The Australian/NZ Drug Busts Mega-Thread Part Triforce

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Man charged after cannabis seized – Baulkham Hills

A man will appear in court today after police discovered a million-dollar cannabis plantation at a home in Baulkham Hills.

About 7.40am yesterday (Thursday May 19), police went to the premises in Palace Road acting on information cannabis was being grown in the home.

Police from Gordon, The Hills and Eastwood executed a search warrant at the house and will allege they located an indoor hydroponic cannabis plantation growing in a number of rooms and under the floor.

They seized 211 cannabis plants and stopped an unsafe electricity source. The drugs have an estimated street value of $1 million.

A 65-year-old man was arrested and taken to Castle Hill Police Station. He was charged with large commercial cannabis cultivation and theft of electricity.

He was bail refused to appear at Parramatta Local Court today.

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Truck driver charged with drug supply – Warnervale

Police have charged a truck driver after drugs were allegedly found in his vehicle following a pursuit near Newcastle today.

About 8.45am, officers attached to Newcastle Highway Patrol detected a heavy vehicle allegedly travelling at high speed southbound on the F3 in Warnervale.

The vehicle was stopped a short time later after initial attempts failed and a pursuit was activated.

Police spoke to the 20-year-old driver, from North Manly, and found he was unlicensed.

A subsequent search of the truck allegedly located a quantity of amphetamine and cannabis.

The man was arrested and taken to The Entrance Police Station where he was charged with numerous offences relating to drug supply and unlicensed driving.

He was granted conditional bail to appear in Wyong Local Court on 15 June.

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Alleged heroin dealer remanded in custody

A 57-year-old Newcastle woman charged with 68 counts of supplying heroin has been remanded in custody.

Anne Margaret Maddison was arrested yesterday by officers attached to Strike Force Hendine.

She has been under surveillance for four months for alleging supplying heroin in Newcastle to a large number of people on almost a daily basis.

She is facing 68 drug supply charges.

Police allege she supplied up to three grams of heroin at a time and her actions were for financial or material reward.

When her case was mentioned in Newcastle Local Court today her solicitor said she did not need to be brought up from the docks.

Bail was not applied for but Maddison's solicitor said she will apply for bail at her next appearance in June.

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Rush still suffers execution nightmares

Bali Nine drug mule Scott Rush says he still suffers from nightmares about being executed, a week after his death sentence was repealed.

In a letter sent to The Age newspaper, Rush said he feels he has found new purpose and can glimpse life outside the walls of Bali's Kerobokan prison.

He said he was in his cell when he received the news that his death sentence had been commuted to life in prison.

"I sat there in silence for a while. I don't know how long, but it was quite surreal," the letter to the newspaper said.

"So many emotions welled up in me. It is a hard feeling to describe, a mixture of guilt, a sense of release and the realisation that I have a second chance."

He said his determination to reform was strengthened.

"One dreadful burden has been lifted, a new responsibility has begun," he said.

Rush says if he is ever released he wants to be an ambassador against drugs.

"I have met so many people inside Kerobokan prison whose lives have been destroyed by drugs, and [seen] the pain it has caused their families ... so I would like to give back to my community and help others say no to drugs," he said.

Rush, 25, from Brisbane, had been facing the death penalty for his part in a 2005 plot to smuggle more than eight kilograms of heroin from Bali into Australia.

One of nine Australians convicted over the drug-smuggling conspiracy, Rush was given life in prison when initially convicted but had his sentence increased to death at his first appeal.

Rush was only 19 and on his first overseas trip when he was arrested at Ngurah Rai airport with 1.3kg of heroin strapped to his legs and body underneath his clothing.

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Another meth lab bust on Coffs Coast

Detectives from the Drug Squad and the Coffs-Clarence Local Area Command says they have shut-down a major drug operation.

Six people have been charged with manufacturing and dealing amphetamines, and growing and supplying cannabis.

The arrests came after raids yesterday and today on properties in rural areas at Gordonville and Gleniffer south west of Coffs Harbour and Brierfield near Bellingen.

Yesterday three men were arrested.

Local Crime manager Detective Inspector Cameron Lindsay says the region has become a bit of a 'hot-spot' for methamphetamine labs.

"The amount of labs that have been identified is a concern and the police in this regard, the investigators have been working long and hard to get to the point where we can arrest these people.

"We will allege that the local connections here were the producers not only of the cannabis but the amphetamines."

Today a 65-year old man from Belmont was arrested at the Brierfield property where a clandestine drug laboratory was found.

There was then a search of his home near Newcastle, where police found and seized chemicals and other items relating to illicit drug manufacture.

Police also arrested a 27-year-old woman and a 45-year-old man, both from Coffs Harbour.

