The Australian/NZ Drug Busts Mega-Thread Part Triforce

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Three charged over cannabis haul

Police say they discovered a commercial quantity of cannabis in north-east Victoria yesterday.

Police searched two properties in Chiltern and one in Rutherglen, seizing 75 kilograms of cannabis plants and dried cannabis.

Two men and a woman from Chiltern were charged and are due to face court this morning.

Detective Senior Sergeant Barry McIntosh says a truck was needed to remove the drugs from the properties.

"Wodonga and Wangaratta District Tasking Units attended," he said.

"The location is pretty much within the Chiltern Forest but on two rural-residential type properties. We believe the quantity that's been seized by police to be a commercial quantity.

"During the search a large quantity of cannabis was seized.

"Some of the plants seized at the properties were in excess of three metres in height and we also seized quite a substantial amount of dried cannabis material as well.

"We also seized a couple of motorbikes as a result of the searches today, so we'll be making some enquiries about those as well ."

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Public tip-offs helping drug labs crackdown

Bundaberg police have vowed to keep cracking down on drug production in the region.

Inspector Kev Guteridge says four labs were found in Bundaberg last month as part of a crackdown on drug production.

He says community tip-offs have been vital to the discoveries.

"There's certainly been an increase in the information that we've received," he said.

"The community, particularly Bundaberg, is a fantastic community to police with because the community does take its part in crime very seriously and it's very supportive of our job and what we do in trying to bring these offenders to justice and get these drugs off the street."

"Every time to take one of these laboratories out of the system it makes a dint.

"However, we rely on the fact that once you take one out, there's more operating. That's why we rely heavily on community support and we're very, very grateful and appreciative of the level of community support we have."

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Customs intercepts steroids package to Karratha

Police customs and border protection officers have seized a quantity of steroids posted to a man in Karratha.

Police say officers at the international mail centre in Perth found found 750 milligrams of liquid nandrolone in a bottle of wine.

They raided a home in Karratha where it is alleged they found methylamphetamine, ecstasy and ammunition.

A 51 year-old man has been charged with possessing a prohibited drug with the intent to sell or supply and possessing unlicensed ammunition.

He is due to appear in the Karratha Magistrate's Court on 3 May.

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Audit finds NSW cautions reduce cannabis reoffending

A 10-year review of cannabis cautions issued in New South Wales has found they have saved about $20 million.

Police have issued cautions to 39,000 people in the past decade who admitted to possessing less than 15 grams of cannabis.

State Auditor-General Peter Achterstraat says 14 per cent of people who are charged end up in court again, compared to five per cent who received a caution.

"The people who are cautioned have a much less chance of reoffending than those that in fact appear before the court, so on that measure the cautioning is a success," Mr Achterstraat said.

Despite that the study found that one in five young people are now being charged rather than cautioned, an increase on the proportion on a decade ago.

A caution requires adults caught with cannabis to seek phone counselling, but the audit has found most ignore the requirement.

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[NZ] Mob member jailed for 15 years for making P

Patched Mongrel Mob member Tommy Peters was sentenced in Manukau District Court today to 15 years in jail as the principal figure in a Manurewa-based methamphetamine manufacturing and supply ring.

Counties-Manukau Organised Crime Unit arrested Peters and nine others, including fellow gang member William Tua, in December 2008.

During the operation, police found and shut down three clandestine laboratories as well as finding precursor chemicals, over 70 grams of methamphetamine, a firearm, ammunition and approximately $26,000 in cash.

One laboratory at a residential property was found to contain over 300 litres of highly toxic waste product discarded after the methamphetamine manufacturing process.

Peters was convicted of charges of manufacturing methamphetamine, three representative charges of supplying methamphetamine covering over 100 instances of supplying the drug, as well as a charge of possession for supply of methamphetamine and possession of a pistol and ammunition.

Four others had previously been convicted and sentenced for their part in the drug ring.


Peter Tau was jailed for nine years on a representative charge of manufacturing methamphetamine, which related to multiple instances of manufacturing the drug.

Sidney Rudolph was jailed for eight years and William Tua five years on representative charges of manufacturing methamphetamine.

Sandra Boisen was jailed for four years for supplying precursor chemicals used by the cooks to manufacture methamphetamine.

"Police and the community will not tolerate organised criminal gangs involved in producing and supplying methamphetamine, a drug which is responsible for considerable harm in the South Auckland community," Detective Inspector Dave Lynch said.

