The Australian/NZ Drug Busts Mega-Thread Part Triforce

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Man charged after cocaine allegedly found in car – Coffs Harbour

A man will appear in court tomorrow after drugs were allegedly located in his vehicle during a road-stop at Coffs Harbour today.

About 11.30am (Friday 8 July 2011), officers attached to Coffs/Clarence Local Area Command stopped a car on Harbour Drive.

It will be alleged that during a subsequent search of the car officers located a block of cocaine which was hidden in an esky.

The cocaine, weighing approximately one kilogram, has an estimated potential street value of up to $250,000.

Police seized the cocaine and the 34-year-old man was arrested and taken to Coffs Harbour Police Station where he was charged with supply prohibited drug (commercial quantity) and possession of prohibited drug.
He was refused bail to appear in Coffs Harbour Local Court tomorrow, Saturday 9 July.

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Aussie drug lord Alen Moradian gives up his guns

THE Tony Soprano of Australia's cocaine trade has organised for a large cache of weapons to be handed in to police, a court has been told.

Alen Moradian - dubbed Tony Soprano by his wife - should be given a 45 per cent discount on his jail term because of the weapons handover and his plea of guilty, his barrister Phillip Boulten, SC, said.

"It is highly unlikely there has been a handover of guns like this since prime minister (John Howard) offered a gun amnesty to all Australians (in 1996)," Mr Boulten said in sentencing submissions yesterday.

The Crown alleges Moradian was a key player in a syndicate that brought 200kg of cocaine from the US, although he admits only to importing 40kg.

The cache includes automatic weapons and a grenade launcher.

here

 

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Man charged after police locate precursor tablets– Queanbeyan

A man is due to appear in court today after he was allegedly found to be carrying more than 500 precursor tablets in Queanbeyan yesterday.

About 12pm (Friday 8 July 2011), police from Monaro Local Area Command stopped and spoke to man at Queanbeyan Railway Station who allegedly appeared to be drug-affected.

It is alleged that during a subsequent search of the man officers found 551 pseudoephedrine tablets. These are precursor drugs used in the manufacture of methylamphetamine.

The potential street value of methylamphetamine from the tablets is estimated at more than $38,000.

Police will allege they also located two forged scripts and other restricted medication.

The 43-year-old Bungendore man was arrested and taken to Queanbeyan Police Station where he was charged with:

· Trafficable quantity of precursor drug;

· Possess prescribed restricted substance;

· Possess forged scripts, and,

· Possession of knife in public place.

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

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[poledriver]

Clan lab located in Canterbury

Police have located a sophisticated clandestine lab at a property in Canterbury.

Boroondara CIU executed a drug warrant at the residence, located at the corner of Mont Albert and Rochester roads, yesterday afternoon.

A quantity of chemicals and glassware were discovered during the raid.

The Clandestine Laboratory Squad is currently at the scene assisting.

here

 

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Drink and drug driver stopped in Port Pirie

Police will allege that a 41-year-old woman from Port Pirie driving recklessly and at speed along the main street of Port Pirie last night was both drink and drug driving.

She returned a positive breath test of 0.158 and a drug test also showed she was driving with cannabis in her system.

Her vehicle was impounded for 28 days and her licence was disqualified for 12 months on the spot.

She will be summonsed to attend the Port Pirie Magistrates Court at a later date.

here

 

[poledriver]

Qld cop suspended after CMC drugs inquiry

A Queensland female senior constable has been suspended from duty over allegations of illicit drug use.

The 37-year-old senior constable from South Eastern Region and has been suspended following a Crime and Misconduct Commission inquiry, a police media statement said.
The suspension relates to a number of allegations including the use of illicit drugs.

Last month two Queensland police officers were suspended from duty over allegations they improperly used the service's computer system.

A male sergeant from Far Northern Region and a male constable from Northern Region were stood down from following a separate Ethical Standards Command investigations.
The Police Union has been sought for comment.

