The Australian/NZ Drug Busts Mega-Thread Part Triforce

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Territory burnt by illegal drug prices

The Australian Crime Commission says people in the Northern Territory pay more than twice as much as other Australians for some illegal drugs.

The commission's Illicit Drug Data report shows Territorians pay up to $100 per gram for cannabis.

It says the street price in other jurisdictions is $20 to $50.

The commission's Dr David Lacey says the Territory's isolation drives up costs.

"Illicit drug prices are influenced by availability and economic conditions and perceived market placement, like any business," he said.

"Organised criminal groups use business models to recover the additional logistical or financial costs associated with trafficking drugs to remote communities in the form of high prices for consumers."

The report says cannabis continues to account for the largest proportion of illicit drug seizures in the Territory.

More than 90 per cent of the weight of illicit drugs seized in 2009-10 was cannabis.

Nationally, cannabis accounted for 76 per cent of the weight of drug seizures.

The commission also voiced its concern about a growing number of clandestine drug laboratories found in residential areas of the Territory.

The reports says 12 illegal drug labs were uncovered in the Territory in 2009-10.

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Make pseudoephedrine products prescription only: Commissioner

The Police Commissioner has suggested making pseudoephedrine products available by prescription only in a bid to reduce the number of illegal drug laboratories in WA.

A report by the Australian Crime Commission found 118 clan labs were detected in WA last financial year, the second most in the country after Queensland.

The Commissioner Karl O'Callaghan says most of the labs were manufacturing drugs for personal use, using ingredients from common cold and allergy medications.

"Most drug addicts who put together an improvised manufacturing site simply walk into a chemist and buy pseudoephedrine-based tablets," he said.

Currently people only need to show identification to buy the drug over the counter.

Mr O'Callaghan is also calling for more funding for drug rehabilitation centres.

He says the figures would be better if therapy was readily available and better funded.

"In Western Australia, it's just not possible to walk into a therapeutic community if you think you've got, or if you have got, a drug problem and get instant access to it," he said.

The Commissioner's son Russell suffered serious burns from a clan lab explosion in March this year.

True extent

Burns specialist Dr Fiona Wood says figures showing an increasing number of clan labs in Australia do not show the true extent of the problem.

Dr Wood says she is seeing a disturbing number of burn injuries from clan lab accidents.

"I think, to be perfectly honest, we're only seeing the tip of the iceberg because not everybody of course who comes into the burns unit says 'oh yes, I was in a clan lab'," she explained.

"Our feeling is it's a bigger problem than we have articulated."

The Australian Crime Commission says there is expected to be an increase in the number of illegal drug labs uncovered in Australia this year.

Its chief executive John Lawler says while the ACC is still collating data for this year's report, it appears the problem is getting worse.

"Anecdotally, we're seeing the increase in clandestine laboratories continuing," he said.

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Disgraced councillor resigns over drug conviction

A disgraced councillor from Young has resigned after after being convicted on drugs charges.

John Laybutt has been sentenced to a suspended jail term of nine months for possessing drugs, guns, fireworks and ammunition.

Mr Laybutt is legally able to retain his position on local government but resigned yesterday.

The Young Shire Council says his position will remain vacant for more than a year because new laws mean the council doesn't have to fill the vacancy.

The Mayor, Stuart Freudenstein, says a by-election could have cost $60,000.

"There's some new legislation that the state government's apparently bringing in just about as we speak," he said.

"Previously where you had to resign within 12 months of the next general election, they're going to alter that now and make it 18 months.

"So, this is only 15 months so we don't have to have a by-election now."

He says the even numbers could lead to more deadlocked votes until the general election next September.

"We've had a couple already when we've been one councillor short for different reasons but, that probably will eventuate more so than normal," he said.

"From my experience it happened in the last term of council when we had eight for the last year as well.

"Probably the casting vote will need to be used more often as well I suppose."

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Man trying to evade police spends night in bushland

A man who tried to escape police after crashing his car which allegedly contained more than six kilograms of cannabis has been arrested near Collarenebri in north western New South Wales.

Police say the South Australian man was pulled over for a traffic offence on the Gwydir Highway on Monday night, and then sped away when officers found his licence had expired.