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Police drug operation results in 19 arrests

19 people have been arrested after a lengthy police operation targeting heroin supply on the state's mid north coast.

Police say Operation Warrior was started in July last year to tackle an increase in the supply and use of heroin in the Taree and Purfleet areas.

19 people have since been arrested and 14 of those have been charged with a range of offences including supplying heroin and aggravated break, enter and steal.

Manning Great Lakes police say there has already been a noticeable downturn in drug related property crime, especially break, enter and steal and stolen cars.

Police say they now plan to work with local community groups to further reduce the incidence of heroin use and supply in Taree and Purfleet.

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Man charged over importation of drugs – Karratha

A 51 year old man will face court next month after a search of a house in Karratha allegedly located a quantity of steroids.

On Wednesday, 6 April 2011 Customs and Border Protection officers executed a number of Customs Act warrants at a premise in Karratha. The warrants were executed as a result of a detection of steroids through the International Mail System.

It will be alleged that a package containing a bottle of wine with 750 mls of liquid Nandrolone inside was detected by Customs and Border Protection officers through the international mail centre at Perth Gateway.

During a search of his premises an amount of ammunition, drugs and drug paraphernalia was found.

The man was located in a nearby town by Customs and Border Protection officers where he was subsequently arrested.

Following his arrest, Western Australian Police searched his vehicle where an amount of methamphetamine and MDMA was also located.

He was taken to Roebourne Police Station where an interview was conducted and he was later charged with a number of charges including Possession of a Prohibited Drug, Possession of Prohibited Drug with Intent to Sell and Supply and Possession of unlicensed ammunition.

The man was given bail and will appear at Karratha Magistrates Court on 3 May 2011.

Investigations are continuing.

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[poledriver]

Drug syndicate accused to front court

Nine people are due to face the Ballarat Magistrates Court today accused of taking part in an alleged national drug syndicate.

Twenty-five properties were raided across Victoria yesterday, mostly in Ballarat and Melbourne.

A joint Australian Federal Police and Victoria Police taskforce has charged 13 people and nine of those are due to front court in Ballarat today.

The raids were the culmination of a 15-month investigation that has netted $4.5 million of assets, including two houses, a light plane and luxury cars.

Yesterday, police say they seized more than 2.5 kilograms of drugs, a stolen motorcycle, firearms and equipment to make counterfeit money.

They say the crime syndicate moved drugs throughout Australia.

Four of the men are charged with trafficking commercial quantities of drugs and could face 25 years in jail.

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[poledriver]

Plane seized in multi-million-dollar drug bust

Police have seized a light plane and arrested 13 people as part of a multi-million-dollar drug bust.

Twenty five properties were raided across Victoria yesterday, mostly in Ballarat and Melbourne.

A joint taskforce of Australian Federal Police and Victoria Police has charged 13 people. Nine of them will appear in the Ballarat court today.

The raids were the culmination of a 15-month investigation that has netted assets of $4.5 million, including two houses, a light plane and luxury cars.

Yesterday police seized more than 2.5 kilograms of drugs, a stolen motorcycle, firearms and equipment to make counterfeit money.

They say the crime syndicate moved drugs throughout Australia.

A Ballarat man has been remanded in custody on a number of charges, including trafficking a commercial quantity of methylamphetamine.

Rodney Weightman, of Delacombe, was ordered to return to court on July 7.

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Man avoids jail after fleeing police

A Port Pirie man has been placed on a good behaviour bond after being convicted of reckless driving, cultivating cannabis and possessing an unregistered firearm.

In the Port Pirie Magistrates Court, Adam Lynas Bubnowski, 29, was handed a five-month suspended sentence and fined more than $2,500.

He pleaded guilty to two counts of driving dangerously to avoid police, cultivating cannabis and possessing an unregistered gun.

The court heard police went to Bubnowski's property in January to check on a defected car.

Bubnowski arrived later but the defence said he panicked when the police saw him and sped off at more than 200 kilometres an hour with his partner and child in the car.

The defence asked for leniency as Bubnowski had no previous record and suffered from anxiety.

He has been placed on an 18-month good behaviour bond.

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[poledriver]

Court told of big cannabis plants

The Wodonga Magistrates Court has heard excellent growing conditions were responsible for the size of cannabis plants seized at Chiltern this week.

