The Australian/NZ Drug Busts Mega-Thread Part Triforce

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Carnarvon man jailed over hidden heroin

A 34-year-old Carnarvon man will serve at least nine months in jail after pleading guilty to possessing 15 grams of heroin with intent to sell or supply.

Chad Vernon Perejuan originally denied possessing the drugs when his car was searched by police in April but later confessed he had hidden the drugs internally.

District Court judge Bruce Goetze sentenced Perejuan to 18 months in jail and said he believed a term of imprisonment was the only option.

He said Perejuan has committed numerous drug trafficking offences in the past and he hoped a jail term would deter him from reoffending.​

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Two charged over Sydney ecstasy lab

Two men have been charged over the alleged discovery of an illegal drug laboratory in Sydney's north-west yesterday.

Police say the lab on a rural property near Richmond was being used to manufacture commercial quantities of ecstasy.

The property was raided by police shortly before 4:00pm (AEST) yesterday, where they allegedly found a large quantity of ecstasy in powder and tablet form, plus equipment and ingredients to make the drug.

Police say they arrested a 23-year-old man at the entrance to the property, while a 36-year-old was arrested at Penrith Police Station last night.

Both have been charged with manufacturing and supplying a commercial quantity of prohibited drugs.

They were held in custody overnight to face court today.

Police say specialist officers and a hazardous materials team are at the property again today dismantling the laboratory.​

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Drug Squad detectives have charged two men after police uncovered a clandestine drug laboratory at Tennyson, near Richmond, allegedly used in large commercial manufacture of illicit drugs.

About 3.45pm yesterday (Monday 08 August, 2011), police attached to the Drug Squad’s Chemical Operations Unit, uncovered the clandestine drug laboratory operating from a shed at the rear of a rural property in Tennyson.

Police suspect the lab was being used for the large commercial manufacture of MDA (Methylenedioxyamphetamine), often sold as ecstasy.

Two men aged 23 and 36 have been arrested by police. The 23-year-old man was arrested at the entrance to the property.

He was taken to Penrith Police Station and charged with the manufacture and supply of a large commercial quantity of prohibited drugs. He was refused bail to appear at Penrith Local Court today.

About 10.30pm yesterday, a 36-year-old man was arrested at Penrith Police Station and charged with the manufacture and supply of a large commercial quantity of prohibited drugs. He was refused bail to appear at Penrith Local Court today.

A subsequent search warrant was executed at the property, where police located and seized a commercial quantity of MDA tablet and powder, a quantity of precursor chemicals allegedly capable of producing a large commercial quantity of MDA, as well as related drug manufacturing equipment.

Police and HAZMAT officers are again at the scene today as part of an ongoing operation to dismantle the clandestine drug laboratory.

Strike Force Chairmian comprises detectives from the State Crime Command’s Drug Squad and was established to investigate the alleged illicit diversion of precursor chemicals for the manufacture of illicit drugs.

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[NZ] Police find children in drug houses

Police have seized $100,000 worth of drugs, and more than a dozen firearms in a series of drug raids on homes in the Wellington region.

Police say 16 people were arrested after the three-day operation last week and face a variety of charges, including possession of class A, B and C controlled drugs for supply, including methamphetamine and cannabis.

Detective Inspector Darrin Thomson said said that a house in the Wellington suburb of Churton Park, police found a hydroponics cannabis growing operation, valued at around $100,000,

The sting also netted tens of thousands of cash, methamphetamine and weapons.

At a home in Paraparaumu, on the Kapiti Coast, police recovered nearly a dozen firearms and cannabis.

"Drugs and firearms do not mix and what we found throughout the operation was of real concern to us," Mr Thomson said.

In six of the 15 properties searched during the operation, police came across children.


"It's always concerning when police find children present at these addresses, particularly where not only drugs, but firearms are present," Mr Thomson said.

Police were taking a zero tolerance approach and alerted to Child, Youth and Family.

This operation follows a similar operation carried out last month, dubbed 'Operation Hunter', where 25 people were arrested across the Wairarapa, Upper Hutt and Wellington, facing more than 180 charges between them.

- NZPA​

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Police smash ice, heroin smuggling ring
Five Malaysian men have been arrested in Sydney and Melbourne after allegedly trying to set up a drug trafficking network along the east coast.