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[poledriver]

Man charged over alleged incident involving firearms and drugs - Queanbeyan

A man will appear in court next month following an alleged domestic-related incident at a home in Queanbeyan.

About 1am today (Sunday 10 July 2011), a man attended an address in Broughton Place to inquire about his wife’s welfare.

The door was answered by a 27-year-old man who was allegedly armed with a piece of wood.

The man was disarmed, and the husband entered the premises, locating his 32-year-old wife in a bedroom.

The husband was again confronted by the 27-year-old male resident, who was allegedly armed with a gun.

The husband then contacted police and left the premises with his wife.

Police commenced an investigation and later arrested a 27-year-old man at a home unit in Queanbeyan.

He was taken to Queanbeyan Police Station where he was later charged with two counts of armed with intent to intimidate, two counts of possess unauthorised firearms, possess firearms whilst unlicenced, not keep safe firearms, possession of cannabis, and possession of utensils to administer.

He has been granted bail to appear in Queanbeyan Local Court on 1 August 2011.

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[JoshE]

Drug equipment found near Parmelia school

POLICE have uncovered drug manufacturing equipment at a home in Parmelia, just metres from a primary school.

Detectives carrying out a search of the Homeswest property on Parmelia Ave uncovered the equipment about 9.40am.

A police spokeswoman said it did not appear the equipment was in use when police searched the home.

The property, opposite St Vincent's Primary School, has been cordoned off and the Organised Crime Squad is investigating.

It's not yet know whether anyone was home at the property at the time of the search.

The discovery of the equipment comes a week after police uncovered the 100th clandestine drug lab in WA this year, after an explosion at the Armadale property led police there last Tuesday.

 

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Stun gun, drugs and property seized in raid – Matraville

A man has been charged with numerous offences after a search warrant in Sydney’s eastern beaches yesterday.

About 10.20am, police from Eastern Beaches proactive crime team executed the search warrant at the address on Combles Pde, Matraville.

Once inside the address, police allegedly located an amount of white powder, believed to be ‘ice’, an amount of cannabis, as well as three credit cards and four push bikes believed to be stolen.

Police also seized a stun gun device in the shape of a mobile phone.

A 42-year-old man was arrested at the scene and taken to Maroubra Police Station where he was charged with seven offences, including four counts of possess prohibited drug, two counts of goods in custody, and one count of possess prohibited weapon.

He was refused bail to appear at Waverly Local Court this morning.

A 42-year-old woman was also arrested and charged with four counts of possess prohibited drug and one of goods in custody.

She was granted conditional bail to appear at Waverly Local Court on 10 August 2011.

here

 

[poledriver]

Gun found after routine intercept near Mildura

Police have charged a man with drugs and firearms offences after a routine intercept in Irymple last night.

Officers from Mildura Highway Patrol intercepted a vehicle in Fifteenth Street as it headed west near the intersection of Lochhead Avenue around 7.15pm.

The vehicle was searched and it is alleged a small quantity of white powder, as well as a handgun was located.

A 30-year-old Mildura man was arrested and interviewed, before being charged with a number of offences including possess handgun and possess drug of dependence.

He has been bailed to appear before the Mildura Magistrates’ Court on 31 August.

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Alleged drug dealer 'owes bikies money'

A prominent restaurateur accused of trying to import cocaine into the ACT allegedly has links to a motorcycle gang.

John Phillip Harrington from Griffith is charged with attempting to possess a marketable quantity of a border controlled drug and trafficking charges.

The 59-year-old was arrested last week after police raided a property in Fyshwick.

The ACT Magistrates Court heard the man is central to Canberra's restaurant industry, having owned several eateries since 1979.

He is currently associated with two Manuka restaurants and his sons also own establishments.

Today the prosecution opposed Harrington's bail, saying he posed a flight risk.

The court also heard the man has ties with Canberra's motorcycle clubs and owes $400,000 to the Rebels.

But his bail was granted on strict conditions including providing a $250,000 as a surety.

here

 

[poledriver]

Guns and drugs focus of new taskforce VIC

A new police taskforce has been set up to "aggressively attack" organised crime in Melbourne's northern and western suburbs.