On Wednesday, police raided two properties and allegedly seized 75 kilograms of cannabis.

Chiltern couple Shane Emmins and Sally Gibson are charged with cultivating, trafficking and possessing a commercial quantity of cannabis.

Chiltern man Kevin Nightingale is also charged with cultivating, trafficking and possession.

Sergeant Graeme Simpfendorfer told the court the cannabis plants were the biggest he had seen in his 17 years with Victoria Police.

The three accused have all made full and frank admissions to growing and cultivating cannabis but deny the charge of trafficking.

Bail was continued and they are due to face court again in July.

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Man to face Mackay court over Rockhampton drug lab

Police have arrested a second man over an alleged drug lab found on Rockhampton's northern outskirts this week.

Police say they found drug making equipment in a shed behind a house at Olive Estate on Tuesday.

A 46-year-old-man was charged in Rockhampton the following day, but acting regional crime coordinator Cal Lynch says a second man was arrested in Mackay late yesterday.

The 38-year-old has been charged with possession of equipment, including a reaction vessel and chemicals.

He has also been charged with possession of amphetamines, ecstasy, cannabis, steroids and syringes.

Inspector Lynch says the man is also facing a weapons charge over the discovery of a 303 rifle.

He is expected to appear in the Mackay Magistrates Court this month

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Police smash drug ring linked to Gypsy Jokers

Police say a drug syndicate which has been using the interstate road freight industry to smuggle cannabis, is linked to the Gypsy Jokers bikie gang.

Officers seized almost 30 kilograms of the drug as it was being transported across the border.

Three truck drivers and a 41 year-old Kalgoorlie man were arrested last night after a two day surveillance operation involving three trucks that left Adelaide on Wednesday.

Detective Superintendent Charlie Carver says the drugs seized have an estimated street value of $1.4 million.

"WA police gang crime squad, Kalgoorlie detectives, South Australian police, customs and border protection joined forces to investigate this particular syndicate and it resulted in the seizure of 29.1 kilograms," he said.

The men have been charged with a range of drug offences and are due to face court tomorrow.

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[JoshE]

Police discover cannabis crop in Carine park

POLICE have launched a daring aerial drug bust after uncovering 21 mature cannabis plants growing in a popular northern suburbs park this afternoon.

Officers from the Police Air Wing spotted the crops in three separate plots at the Carine Open Space about 12pm and winched them from the ground using a helicopter in front of curious onlookers and children.

``The plants range from about a metre tall to about 2.5 metres,'' Senior Constable Terry O'Connor told PerthNow.

``They are mature plants, they have still got all their buds on them.

``The Air Wing is continually checking these areas as they are continually getting hits out of them.''

The sting is part of an ongoing operation by the Police Air Wing targeting cannabis growing in public parks and open space areas.

In February, a low-flying police helicopter pilot uncovered 70 cannabis plants, some up to 2m high, growing among reeds at Lake Gwelup.

he plants found at Carine will be destroyed as officers investigate who is responsible for the plantation.

http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/wes...p-in-carine-park/story-e6frg13u-1226036485081

 

[JoshE]

Drugs lab found in X Factor winner Altiyan Childs' home

POLICE have uncovered an illicit chemical lab and seized drugs and guns in a raid on the suburban home of X Factor winner Altiyan Childs.

The flamboyant star's personal manager, Steve Gold, was arrested in his underpants during the early morning bust last Monday and was later charged over the illegal weapons, which included rifles, pellet guns and a Taser.

The Sony Music-signed singer had lived at the Ramsgate home - known as the "Altourage" headquarters - with seven people for the past six months until the day before the raid.

Childs, who famously spent time in a cave before striking success on the reality talent show, has gone to ground.

Police told a Sydney court last week that drugs charges were likely to be laid once forensic testing was complete.

Gold, 27, whose real name is Steven Yankuloff, faced Bankstown Local Court on Monday after being charged with eight illegal weapon offences following the raid.

Childs has not been charged. He has left his personal effects, including a television set and clothes, in his old bedroom.

Police kicked in the front door of the property at 7.15am and allegedly seized two rifles, a Taser gun, knuckledusters and a semi-automatic pellet gun, a police fact sheet tendered to the court stated.

They also confiscated 500g of cannabis and allegedly found "a large amount of chemical equipment" in a backyard shed that was used to manufacture "large quantities of prohibited drugs", the fact sheet stated.

