The Australian/NZ Drug Busts Mega-Thread Part Triforce

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Drugs seized after policing students stop man - Goulburn Police Academy

Drugs seized after policing students stop man - Goulburn Police Academy

A man has been charged with a drug offence after he was stopped by policing students at the Goulburn Police Academy yesterday (Wednesday 17 August 2011).

A number of policing students were undertaking training at the Academy about 5pm when they observed a man walking through the grounds.

Two students stopped the man before he was searched with assistance from a leading senior constable who was at the Academy conducting training.

Police will allege a quantity of cannabis and other items were located. The man, who is not linked to the Academy, was placed under arrest and taken to Goulburn Police Station.

A 45-year-old man has been issued a court attendance notice for possess prohibited drug and is expected to face Goulburn Local Court on 5 October 2011.​

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Drug charges, Bundaberg

Drug charges, Bundaberg

Three men have been charged following the discovery of alleged drug laboratory in Bundaberg West yesterday.

Police executed a search warrant at a Power Street house prior to 10am and allegedly located drug related paraphernalia in a caravan at the rear of the home.

Officers from Illicit Laboratory Investigation Team (ILIT) processed the scene and safely removed all property.

A 28-year-old man and a 38-year-old man were charged with producing a dangerous drug. A 25-year-old man was charged with two counts of producing a dangerous drug and possession of (drug related) property.

All three men are due to appear in Bundaberg Magistrates Court today.​

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Drug accused denied Greek holiday

Drug accused denied Greek holiday

A court on Queensland's Gold Coast has refused to allow a woman, charged with importing 20 litres of drugs, to travel on a family holiday to Greece.

Dancer Felicity Stephens, 29, appeared in the Southport Magistrates Court this morning, seeking to alter her bail conditions on state and Commonwealth drug charges.

The court was told she allegedly committed the offences while on bail for nine other drug charges.

The magistrate said Stephens was an unacceptable flight risk and ordered her bail remain unchanged.​

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Drugs, guns recovered in bikie raids

Drugs, guns recovered in bikie raids

Police have arrested two men during raids linked to the Rebels motorcycle gang in Bendigo and Redesdale, in central Victoria.

They say they found guns and drugs in an early morning search of four properties, believed to be connected to the Rebels.

Police found a pistol, a sawn-off shotgun, a long-arm rifle, amphetamines, cannabis and growing equipment.

Police are questioning two Redesdale men, aged 28 and 37.​

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19 charged in drug busts

19 charged in drug busts

Police have charged 19 people after two days of drug raids around Mildura.

Officers searched 17 homes at Mildura, Red Cliffs, Merbein, Irymple and Cardross, seizing firearms, cannabis and amphetamines.

Police say 22 cannabis plants were taken from one house and one man was charged for evading police and driving under the influence of drugs.

Inspector Bob Simpson the operation has made a significant dent on illicit drug supplies.

"It was looking at drugs information we have been receiving from the public over the recent month or so," he said.

"It's an ongoing thing where we will be looking at anyone that traffics drugs in the Mildura area ... eventually they will get caught because we will find out about them."​

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Man arrested after drugs located - Brookvale

Man arrested after drugs located - Brookvale

A man will face court after police seized large amounts of drugs during a car search on Sydney’s Northern Beaches last night (Thursday 18 August 2011).

About 8.30pm, Northern Beaches officers attached to the drug operation ‘Kantara’ searched a vehicle at Brookvale.

It will be alleged they seized commercial amounts of what is believed to be amphetamines, ecstasy and LSD, as well as a small amount of what is believed to be heroin. The substances will undergo forensic testing.

An amount of cash and other items were also seized.

A 53-year-old Beacon Hill man was placed under arrest and taken to Dee Why Police Station.

He has been charged with deemed supply of a commercial quantity of LSD, two counts of deemed supply of indictable quantity of amphetamine, deemed supply of an indictable quantity of ecstasy and possess prohibited drug (heroin).

He was refused bail to face Hornsby Local Court today.​

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Police lay fresh charges against Kings Cross pharmacist - Redfern RES

Police lay fresh charges against Kings Cross pharmacist - Redfern RES

Police have laid 11 fresh charges against a Kings Cross pharmacist, accused of selling a range of medications without a prescription.

Investigators from the Central Metropolitan Region Enforcement Squad (RES), based at Redfern, arrested the 36-year-old man on Thursday 30 June this year at his pharmacy.

Acting on information from the public, police established Strike Force Excelior in April to investigate allegations that drugs such as Xanax and Alprazolam, as well as a number of steroids, were being sold without a script.

The chemist was initially charged with six counts of supply restricted substance sold by a non-wholesaler and nine counts of dealer not package restricted substance to poisons standard.