Police say they seized $4 million worth of the drugs during raids in three Sydney suburbs yesterday, but the group had planned to import hundreds of kilograms of drugs.

A total of 2 kilograms of ice and 2.1 kilograms of heroin were allegedly found at the properties in the Sydney CBD and at Cabramatta and Hurstville, in the city's south-west and south.

Police say the men travelled to Australia for the express purpose of setting up a trafficking network in Sydney, Melbourne and the Gold Coast.

Officers from the NSW Asian Crime Squad pounced yesterday after a six-month investigation, in cooperation with the Australian Federal Police and the NSW Crime Commission.

Police say the five arrests include the two men allegedly running the syndicate, aged 28 and 48.

They were arrested late yesterday, one at a restaurant in Sydney's Chinatown and the other while he was travelling to Sydney Airport.

The men have been charged with offences including supplying commercial quantities of ice and heroin.

Both were refused bail to face court today.

Police then arrested two more men, aged 38 and 39, at Cabramatta and Hurstville.

Again both were charged with offences including supplying a commercial quantity of an illegal drug, and refused bail to face court today.

The final arrest was a 23-year-old detained by AFP officers in Melbourne.

The commander of the NSW Asian Crime Squad, Scott Cook, says the operation was still in its embryonic stage.

"This is potentially a very serious and large operation. There's no doubt in our minds that the people involved in this had aspirations certainly of importing hundreds of kilos of drugs," he said.

"They certainly didn't get to do that yet and I think in a sense we've prevented that from occuring, which is probably better than letting it occur and then seizing the drugs.

"They were well on their way. Two of the people involved flew out from Malaysia to Australia only about 10 days ago. They were the principals who came out to oversee the implementation of their plans, which was being carried out by others who were already in Australia.

"So it was very early days. We'll be alleging that they'd started to supply drugs in NSW with a view of developing their networks to supply further drugs in future."

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Man charged over Paraburdoo clan drug labs

Police have charged a 24-year-old man after the discovery of two clandestine drug laboratories in the Pilbara mining town of Paraburdoo.

Officers from Karratha, Paraburdoo and the Organised Crime Squad executed a search warrant at an address in the town yesterday.

They allegedly located items consistent with the manufacture of amphetamine.

Yesterday, Detective Senior Sergeant Adrian Richards said after searching the house, a second search was conducted at a location in bushland and more items of interest were allegedly found.

He said the discoveries are concerning.

"The substances and the items used can explode, the chemicals are extremely dangerous if they are inhaled so every one of these is treated with the upmost caution and can be extremely dangerous," he said.

A man has been charged with one count of attempting to manufacture a prohibited drug.

He will appear in the Tom Price Magistrates Court later this month.​

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Multiple drug charges, East Brisbane

A 28-year-old East Brisbane man has been charged with multiple drug-related offences after police investigations this morning.

Around 11.30, police executed a search warrant on a property in Wellington Road.

It is alleged that police located a large quantity of drugs and cash during the search, as well as utensils and electronic equipment.

The man has been charged with three counts of possessing dangerous drugs, two counts of possessing property suspected of having been used in conjunction with the commission of a drug offence, trafficking in dangerous drugs, supplying dangerous drugs, producing dangerous drugs, possessing anything used in the commission of crime, unlawful possession of weapons, possess utensils and fail to properly dispose of needle and syringe.

He is due to appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court tomorrow.​

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Man charged with importing ICE

A 48-year-old New Zealand national will appear in Sydney Central Local Court today after being charged by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) for attempting to import approximately half a kilogram of crystal methamphetamine or ICE into Australia.

The man arrived at Sydney International Airport on a flight from Thailand on Saturday (6 August 2011).

During an examination of the man’s suitcase by Customs and Border Protection Officers, the man admitted to carrying a substance taped to his calves.

Preliminary testing of the substance indicated the presence of crystal methamphetamine. Further forensic testing will be undertaken to determine the exact weight and purity of the substance.

The man was referred to the AFP where he was charged with importing a marketable quantity of a border controlled drug, namely methamphetamine, contrary to section 307.2(1) of the Criminal Code Act 1995.

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

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Cannabis house discovered - Hurstville Grove

A man will face court today (Wednesday 10 August 2011) after police uncovered a sophisticated hydroponic cannabis house in Sydney’s south.