No charges have been laid in relation to the drugs, but the court heard police may lay further charges against Gold following forensic testing.

The relationship between Gold and Childs, whose real name is Altiyan Juric, soured recently when a fight allegedly broke out over money.

http://www.perthnow.com.au/entertai...iyan-childs-home/story-e6frg30l-1226036716660

 

[poledriver]

Businessman's assets frozen after drug busts

A series of drug raids in Western Australia's far north has led to a businessman having assets worth almost $1 million frozen.

On Friday, the organised crime squad and the proceeds of crime squad travelled from Perth to help execute search warrants on three properties, as part of an ongoing investigation into amphetamines distribution called Operation Piadro.

A 47-year-old man, a tradesman who runs his own business, was allegedly found in possession of more than 28 grams of speed, which is classified as a trafficable amount.

Detective Sergeant Graeme Johnson says he is due to appear in the Broome Magistrates Court today.

"It was a significant operation and certainly for the size of Derby very significant," he said.

"We had about 30 police officers involved. The proceeds of crime squad detectives ... have issued a number of freezing notices of a number number of assets, including his business and residential property."

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[poledriver]

Man charged and clan lab uncovered at Hurstville

Asian Crime Squad detectives charged a man and uncovered a large clandestine drug laboratory in a unit at Hurstville yesterday.

About 3pm, detectives attended a unit on Queens Road at Hurstville, where they discovered a clandestine drug laboratory.

A 33-year-old man was arrested at the scene and taken to Hurstville Police Station.

He has been charged with manufacturing large commercial quantity of a prohibited drug, posses drug manufacturing apparatus and operating a drug premise.

He was refused bail to appear at Bankstown Local Court later today.

Investigators will be at the site today while clandestine lab is examined and dismantled.

Yesterday’s arrest is part of Strike Force Noise, which was established in November 2010 to investigate the supply of prohibited firearms and drugs including methamphetamine, heroin and ICE.

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[poledriver]

Executed Sydney man a drug ring witness

man shot dead in Sydney's south-west last week was due to give evidence in a trial relating to a multi-million dollar cocaine syndicate.

Gemahl Maika was shot up to 10 times in his garage at Glen Alpine on Wednesday last week in what police described as a "gruesome execution".

The 38-year-old had just arrived home after an evening TAFE course.

His adult stepson found him dying while his wife and two children were inside.

His killer is still on the run.

Police have confirmed Mr Maika was a Crown witness.

He was due to give evidence in a trial relating to Sydney's so-called "Golden Gun" drug syndicate.

The ring allegedly imported hundreds of kilograms of cocaine from Los Angeles in the United States.

Police broke up the syndicate in 2007 and seized almost $20 million in cash, as well as property, luxury cars and 17 guns.

One of the firearms was a gold-plated Magnum revolver.

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[poledriver]

Court appearance over cannabis haul

Four men, including three truck drivers, will appear in courts in Western Australia today charged will trafficking a large amount of cannabis into the state.

Police allege Robert Gray, Andrew Minarsky and Gregory Lamont brought 29 kilograms of cannabis in trucks over the border from South Australia into WA.

They allege a fourth man Paul Matuku was also involved and attempted to sell the drugs.

The three truck drivers will appear in Perth courts while Mr Matuku will appear in Kalgoorlie.

Mr Matuku has been charged with possessing a prohibited drug, possessing a prohibited drug with intent to sell, and possessing a smoking utensil.

Police say the drug syndicate, which has been using the interstate road freight industry to smuggle cannabis, is linked to the Gypsy Jokers bikie gang.

Police put the trucks under surveillance after they left Adelaide last week.

Detective Superintendent Charlie Carver says the drugs seized have an estimated street value of $1.4 million.

"WA police gang crime squad, Kalgoorlie detectives, South Australian police, customs and border protection joined forces to investigate this particular syndicate and it resulted in the seizure of 29.1 kilograms," he said.

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[poledriver]

Tradesman fronts court accused of selling drugs

A Derby tradesman has appeared in court charged with selling methylamphetamines.

Police allegedly found more than 50 grams of the drug at a property belonging to electrician Shum Gee Lwoy during a series of raids on Friday night.

Because the amount was of a trafficable quantity, Lwoy has had assets worth almost $1 million frozen while the prosecution proceeds.

The 47 year old appeared in the Broome Magistrates Court yesterday but was not required to enter a plea.

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