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Four charged over $250k drug haul

Four people have been charged after police uncovered a large haul of drugs in raids across Melbourne.

Police found drugs worth more than $250,000 at a property at Sunbury and in a vehicle at Mt Evelyn.

Large amounts of ecstasy, methamphetamine and cannabis were confiscated.

Two men and two women face charges including trafficking a commercial quantity of drugs.

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Six people charged and clandestine drug laboratory uncovered - Drug Squad

Police from the Drug Squad and Coffs/ Clarence Local Area Command have charged six people over alleged drug manufacture and supply offences following two Strike Force investigations.

In September 2010, Strike Force Tirto was launched by Coffs/ Clarence Local Area Command detectives to investigate the supply of methylamphetamine and the large scale cultivation and supply of cannabis.

In February 2010, Strike Force Nardus was launched by the State Crime Command's Chemical Operation Unit and Coffs/ Clarence Local Area Command into the manufacture of illicit drugs on the state's north coast.

Following investigations, three men were arrested by Strike Force Tirto yesterday (Thursday 19 May, 2011), after drugs were seized by police during search warrants at rural properties in Gordonville and Gleniffer, south-west of Coffs Harbour.

During the warrants police seized a quantity of hydroponically grown cannabis. Strike Force Tirto investigators also previously seized a commercial quantity of methylamphetamine, an indictable quantity of cannabis and 175 mature cannabis plants from the Clouds Creek National Park, west of Coffs Harbour, on 1 April, 2011.

All three men were taken to Coffs Harbour Police Station where they were charged with drug offences, including supply, possess and cultivate prohibited drugs. They were refused bail to appear at Coffs Harbour Local Court today (20 May 2011).

A further search warrant was executed by Strike Force Nardus detectives at Brierfield, near Bellingen, where a clandestine drug laboratory was located.

A 65-year-old Belmont man was arrested nearby and taken to Coffs Harbour Police Station. He was charged with manufacture prohibited drug (commercial quantity); two counts of possess drug manufacture apparatus; two counts of possess instructions for manufacture; and deal with proceeds of crime. He was refused bail to appear at Coffs Harbour Local Court today (20 May 2011).

A subsequent search warrant was executed at his residence in Belmont, near Newcastle, where police located and seized chemicals and other items relating to the illicit drug manufacture.

As a result of this search warrant, police also arrested a 27-year-old woman and a 45-year-old man, both from Coffs Harbour.

The woman was charged with manufacture and supply prohibited drug, and refused bail to appear at Coffs Harbour Local Court today (20 May 2011). The man was charged with possession of offensive weapon and bailed to appear at Coffs Harbour Local Court on 20 June, 2011.

The clandestine laboratory will be dismantled and further examined by forensic chemists and specialist police today. Investigations are continuing.

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$1m cannabis bust in Sydney's north-west

A Sydney man has been charged after police allegedly seized $1 million worth of cannabis at his home in the city's north-west.

Police say they searched the man's Baulkham Hills home just after 7:30am (AEST) yesterday, after a tip-off.

They allegedly discovered 211 cannabis plants being grown hydroponically in several rooms and under the floor.

The 65-year-old has been charged with cultivating a large commercial quantity of cannabis, and stealing electricity.

He was held in custody overnight to appear in court today.

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Man on run with 'drugs' and toddler

A MAN allegedly led police on a high-speed chase around the city before crashing into two vehicles, all with a knife, a bag of cannabis and a two-year-old girl in the back seat.
The 30-year-old man was driving his high-performance Subaru WRX down Goulburn St at 1.30pm when he slammed into the rear end of a taxi.

Without stopping and in what witnesses described as a panicked state, the man then fled down Elizabeth St at speeds of 80km an hour before crashing into a courier van.

"He was clearly trying to run away,'' one witness, named Michael, said.

Passing police noticed the commotion and quickly apprehended the man, who was unharmed, after the collision.
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The 40-year-old male driver of the courier van was trapped in his vehicle and required police assistance to be freed. He was taken to St Vincents Hospital with minor injuries.

The two-year-old girl was also unharmed.

Acting Inspector for City Central Local Area Command, Jason Maxwell said that police had allegedly removed a large bag of cannabis and a knife from the back seat of the car.

"I find that kind of behaviour to be unacceptable, particularly with a young kid in the car'' Acting Inspector Jason Maxwell said.

The man was taken to St Vincents Hospital for a blood test and is assisting police with their enquiries.

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Police raid a Kings Cross club and arrest two employees for alleged cocaine supply

Police have executed a late-night raid on a club in Kings Cross, arresting two employees for allegedly supplying cocaine.

At 10.40pm last night (20 May), almost 50 Kings Cross and PORS officers executed a warrant at the club in Darlinghurst Road and arrested two men – a 35-year-old from Coogee and a 30-year-old from St Clair.