Officers attached to Operation Grassy, comprising the Redfern Region Enforcement Squad and Hurstville Local Area Command, executed a search warrant on a home at Jellicoe Street, Hurstville Grove, about 9.15pm yesterday.

There they found an elaborate hydroponic cannabis house with numerous rooms, including the bathroom and kitchen, converted into special growing rooms.

Police allegedly seized more than 80 plants, including 36 which were at full maturity, with an estimated potential street value of $274,000.

Numerous hydroponic items were also seized and inquiries indicated electricity was allegedly being stolen for the operation.

A 51-year-old man was arrested at the home and taken to Hurstville Police Station.

He has been charged with enhanced indoor cultivation of cannabis for commercial purposes and electricity theft. He was refused bail to face Sutherland Local Court today.​

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[NZ] Stockton mine workers test positive for drugs

Of 31 people nabbed in drug and alcohol tests at Stockton opencast mine in June, four tested positive for methamphetamine (P), Solid Energy has revealed.

The company conducted blanket testing of 880 employees and contractors at the West Coast mine during the week of June 20.

Four tested positive for P, 15 for cannabis - including a supervisor - and 12 for synthetic cannabis/herbal highs, Solid Energy revealed in response to an Official Information Act (OIA) request from the Westport News.

None tested positive for alcohol.

The company had initially refused to reveal the drugs detected or say whether any supervisors or managers had been caught.

But Solid Energy said it had reconsidered its earlier refusal "in the light of public interest".

Contractors made up almost a third of those caught. Two had tested positive for P and nine for cannabis.


Solid Energy said it had "zero tolerance" for any substance that impaired the ability to work safely.

Solid Energy had not responded to questions about whether any of those caught were repeat offenders and how many, if any, were sacked, by the newspaper's deadline.

The company said last month that those who tested positive for the first time were referred to an external programme for support and could return to work when they had successfully completed it.

Anyone who tested positive more than once had broken their contract and would face further discipline.

Blanket testing is part of Solid Energy's standard drug and alcohol testing procedure. It includes random, causal and pre-employment testing at all its sites, including offices.

In 2008 drug testing at Stockton netted 18, mostly cannabis users, despite workers receiving a month's notice of the tests.

- NZPA​

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[NZ] Pharmacist admits falsifying scripts

An Auckland pharmacist has admitted nearly 100 charges of filing false prescriptions, worth thousands of dollars, that were not requested, had expired, or were in the names of dead patients.

Wayne David Baker, a co-owner of Mt Albert Pharmacy, yesterday pleaded guilty in the Auckland District Court to 93 charges of using a document for pecuniary advantage.

The 54-year-old defrauded the Auckland District Health Board by filing false claims worth nearly $70,000 between July 2006 and July 2009.

According to court documents, a significant part of his income came from government subsidies for dispensing and supplying drugs.

In February 2009, a locum pharmacist phoned the Ministry of Health's fraud hotline with concerns about subsidies being claimed by the company that owned the Mt Albert pharmacy, Sandringham Village Pharmacy.

An investigation initially looked at invoice and claiming data which led to a full analysis of the pharmacy computer system. Interviews with prescribers and patients followed.

The investigation revealed Baker was misrepresenting and altering entries for the drug Simvastatin to increase subsidies, had created fictitious repeat dispensings to obtain additional fees, and claimed for prescriptions that were not given to patients.


Part of the offending involved Baker altering computer entries to show a drug other than the one prescribed had been claimed.

The drug he changed it to had a subsidy 6.6 times higher than the cheaper brand supplied to patients.

In 25 cases, Baker claimed for repeats after patients had died, which involved 575 pharmaceutical items.

When he was spoken to by investigators about using the cheaper brand, Baker said he wasn't aware there was a difference in price and if it was wrongly claimed then it was an inadvertent mistake.

He later acknowledged it was a "possibility" he had been deliberately claiming the more expensive drug.

The Ministry of Health said he had repaid the entire amount. A sum of $69,070.59 was repaid as well as a further $26,743.70 received by the pharmacy that it shouldn't have.

Baker has been remanded on bail until sentencing in October.

By Andrew Koubaridis | Email Andrew​

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Drug dogs sniff out users TAS

Tasmanian police have trained their two dedicated drug dogs to detect illicit substances on people.

In the past, the dogs and their trainers have been used to search for drugs in venues, buildings and cars.