Victoria Police say the taskforce will focus on firearms, drug offences, theft, and Middle Eastern crime gangs operating at Glenroy, Jacana and Coolaroo.

Taskforce Acer has been launched after a string of shootings and other violence in the last month, believed to be connected to a feud between two families.

Four people have been taken into custody, including three members of the same family.

The taskforce will operate for three months and supplement the work of the taskforces.

Victoria Police assistant commissioner Steve Fontana said the taskforce was a response to the significant number of crime groups operating in the area.

"Taskforce Acer is about providing extra local resources to aggressively attack those and disrupt what they are doing," he said.

"We understand that there has been community concern over the recent shootings in the northern suburbs and already Victoria Police has taken steps to increase our visible presence in the area.

"Taskforce Acer is really the next step in that process and highlights our strong belief that this type of criminal behaviour is not acceptable and when it happens, Victoria Police will target it."

The taskforce will be headed by former armed crime squad detective Senior Sergeant Paul Tymms and involve senior local police and members of the Operations Response Unit.

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[poledriver]

Drug trafficking charges, Preston

Three men have been charged with multiple drug related charges and are due to appear before the court today.

Police executed a search warrant at a property on Conway Road which resulted in the seizure of a quantity or cannabis, hydroponic equipment and a number of vehicles yesterday morning.

The local men, aged 62, 38 and 19, have each been charged with one count of trafficking a dangerous drug, one count of producing a dangerous drug, one count of possessing a dangerous drug and two counts of possessing anything used in commission of crime.

All three men are scheduled to appear in Proserpine Magistrates Court.

here

 

[poledriver]

Clandestine laboratory located, Oakwood (near Bundaberg)

Police have charged two men and a woman following the execution of a search warrant on an Oakwood address yesterday.

Officers executed the warrant on the Gin Gin Road address around 2.30pm and allegedly located items believed to be used in the production of amphetamines.

It is further alleged they located a quantity of cannabis and a firearms at the residence.

A 37-year-old man has been charged with one count each of produce a dangerous drug, possess as restricted item, possess relevant substance, possess a dangerous drug and possess utensils.

A 43-year-old man has also been charged with one count each of possess a weapon, produce a dangerous drug, possess relevant substance, possess a dangerous drug and possess utensils.

Both men are due to appear in the Bundaberg Magistrates Court today.

A 19-year-old woman was also charged with one count each of possess a dangerous drug, possess anything used in the commission of a crime and possess utensils. She is due to appear in the Bundaberg Magistrates Court on August 1.

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[poledriver]

Cocaine king Alen Moradian to spend six years in jail

HE USED the cash garnered from a large cocaine importation to coat his Sydney mansion in luxury - but cocaine king Alen Moradian will now spend at least the next six years in the cold reality of a jail cell.

Moradian, who pleaded guilty last year to importing a large commercial quantity of cocaine to Australia and then supplying it, has this morning been sentenced to a maximum of 16 years and nine months behind bars.

Sydney's District Court was told that Moradian had acknowleged importing 40kg from the US, despite the Crown alleging the total amount was closer to 200kg.

Judge Andrew Haesler said in his decision that Moradian's crimes were motivated by "personal profit and greed".

The 37-year-old was sentenced to a non-parole period of 10 years, but given he has been in custody since July 2007, he will be eligible for release on Christmas Eve 2017.

The total sentence handed down by Judge Haesler was 16 years and nine months, with Moradian given discounts for pleading guilty and providing some "co-operation" to police.

The court was told that Moradian organised for several weapons, including a grenade launcher and some machine guns, to be handed back to police, but Judge Haesler said he hadn't revealed where the weapons had come from and if they had been used in any criminal activity.

Moradian was dubbed "Tony Soprano" by his wife Natasha, after decking out their Pennant Hills home with a cache of designer items and big boy's toys and buying luxury cars and motorcycles.