He crashed and rolled his car a short time later, and ran off into bushland where he spent the night, before being seen by a member of the public yesterday afternoon.

The 29 year old has been charged with a number of offences and refused bail to appear in the Walgett Local Court today.

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Sniffer dog nabs 74yo drug dealer

A police dog has helped catch a 74-year-old woman who was allegedly selling drugs at Sydney's Central Railway Station.

Officers were alerted to the woman by the sniffer dog during a routine operation at the station just after 4:00pm (AEST).

The woman was allegedly found with more than 40 small bags of cannabis in her handbag.

A search of her nearby home at Surry Hills allegedly uncovered more bags and a small amount of cannabis.

Inspector Mark Christie says the officers involved were surprised.

"It certainly wasn't what they were expecting. In fact it's certainly not what everyone's expecting," Inspector Christie said.

"That's the benefit we get from these drug dog operations. They pick up the scent not the individual.

"That's why it makes it more difficult for those that are involved in that type of activity to get around and do their business."

The woman has been charged with possessing and supplying illegal drugs and released on bail to face court next month.

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Riverina overdose deaths from illegal use of painkillers

Wagga Police say two people have died and there have been several overdoses in the last six months from the illegal use of powerful prescription painkillers.

Inspector Rod Smith says there is a growing problem in the region involving Schedule Eight pharmaceuticals on the black market.

Inspector Smith says cannabis and other illegal drugs are still the most popular in the region, but Oxycontin, MSContin, and Fentanyl are perhaps easier to secure.

"Fentanyl is 100 times more potent than morphine," he warned.

"And we're finding that drug users are getting the patches illegally and then extracting the drug from the patches and injecting it. Very, very dangerous," he said.

"And we've seen a few overdoses here in Wagga - a couple of them have resulted in deaths," said the Inspector.

"And others, luckily the Ambulance and medical staff have saved their life, but it's extremely dangerous, there's quite a bit of it out there," said Inspector Smith.

He says the drug users are doctor shopping, so police and pharmacies are monitoring the activity.

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Cananbis seized in APY Lands in state's far north

Police on the APY (Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yangkunytjatjara) Lands have arrested a 46-year-old man from Morphetville for possession of cannabis for sale and supply.

The cannabis was discovered following a routine traffic stop at Mimili on Saturday 26 June.

The cannabis was packaged in small re-sealable bags when seized and police believe was intended for distribution and sale across the APY Lands communities.

The man has been bailed to appear in Mimili Magistrates Court on 9 August 2011.

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Former footballer jailed for drug trafficking

A former Tasmanian footballer found guilty of drug trafficking has been jailed for four and a half years.

Justin Richard Maynard will serve at least three and a half years before being eligible for parole.

The Supreme Court in Hobart heard police found methylamphetamine, more than $48,000 in cash plus guns and ammunition when they raided Maynard's Rokeby home last year.

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Three to front court after drug bus

Three people are due to face court in Mackay this morning after being arrested during the third drug raid in the region in less than a week.

Police raided six addresses yesterday, with two men and one woman facing seven charges.

Last week, police arrested 18 people after breaking up a drug distribution network and early this week a father and son faced court after officers seized more than 1,500 cannabis plants at Clairview.

Inspector Andy Graham says it is a pleasing result.

"It is good to see that we're taking some of the drugs off the streets ... drugs ruin people's lives ultimately, so we want to make sure that we're doing the right thing by the community and making sure they're not readily available," he said.

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Fears drug makers targeting rental properties

A Bundaberg drug prevention officer says illegal drug manufacturers are taking advantage of rental properties in the region.

Figures released by the Australian Crime Commission earlier this week revealed the north coast region had the highest number of drug laboratory busts in Queensland.

Drug prevention officer Llyod Brooks says rental agencies and even motels are becoming increasingly aware of the problem.

"They're also very aware of people coming in with very small labs, basically in suitcases, coming in and renting, again paying cash for rent and staying a short period of time, making a batch up of amphetamines or methampetamines, then moving on," he said.