Now after training from South Australian police the dogs are able to detect whether people are carrying drugs including amphetamines and cannabis.

The Deputy Commissioner Scott Tilyard says the dogs are targeting drug hot spots like malls and entertainment venues, and they may soon be patrolling pubs and clubs.

"It is something that has been happening in other states for quite some time, the dogs are certainly capable of doing that so that may well form part of our enforcement activities," he said.

"A particular focus of ours of course is people who are selling and supplying drugs to other people so they are a particular target of police."

One dog has already had success, sniffing out three bags of cannabis on an alleged drug dealer in Hobart's city centre.​

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Man charged over bushfire drug bust

Police have charged a 22-year-old man over the discovery of a large marijuana plantation while firefighters were fighting a bushfire in central Queensland.

Firefighters stumbled upon three crops after a couple of officers noticed the peculiar smelling smoke while battling a bushfire yesterday on a rural property at Clairview, south of Mackay.

They went to investigate and stumbled on a massive marijuana plantation growing behind a house not far from the Bruce Highway.

Police say the cannabis plants had been set alight.

The fire was extinguished before it spread to a house and neighbouring properties

A Clairview man is due to appear in the Mackay Magistrates Court today accused of attempted arson, setting fire to crops, and growing, producing and possessing dangerous drugs.​

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Cannabis worth $1.88 million seized during car stop - Coffs Harbour

Police have seized more than 90kg of cannabis worth almost $2 million from a car on the state’s north coast.

Officers stopped a Holden Commodore station wagon on the Pacific Highway at Coffs Harbour about 3.30pm yesterday (Wednesday 10 August) and spoke with the driver.

A search of the vehicle allegedly uncovered 94kg of cannabis in a number of large bags in the boot of the vehicle. The drugs have an estimated potential street value of $1.88 million.

A 56-year-old man was arrested and taken to Coffs Harbour Police Station.

The man, from Eagle Heights in Queensland, was charged with supply prohibited drug (commercial quantity) and refused bail to face Coffs Harbour Local Court today.​

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Man extradited from Victoria following joint drug trafficking operation

A man has been extradited to Sydney from Victoria, following his arrest during a joint law enforcement operation targeting the illicit trafficking of ICE.

The 23-year-old man was arrested by Australian Federal Police in Victoria. He was extradited to Sydney from Victoria, arriving about 7.30pm yesterday (Wednesday 10 August 2011).

He was taken to Botany Bay Police Station and charged with supplying a commercial quantity of prohibited drugs (heroin). He was refused bail to appear at Central Local Court today (Thursday 11 August 2011).

The man was one of five in total who were arrested as part of the joint operation conducted by the NSW State Crime Command’s Asian Crime Squad, under Strike Force Marlen, and the Australian Federal Police Operation Sabana, with assistance also provided by the NSW Crime Commission.

The operation was launched in February 2011 to investigate the potential importation of large commercial quantities of ICE from Malaysia to Australia.

It is alleged the principals of the syndicate travelled to Australia from Malaysia for the sole purpose of overseeing the establishment of a new ‘ICE’ distribution network in Sydney, Melbourne and Queensland.

A total of five people were arrested by police on Tuesday 9 August, 2011, including four men in NSW aged 28, 38, 39, and 48 in NSW and one 23-year-old man arrested in Victoria. All five men are Malaysian Nationals.

To date, police have so far seized about two kilograms of ICE and 2.1 kilograms of heroin with an estimated potential street value of about $4 million.​

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Man charged / drugs after body found in freezer - Homicide Squad

Homicide Squad detectives have charged a man following investigations into the location of a body in a freezer in January this year.

A 21-year-old man was arrested today by Homicide Squad detectives at a unit in South Hurstville.

He was taken to Hurstville Police Station and charged with accessory after the fact to murder and nine counts of supply prohibited drug.

The matter was mentioned at Sutherland Local Court today and was adjourned for further mention at Central Local Court on Friday 12 August, 2011.

The charges relate to investigations under Strike Force Kenton, into the death of 49-year-old Allan Noor, whose body was found at Carlton on Friday 7 January, 2011.

Detectives attended the unit on Hampton Court Road at Carlton, where they located a man’s body inside a commercial freezer in the garage of the premises.