Since the man’s arrest, auditors from NSW Health attended the pharmacy and conducted an audit.

As a result, the pharmacist has been charged with 11 additional offences under the Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Act, namely 10 counts of not store drug of addiction separate and secure; and one count of safe not affixed or secured to premises.

The man is due to re-appear this morning before the Downing Centre Local Court.

***Editors note: Police footage of the man’s arrest was provided to media outlets on Friday 1 July***​

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10,000 pills seized in Victorian police raids

10,000 pills seized in Victorian police raids

Victorian Police have seized 10,000 tablets believed to be ecstasy while searching for a man who breached his parole.

Detectives raided two properties in Cairnlea in Melbourne's west, uncovering the tablets estimated to be worth $500,000.

They also found 50 litres of what appears to be precursor chemicals and cash.

A 31-year-old man who police had been searching for is now in custody.

Two other men aged in their 30s have also been arrested and are being questioned.​

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Drug Taskforce arrest - Cairnlea

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Drug Taskforce arrest - Cairnlea

Drug Taskforce detectives assisted by the Special Operations Group arrested a man in Cairnlea today as part of Operation Dome.

Operation Dome was established by Repeat Offender Parol Enforcement investigators (also known as ROPE) to locate a 31-year-old man wanted in relation to breaching his parole and failing to appear in court on aggravated burglary and stolen property charges.

Detectives executed two warrants today in Ravenswood Walk and Cormorant Drive Cairnlea, affecting the arrest of the wanted man about 12.45pm.

The Cairnlea man is now in custody at a correctional facility for breaching his parole.

The warrants uncovered approximately 10,000 tablets believed to be ecstasy and valued at around $500,000, 50 litres of what appears to be clear liquid pre-cursor chemicals and a quantity of cash.

A 30-year-old Cairnlea man and a 31-year-old man of unknown address were also arrested at the Cormorant Drive address and are currently assisting police with their enquiries.​

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[NZ] Drug bust includes pregnant woman and children

Drug bust includes pregnant woman and children

A pregnant woman was dealing drugs while awaiting the birth of her child in hospital, Waikato police allege.

The woman's offences came to light during a week-long drugs crack-down resulting in 12 arrests.

One of the arrests included a woman who was charged with possession for supply and supplying methamphetamine.

Police allege drug deals were arranged while she had some time earlier been in hospital awaiting the birth of her child.

Detective Senior Sergeant Nigel Keall said police were particularly concerned to find children present at some of the addresses being used to supply drugs.

Seventeen search warrants were executed and Mr Keall said more arrests were likely.

"We are continuing to crack down on drug dealing houses and the criminals who run them.

"This operation was a planned response to information received from and concerns expressed by the local community."


The armed offenders squad assisted in the arrest a 37-year-old Nawton (west Hamilton) man whose methamphetamine laboratory was found in a vehicle near Cambridge.

Those arrested are facing a range of charges including possession for supplying methamphetamine and cannabis, manufacturing methamphetamine and cannabis and receiving stolen property.

Three referrals have been made to Child, Youth and Family.​

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[NZ] Waikato police bust drug ring

Waikato police bust drug ring

A major operation by Waikato police has resulted in 12 arrests after quantities of methamphetamine, cannabis, cash and stolen property found at several Waikato properties.

Those arrested are facing a range of charges including possession for supply, supplying cannabis and supplying methamphetamine, manufacturing methamphetamine, cultivating cannabis and receiving stolen property.

Three referrals were made to Child, Youth and Family after police found children at some of the properties being used to supply drugs.

Detective Senior Sergeant Nigel Keall said the operation was a planned response to information received from the local community and further arrests are likely.

"We are continuing to crack down on drug dealing houses and the criminals who run them as part of our sustained programme of enforcement to combat drugs and disrupt organised crime groups," said Keall.

"Drug dealing houses are hubs for criminal offending. The people who run them are dealing in drugs, particularly cannabis, but also often methamphetamine.They are also invariably receiving stolen property, taking payments for drugs and are involved with organised crime groups."

Yesterday, the Armed Offenders Squad helped in the arrest of a 37 year old man at a Nawton address following the discovery methamphetamine laboratory in a car at Karapiro earlier in the day. The man has been charged with manufacturing methamphetamine. Police are still looking for a second man.


The arrests included a woman charged with possession for supply and supplying methamphetamine. Police allege drug deals were arranged while she was in hospital awaiting the birth of her child. Child, Youth and Family were notified by the investigators.

Keall said the operation was an example of "the insidious and pervasive nature of methamphetamine" in the community.​

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Police find cannabis plants at house fire

Police uncovered an elaborate hydroponics setup when they were called to a house fire in Melbourne's southwest.