There were an estimated 50 patrons inside the club at the time of the drug operation, but all were escorted from the premises without incident.

The 35-year-old man was refused bail and will appear before Parramatta Bail Court later today to face five charges relating to the supply of a prohibited drug.

The 30-year old man was charged with supply prohibited drug and granted conditional bail to appear at Downing Centre Local Court on 10 June 2011.

Kings Cross Commander Acting Superintendent Darren Schott said that as a result of the operation, police had obtained an urgent closure order.

“The effect of the order is that the club must shut its doors and remain closed for a period of up to 72 hours,” A/Supt Schott said.

He said information from the community ultimately led to the drug raid.

“Three weeks ago police received information concerning employees of the club allegedly supplying cocaine,” A/Supt Schott said.

“A covert investigation was launched that resulted in these arrests.

“The majority of people in the community – like police – want to see the drug trade eradicated.

“Community assistance is invaluable in these sorts of investigations and I can assure the public that we will act swiftly to bring to justice those engaged in distributing illicit drugs.”

A/Supt Schott said Kings Cross police would continue to target drug supply in the local area command.

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Drug Squad issue CCTV footage after large-scale pharmaceutical theft – Kingsgrove

Drug Squad detectives have today issued CCTV footage as part of a renewed appeal for information into the alleged large-scale theft of pharmaceutical drugs from Kingsgrove in March.

Between 2pm on Saturday 5 March 2011 and 3pm Sunday 6 March, a number of people entered a business on Garema Circuit and took more than 50kg of pseudoephedrine and 67kg of codeine.

Pseudoephedrine may be used as a precursor in the manufacture of the illicit drug methylamphetamine; the quantity of pseudoephedrine stolen has the potential to produce many kilograms of this drug.

Pseudoephedine and codeine in raw form are both prohibited drugs and the possession and supply of these items and severe penalties apply under the Drugs Misuse and Trafficking Act.

Strike Force Hyperno comprises detectives from the State Crime Command’s Drug Squad and Campsie Local Area Command and was established to investigate this incident.

Today’s CCTV footage shows three men who may be able to assist with the investigation; investigators are appealing to anyone who may have seen them in the vicinity of the business around the time of the incident, to contact detectives.

Detectives also wish to speak with anyone who witnessed any suspicious activity in the vicinity of Garema Circuit at Kingsgrove either at the time, or over the weekend following the incident.

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Three arrested for dance party drug supply – Moore Park

Police have charged two people with drug supply offences after seizing more than 160 pills at a dance party in inner Sydney overnight.

Officers were patrolling the dance party at Moore Park just before midnight when they noticed a man acting suspiciously in the bathroom.

During a search of the man, police allegedly sized 140 pills and five caplets which will undergo forensic analysis. He was placed under arrest and taken to Surry Hills Police Station.

A 19-year-old Glenbrook man was charged with possess prohibited drug and supply prohibited drug and granted conditional bail to appear at Downing Centre Local Court on 15 June.

A 23-year-old man was charged with supplying and possessing a prohibited drug and will appear in Downing Centre Local Court on 17 June.

An 18-year-old woman will be appearing the same court on that day to answer an allegation of possessing a prohibited drug.

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Fire guts Sydney house days after illegal drugs found

A fire that has destroyed a house in Sydney's south-west just days after illegal drugs were found inside is being investigated, police say.

The fire engulfed the two-storey brick home, at Falcons Circuit, Green Valley, about 8pm yesterday. Concerned neighbours raised the alarm. No one was inside at the time of the fire.

Firefighters worked for nearly an hour to contain the blaze, which caused a partial roof collapse and gutted the inside, a NSW Fire Brigades spokesman said.

Police raided the house just days earlier to find cannabis, hydroponic equipment and chemicals inside.

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Stolen opiates could be used to make meth

THREE men have stolen huge amounts of opiates that could be used to manufacture illicit drugs with a street value of up to $10 million, NSW police say.

The trio, armed with sledgehammers, smashed their way into an industrial warehouse in Kingsgrove, in Sydney's southwest, late on March 5 or early on March 6.

They stole 67kg of codeine and 50kg of pseudoephedrine.

The pseudoephedrine can be used in the manufacture of the illicit drug methylamphetamine.

Drug Squad investigator Detective Inspector Nick Iorfiono said up to 100kg of methylamphetamine could be made from the stolen opiates.

"We are looking at anywhere up to approximately 100kg of the drug ... we are looking at methylamphetamine at $100,000 a kilo," Det Insp Iorfino told reporters on Monday.

"In terms of size and scale, (the theft is) very significant.

"A lot of planning would have gone ahead to commit this particular offence."