"They're looking at people coming in and paying a large amount of rent for long-time rentals, generally these are sort of people who don't want to be bothered by people coming around and chasing up rent and they can get into a house and fundamentally trash it for processing their drugs and that's not only your amphetamines but also your indoor cannabis crops."

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Illegal drug lab in the back of a ute

Police are questioning two men about a drug laboratory found in the back of their utility in the Perth suburb of Maddington.

The men came to the attention of authorities while acting suspiciously in a service station on Albany Highway.

Police say the back of the utility was set up to manufacture prohibited drugs.

It is the 95th drug lab to be found in Western Australia this year.

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Man arrested for drug offences S A

Police have arrested and charged a 55-year-old man from New South Wales with trafficking a commercial quantity of cannabis and unlawful possession.

At about 9.10pm the man was driving on North East Road at Modbury when police stopped him and conducted a mobile random breath test.

While conducting the test, police could smell the very distinctive odour of cannabis and subsequently searched his vehicle.

Police will allege approximately 17.5kg of dried cannabis was located in the boot of the car.

The man was taken to the Holden Hill police station for questioning while a search of his home on North East Road at Holden Hill found a further 50kg of dried cannabis and a quantity of cash.

He was refused police bail and will appear in the Holden Hill Magistrates Court later today.

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Three charged with drug offences after search warrants – Canley Vale, Lansvale

Two men and a woman have been charged with drug offences after police executed search warrants and seized heroin in south-west Sydney this morning.

About 8am (29 June), Wetherill Park Region Enforcement Squad (RES) officers executed simultaneous search warrants on premises in Canley Vale and Lansvale.

This followed an investigation by police into the alleged ongoing supply of prohibited drugs.

A 37-year-old woman and a 38-year-old man were arrested at the Canley Vale home. They were taken to Cabramatta Police Station and both charged with supplying prohibited drugs on an ongoing basis and three counts of supplying a prohibited drug.

Inside the Lansvale premises, police allegedly located just over 130grams of what is believed to be heroin as well as other substances.

These were seized by police and will undergo forensic analysis.

A 49-year-old man was arrested at the Lansvale premises and will be charged with possessing a commercial quantity of heroin.

The man and woman were bail refused and expected to appear at Liverpool Local Court tomorrow.

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Drug charges Mackay

Police have charged a 33-year-old man with several drug related offences after an incident on June 27.

Around 8.10pm police pulled over a vehicle on Broadsound Road (Bruce Highway) at Mackay. Police have then allegedly located a large amount of cannabis in the vehicle.

After further investigations police have then executed two more search warrants yesterday, one in Cairns and one in Brisbane.

Police allegedly located a large amount of cannabis at the Cairns address and a sum of cash and a small amount of cannabis and at the Brisbane address.

The man has been charged with four counts of possession of a dangerous drug, three counts of possess property (drug related) and one count each of drug trafficking, supplying dangerous drugs, possession of anything used in the commission of a crime.

He is due to face Mackay Magistrates Court on July 26.

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Clandestine laboratory, Rockhampton

Police have discovered an alleged clandestine drug laboratory at a Rockhampton residence yesterday.

Around 1.30pm police located glassware and chemicals suspected of being used to produce methamphetamines at a house in Card Street.

A 34-year-old woman is assisting police with their enquiries.

Investigations are continuing.

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Sydney great-grandmother Noelene Edwards faces court for alleged drug dealing

THIS is the Sydney great-grandmother police allege is a drug dealer.
But Noelene Edwards insists she's just a grieving widow, struggling with the recent loss of her husband.

The 74-year-old Surry Hills woman said she had been on her way into the city to pay for her husband's funeral on Tuesday when a police sniffer dog allegedly detected she was carrying cannabis.

Police allege a search of Mrs Edwards' handbag revealed 40 resealable bags, each containing an amount of the illegal drug.

She was taken to a nearby police station, before a dozen officers searched her house and allegedly discovered more resealable bags of various sizes, and another small amount of the same drug.

Mrs Edwards, a grand-mother of seven and great-grandmother of six, was charged with possession and supply of prohibited drugs. She was granted bail and will face court next month.

But Mrs Edwards said yesterday she had no idea how the drugs allegedly ended up in her handbag.