An email sent to Moradian by his wife, which has been previously tendered to the court, reveals she said to him "why do you just sit there and show off ... do you see Tony Soprano doing that? He points it all off on a junior for a reason - to take the heat away from him.

"You, on the other hand, want the attention, you get a big head, you love it. People like that won't survive," the email read.

Moradian also admitted to knowingly dealing with proceeds of crime to the amount of $1.6 million, part of which was spent on his and Natasha's wedding in 2007, Judge Haesler said today.

here

 

[poledriver]

'Golden Gun' cocaine boss jailed for 10 years

A key member of Sydney's so-called Golden Gun drug ring has been jailed for at least a decade.

Alen Moradian pleaded guilty to importing between 40 and 60 kilograms of pure cocaine in 2006.

In Sydney's District Court today, Judge Andrew Haesler described Moradian as "a significant and senior middle manager" of the drug syndicate.

Prosecutors had argued the 36-year-old was the kingpin of the operation.

In sentencing the judge took into account Moradian's guilty pleas and his decision to surrender weapons including machine guns, a grenade launcher and rifles.

Justice Haesler gave Moradian a maximum prison sentence of 16 years and nine months for importing and supplying cocaine, and dealing in proceeds of crime amounting to $1.6 million.

With time already served, Moradian will be eligible for parole on Christmas Eve 2017.

The syndicate earned its nickname because of a golden gun seized by police.

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[poledriver]

Police seize drugs in series of raids

Police have seized drugs with an estimated street value of over 44 million dollars following a series of raids this afternoon.

Members from the Drug Taskforce and Footscray Police conducted a series of search warrants in the western suburbs of Melbourne, seizing a large quantity of substances believed to be heroin and amphetamines.

A number of people are currently assisting police with their enquiries.

No charges have been laid at this time.

Victoria Police would like to thank the Australian Crime Commission for providing assistance in the early stages of the investigation.

here

 

[poledriver]

Woman sentenced for importing precursors

A 45-year-old female was sentenced yesterday in the Darwin Supreme Court to four years imprisonment for importing 5.12 kilograms of pure pseudoephedrine into Darwin, concealed in her baggage.

On 12 April 2011 the woman arrived at Darwin Airport from Vietnam and was selected for a baggage examination. During the examination Customs and Border Protections Officers located six (6) packages labelled as “bread crumbs”.

Customs and Border Protection drug detector dogs reacted positively to the presence of an illicit substance in the packages. Testing of the packages returned a positive result for the presence of pseudoephedrine, a precursor chemical.

The total weight of the powder imported by the accused was approximately eight kilograms.

Acting National Manager Investigations, Paul Benussi, said that this successful interception demonstrates the great work Customs and Border Protection officers do to protect the Australian community from these substances, which can be used to manufacture drugs.

"Customs and Border Protection is committed to protecting our borders and this seizure shows the effectiveness of Customs and Border Protection’s sophisticated targeting methods,” he said.

“Those individuals willing to risk the border protection measures in place should view this seizure and prosecution as a warning that this type of activity will not go undetected.”

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[poledriver]

Mokbel's brother gets extra year in jail

A brother of gangland boss Tony Mokbel will spend an extra year in jail for drug trafficking.

Milad Mokbel, 43, pleaded guilty to trafficking a commercial quantity of amphetamines over a seven-month period from September 2002.

Mokbel is already serving a sentence that would have seen him become eligible for parole in December 2014.

In the Supreme Court today, Justice Simon Whelan increased his sentence by one year, saying Mokbel was a serious drug offender.

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[poledriver]

Pair charged over 'ice' find

Moree police have charged two men with drug possession after allegedly discovering cannabis and methamphetamine, or 'ice', in their vehicle in Boggabilla.

Officers from Barwon local area command were conducting random breath tests in North Street about 11:00pm (AEST) last night.

After stopping a vehicle, they became suspicious and conducted a search of the car.

It is alleged nearly one kilogram of cannabis and a quantity of ice was found in the vehicle.

The men were arrested and taken to Boggabilla police station where they were charged with possession of prohibited drugs.

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