The opiates were contained in cardboard cylinders.

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Two men arrested at Manningham for assault, drug and firearm offences

Following a domestic incident at another premises earlier in the day, police arrested two men at about 1.30am at Manningham.

A 27-year-old man from Rostrevor was arrested and charged with aggravated assault and firearms offences.

He was refused police bail and is expected to appear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Monday.

A 29-year-old man from Manningham was arrested and charged with cultivating cannabis, possessing prescribed equipment and firearms offences.

He was bailed to appear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on 20 June 2011.

STAR Group were utilised due to possibility of firearms at the Manningham address.

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Police seek public tip-offs about Coffs Coast 'meth labs'

Police in the Coffs-Clarence Local Area Command are renewing an appeal to the public for tip-offs about illegal drug labs.

Last week six people in the region were charged with dealing commercial quantities of cannabis and methylamphetamine.

Local Crime manager Detective Inspector Cameron Lindsay says of late the area from around Bellingen to north of Coffs Harbour has been an illegal meth lab 'hotspot'.

"We would like to hear from anyone that may see or hear about these type of activities, particularly these drug labs. they're very dangerous, they use dangerous chemicals.

"They're a danger not only to the public but the people who are producing these drugs, he said."

So-called meth labs were found at Brierfield near Bellingen and at Gordonville and Gleniffer southwest of Coffs Harbour.

Detective Inspector Lindsay says police are keen to hear from locals who might notice unusual activities.

"Obviously they're trying to do it ina clandestine way and members of the public see things.

"They notice that there are strange things going on and we'd like to hear from anyone.

"They can always ring CrimeStoppers anonymously and give us information," he said.

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Footage released in drug thief search

Police in Sydney have made a renewed appeal for information over the theft of nearly 120 kilograms of pharmaceutical drugs earlier in the year.

They have released security camera footage of three men wanted over the robbery from an industrial unit at Kingsgrove, in the city's south-west.

Police say the men stole 50 kilograms of pseudoephedrine and 67 kilograms of codeine over the weekend of March 5 and 6.

Pseudoephedrine is a major component of the illegal drug methylamphetamine, also known as "speed".

Police say the pharmaceuticals could be used to manufacture more than $40 million worth of illegal drugs.

The grainy CCTV vision shows three masked men wearing dark clothes and carrying tools.

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Disqualified driver, cannabis and cash at Myponga

A routine traffic stop by police at Myponga on Saturday night led to the discovery of approximately 10kgs of dried cannabis.

Police stopped a ute on Springmount Road at about 9pm and spoke to the driver.

Checks revealed that the driver was disqualified from driving.

The cannabis was found in the rear of the ute which led to further enquiries at the driver's home address where 6 cannabis plants were growing in a hydroponic set-up.

Cash and other drug related equipment was also found and seized.

A 33-year-old man from Sellicks Beach was arrested and charged with drive disqualified, cultivate and possess cannabis and unlawful possession.

His car was impounded for 28 days and he will appear in Court at a later date.

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Australian man in Bali drug bust

A Melbourne man faces up to 20 years in prison after being charged with illegal possession of drugs for personal use in Bali.

The head of Denpasar's criminal division says 49-year-old Ricky Shane Rawson was arrested at a villa in one of the island's upmarket districts.

He had a small amount of methamphetamine and two ecstasy pills in his possession, which carries a penalty of between four and 20 years in prison, drug squad chief Ambariady said.

"He's an Australian citizen who was caught in an operation, called Operation Antique, and carried out by Denpasar police," he said.

Police are trying to determine how Rawson obtained the narcotics.

He has appointed legal representation, but declined help from the consulate.

A spokesperson with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed that an Australian man from Victoria had been detained on Saturday in Bali on drug-related charges.

Under Indonesian law, police have 20 days to investigate a case before charges have to be laid.

That period can be extended by an additional 40 days if requested by the public prosecutor.

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Man charged following large cannabis seizure – Dubbo

A man has been charged with drug and fraud offences after police allegedly located a large quantity of cannabis during searches in Dubbo today.

About 2am (Monday 23 May), police attached to Orana Local Area Command stopped a vehicle on the Newell Highway near Brocklehurst.

Police spoke to the driver who allegedly provided a false drivers licence.

During a subsequent search of the car police allegedly located 22.7 kilograms of dried cannabis leaf, packaged in bags.

A 25-year-old man was arrested and taken to Dubbo Police Station.

Following inquiries police executed search warrants on three homes in Dubbo, locating an amount of cannabis at a business on Bourke Street.

The 25-year-old man was charged with supply prohibited drug, deal with identity information to commit indictable offence and drive whilst disqualified.

He appeared in Dubbo Local Court today and was refused bail, his next appearance is set for June 6.

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