"I was walking along George St in the city and I saw the dog but I just stepped aside so I didn't trip over it," Mrs Edwards said.
"Next thing I am being surrounded by all these police and then they put me in the back of a police wagon."

Each time she leaves her home to go do her grocery shopping or some chores, Mrs Edwards said she takes "whichever bag I can find".
"I always make sure I have my bus fare in one pocket, and my wallet in the other. And then I grab a handbag from the pile over there so I have something to put my shopping in," she said.

When police arrested Mrs Edwards on George St she was on her way into the city to make the last payment for her husband of 35 years' funeral.
"Reginald died five weeks ago, and I'm just so lonely without him," she said.
"We buried his ashes in the garden last weekend, that's all that has been on my mind."

Police said they were conducting a drug operation around Central Railway Station when the sniffer dog allegedly detected a positive reading from the old woman.
"It shows that the drug detection dogs don't discriminate on what people look like, or how old they are," Inspector Mark Christie said.

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Man caught with 72kg of cannabis

A New South Wales man has appeared in court in Adelaide after allegedly being found in possession of more than 72 kilograms of cannabis during a random breath test.

It is alleged Peter Smyth, 54, was pulled over by police for the test last night at Modbury in Adelaide's north-east.

Officers then smelt cannabis and found 39 plastic bags hidden under a rug in the boot of his car.

They later went to a property he owns at nearby Holden Hill and found about $10,000 in cash and more than 50 kilograms of dried cannabis.

Smyth was charged with unlawful possession and possessing a commercial quantity of cannabis.

Chief inspector Les Buckley says it is likely others were involved.

"We're unable to say at this stage where he got the cannabis or where it may have been going but quite clearly that's part of our investigations," he said.

Smyth did not apply for bail and was remanded to reappear in court in September.

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Kings Cross pharmacist arrested for selling medication without prescriptions – Redfer

A Kings Cross chemist has been arrested after he was allegedly caught selling a range of medications to people without a prescription.

The 36-year-old pharmacist was arrested at 3pm yesterday (30 June 2011) at his place of work by officers attached to Redfern Region Enforcement Squad.

Strike Force Excelior was established in April following information from a member of the public.

During the course of the investigation, it is alleged that on a number of occasions the chemist sold medications to people without a script.

It is also alleged a quantity of steroids was sold.

The chemist has been charged with seven counts of supply restricted substance sold by a non-wholesaler, and nine counts of dealer not package restricted substance to poisons standard.

Additional charges are expected.

The man has been granted conditional bail to appear at Downing Centre Local Court on 22 July 2011.

The matter has also been referred to the Medical Health Complaints Commission.

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Significant drug arrest - Roseworthy

Police have arrested a truck driver after locating 14 kilograms of cannabis in a prime mover.

On Wednesday 29 June 2011, police from the Heavy Vehicle Enforcement Section stopped a B-double prime mover on Main North Road at Roseworthy. The truck was travelling to the eastern States.

Police searched the prime mover and located drug paraphernalia and 14 kilograms of cannabis contained within two sealed boxes.

A 40-year-old man from Elizabeth Vale was arrested and charged with trafficking a commercial quantity of a controlled drug and he has been bailed to appear before Elizabeth Magistrates Court at a later date.

Inspector Andrew Thiele from Traffic Support Branch said, "Police will continue to target the trafficking and use of drugs within the Heavy Vehicle Industry to make the roads safer for all people".

Police investigations are continuing.

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Detectives charge man over alleged drug supply, firearm offences – Armidale

A man will appear in court next month after he was charged with drugs and firearm related offences in Armidale yesterday.

Detectives attached to New England Local Area Command have been investigating the alleged ongoing supply of prohibited drugs in the region in recent months.

Following inquiries, a search warrant was executed at a home on Warrane Road, about 7.45pm yesterday (Thursday 30 June).

During the search police allegedly located and seized nearly 300 grams of cannabis and 30 grams of hashish.

It is alleged an unregistered rifle was also located during the search.

A 30-year-old man was arrested at the home and taken to Armidale Police Station where he was subsequently charged with a number of offences in relation to supply and possess prohibited drugs, and firearm offences.

He was given bail to appear at Armidale Local Court on 25 July 2011.

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