methylamphetamine, more than 300 ecstasy tablets, cannabis and amphetamines.

A 24-year-old man has been charged with three counts of supplying an indictable quantity of a prohibited drug and drug possession.

He is expected to appear at Waverley Local Court today.

Mercury

 

[lil angel15]

Police nab 'key players' in Sunshine Coast drug scene
February 21, 2008 02:43pm

POLICE say an 11-month anti-drugs operation on the Sunshine Coast has been a success, with 43 key figures in the drug trade arrested over 243 offences.

Police seized large quantities of ecstasy pills, methylamphetamine, cocaine, three litres of liquid fantasy and LSD with an estimated value of $103,000 as a result of Operation Echo Sail, which ended today.

Raids carried out in the Sunshine Coast and Brisbane areas yesterday and today also netted $34,000 in cash, more ecstasy pills, cannabis and items of equipment used in connection with dangerous drugs.

A clandestine laboratory was also found at Maroochy River and a large amount of precursor chemicals suspected of being used in the manufacture of methylamphetamine were seized and taken for analysis.

A sawn-off shotgun was also seized.

State Drug Investigation Unit Detective Inspector Marty Mickelson said the operation was aimed at those involved in the supply of ecstasy and links to the Sunshine Coast nightclub scene.

"The operation has been very successful in identifying quite a number of persons who have been involved in carrying out mid to high level drug dealing," Det Insp Mickelson said.

"They are, in our view, key players involved in the trafficking and supply of large quantities of drugs, particularly MDMA, on the Sunshine Coast."

Courier Mail

 

[lil angel15]

Trio arrested in drug lab raid in Werribee
February 21, 2008 03:33pm

Three people have been arrested after drug squad detectives raided three houses and busted a drug laboratory in Werribee, south-west of Melbourne, early today.

In the first raid, investigators armed with a warrant swooped on a house in Margaret Street, finding a hydroponic system and arresting a 59-year-old local man.

A 36-year-old woman was also arrested and has been charged with possessing and cultivating cannabis after police raided a house in Visitor Way, Wyndham Vale, just outside Werribee.

A second Werribee man, aged 39, was arrested in a separate raid on a Meek Street house and has since been charged with possessing amphetamines and proceeds of crime.

Police said the 59-year-old man was likely to be charged later today with drug-related offences.

Herald Sun

 

[lil angel15]

Drug accused appear
21 February 2008 - 9:05AM

FIVE Tamworth and district residents charged with a range of drug offences following a police raid on a Daruka Rd property earlier this month appeared in the Tamworth Local Court yesterday.
The arrests had been carried out by Strike Force Phipp.

The strike force was formed within the Oxley Local Area Command’s drug unit last October.

All five people arrested faced charges relating to the alleged supply of methylamphetamine.

Strike Force Phipp team members originally searched the property on Wednesday, February 6, the court was told.

On Thursday, February 15, the occupants of the property, 31-year-old Wayne Robert Herod and his de facto 40-year-old Sharon Mitchell, were taken into police custody.

Mitchell appeared in Tamworth Local Court by video link from the Mulawa Women’s Prison in Sydney to answer charges of supplying a prohibited drug in an indictable quantity (not cannabis), possessing a prohibited drug, knowingly dealing with the proceeds of crime, and four charges relating to the alleged possession of unregistered firearms/pistols.

Herod has been charged with possessing a prohibited drug, supplying a prohibited drug of an indictable quantity (not cannabis), and knowingly dealing with the proceeds of crime (with intent to conceal).

He is also facing as many as five charges relating to the possession of unregistered/ unlicensed firearms and one count of having goods suspected of being stolen or otherwise unlawfully obtained.

Cindy Lee Chomel also appeared in Tamworth Local Court via video link from Mulawa Women’s Prison yesterday.

Chomel, 36, was arrested at a Southview St address and will face charges including knowingly dealing with the proceeds of crime, supplying a prohibited drug of an indictable quantity (not cannabis) and supplying prohibited drugs on an ongoing basis.

Ms Chomel’s de facto, Gerard Paul Kealy, 37, who was also arrested in Southview St, appeared to answer charges relating to the ongoing supply of prohibited drugs.

A fifth person, Gerard Francis Michell, 53, appeared to answer charges of supplying drugs and knowingly dealing with the proceeds of crime.

He had been arrested at a Chelmsford St address.

All five were refused bail.

Mitchell, Chomel and Herod’s cases were adjourned to Tamworth Local Court on Monday February 25.

Gerard Michell’s case was adjourned to Tamworth Local Court on February 27 and Kealy is scheduled to reappear in Tamworth Local Court on Wednesday, April 23.

The Northern Daily Leader

 

[lil angel15]

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