Strike Force Kenton comprises detectives from the State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad and St George police. The Strike Force was established to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of the man.

To date, at total of four people have been charged. This includes two people charged with accessory after the fact to murder and drug related offences, with an additional two people charged with drug related offences only.​

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Violence, assault, clan lab and arrests at Wingfield

Police have arrested a 17-year-old girl from Broken Hill and an 18-year-old woman from Wingfield on drugs charges after remnants of a clan lab was found at Wingfield.

At about 5.20pm yesterday afternoon, three men and a female forced their way into a house on Hill Road and assaulted one of the occupants – the 17-year-old from Broken Hill.

Police were called however the offenders had left.

Police are now searching for a late model silver Commodore containing two men that was seen leaving the house at the time of the assault.

Having been called to the house for the break-in and assault, police found evidence of a clan lab.

The two females have been charged with manufacturing a controlled substance.

This incident highlights the dangers of being involved in illicit drugs.

Not only are clan labs and hydroponic crops illegal, they often attract other criminal elements including those prone to violence as evident in this home invasion.​

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Heroin arrests after warrants - VIC

Police have arrested four men and two women after a two week investigating into heroin trafficking in the St Albans and Sunshine area.

Local members executed warrants at premises in Harmon Avenue and Adelaide Street, St Albans around 3.30pm yesterday.

Six people were arrested and taken to Keilor Downs Police Station for interview over their alleged involvement in the local drug trade.

Two men, 41-year-old Goran Gulovac and 40-year-old Alain Montoya, were remanded into custody to face the Sunshine Magistrate’s Court later today.

They are facing trafficking charges.

Two 37-year-old St Albans men were charged and bailed on trafficking charges while a 37-year-old Deer Park woman and a 41-year-old St Albans woman were charged and bailed on possession charges.​

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Top cop Standen guilty on drugs charges

The New South Wales Government has announced a special commission of inquiry into the state's Crime Commission, after a former senior investigator was found guilty of serious drug charges.

Mark Standen was charged in June 2008 with conspiring to import drugs with two other men, former informant James Kinch and food wholesaler Bakhos Jalalaty.

The NSW Crime Commission's former assistant director was also charged with conspiring to pervert the course of justice and taking part in the supply of 300 kilograms of pseudoephedrine.

The 53-year-old plotted to use a rice shipment from Pakistan to import the chemical, which is used to manufacture ice and other drugs.

During a trial lasting nearly five months, the NSW Supreme Court heard Standen used his knowledge as an investigator to try to avoid criminal charges.

The jury of six men and five women retired to consider their verdict on Monday and found him guilty of the three charges this morning.

Standen did not react when the verdict was announced.

He was then led away by court officers, and will remain in custody until he is sentenced later this year.

A spokesman for the NSW Bar Association, criminal defence lawyer Phillip Boulten SC, says many of Standen's investigations will need to be re-examined.

"This is the worse example of corruption at a high level in a significant investigative organisation like a crime commission," he said.

"There have been rogue police officers throughout Australia and there probably always will be, but Mr Standen played a very significant role in the direction of very important investigations for a long time in NSW."

Within hours the State Government had responded.

Police Minister Mike Gallacher says the commission has been operating for more than 20 years without review.

He says it is essential for the community to have confidence in its operations.

"The terms of reference will be looking at the governance, external oversight of the Crime Commission the appropriateness of the powers, the focus of the Crime Commission firstly in relation to organised crime but also confiscation of assets and confiscation in general," Mr Gallacher said.

"Also it will be looking at the structure of the Crime Commission."​

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Weapons, drugs and $37k seized in raids

Police have arrested a member of the Finks motorcycle club after raids on four houses and a caravan park cabin in Adelaide's east.

The 35-year-old Hectorville man has been arrested for drug trafficking and unlawfully possessing cash.

Police say they seized two rifles, a crossbow, 56 grams of amphetamines and about $37,000 in cash from the properties.

Detective Chief Inspector John Gerlach says the raids were carried out this morning at the houses and a cabin in the Windsor Gardens Caravan Park.

He says the raids follow a short investigation and three other men have also been arrested.

"A 32-year-old man from Stepney for trafficking amphetamines, a 36-year-old man from Mount Osmond for weapons offences and a 40-year-old man from Hectorville for breaches of firearms offences and also unlawful possession of cash," he said.​

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