Police discovered 225 cannabis plants growing in six rooms at a house in Skipton Drive, Kurunjang, about 11.30pm on Friday.

They were at the house assisting the CFA following a report of a fire. They found a 45-year-old man and a 20-year-old woman hiding inside a wardrobe at the house.

The pair were taken to the Melbourne Police where they will be interviewed by police.

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Drug crackdown at Perth airport

Drug crackdown at Perth airport

Domestic passengers headed to and from Perth airport have been targeted in a police crackdown on drug smuggling this morning.
Officers from the serious and organised crime unit, together with Australian Federal Police, have used sniffer dogs to examine luggage passing through the domestic terminals.
Fly-in, fly-out mine workers have been among the hundreds of passengers coming through the terminal.
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Police said eight people were questioned and searched after the dogs' noses were triggered, which would suggest they had come into contact with drugs recently, however none were in possession of any illegal substances.

The operation went off without a hitch and police expect to conduct similar searches in the near future.
Meanwhile, a new multi-agency Criminal Asset Confiscation Taskforce has been launched today to fight organised crime through more intensive targeting of criminals and seizing wealth and assets aquired as a result of illegal activities.

The AFP will join forces with the Australian Crime Commission, the Australian Taxation Office and the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions in a focused and committed effort to identify and remove the profits derived from criminal activity.

AFP Commissioner Tony Negus said the taskforce will employ a proactive and innovative approach to asset confiscation, with intelligence, operations, legal, policy and other specialist resources from all participating agencies working together.

"Organised crime is driven by greed. By taking the profit out of crime, we remove the benefit that criminals obtain from exploiting the community," he said.
"A key weapon for law enforcement is the ability to seize these profits from criminals, which also prevents them from reinvesting these profits to fund other criminal ventures.
"The taskforce will also work in partnership with state, territory and international law enforcement agencies to identify, investigate and litigate appropriate asset confiscation matters at the Commonwealth level."

The taskforce will be managed from AFP national headquarters in Canberra, with regional teams located in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Canberra.
The taskforce will have the resources and ability to target criminals anywhere in Australia, Mr Negus said.
"The AFP will allocate 68 members to the taskforce including its existing financial investigations teams, which are comprised of specialists such as forensic accountants and financial investigators trained in locating concealed wealth in Australian and overseas jurisdictions," he said.
The ATO has contributed five tax officers to provide financial analysis, as well as carry out tax audits, for the investigations.

The ACC will also have six officers within the taskforce to provide ongoing support through its money laundering determination team and the National Criminal Intelligence Fusion Centre.
Through the centre's intelligence gathering, the ACC will identify targets and provide the taskforce with strategic advice on money flows that impact on Australia, Mr Negus said.
The CDPP will be responsible for any litigation under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, as well as supporting the taskforce with ongoing advice.​

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Two charged following drug operation - Holbrook

Two charged following drug operation - Holbrook

Two men have been charged following a drug operation at Holbrook in southern New South Wales.

In May 2011, officers attached to Albury Local Area Command commenced Operation Swannell to investigate the alleged supply of prohibited drugs within the Holbrook area.

About 3.30pm last Friday (19 August 2011), police arrested a 67-year-old man at a home in Corrys Road, and a 47-year-old man at a service station in Albury Street at Holbrook.

A search warrant was also executed at the premises in Corry Road.

It will be alleged that the 67-year-old was in possession of a large quantity of cash, methylamphetamine and ice at the time of his arrest, while the 47-year-old was allegedly in possession of cannabis and a large sum of cash.

The 67-year-old was later charged with eight counts of supply prohibited drug, two counts of supply prohibited drug (commercial quantity), and one count of supply prohibited drug (ongoing supply).

The 47-year-old man was charged with one count of supply prohibited drug (commercial quantity), one count of possess prohibited drug, and knowingly deal with proceeds of crime.

Both men appeared at Albury Local Court yesterday (Saturday 20 August 2011), and are scheduled to reappear tomorrow (Monday 22 August 2011.​

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Man on drug charges in Armidale court

Man on drug charges in Armidale court

A man is due to appear by video link in Armidale Local Court tomorrow charged with drug offences.

The 44-year-old Armidale man was charged yesterday following the discovery of a man’s body.

Police had been called to a unit in Wigan Street about 7.30am yesterday (Saturday 20 August 2011) after a 47-year-old Armidale man was found dead in a bedroom.

The local man was arrested a short time later and taken to Armidale Police Station where he was charged with two counts of administer prohibited drug to another person.

These charges relate to the alleged administration of prohibited drug to the 47-year-old man and another person. There have been no charges laid in relation to the man’s death.

He was refused bail when he appeared in Armidale Bail Court this morning, and will appear by audio-video link in Armidale Local Court tomorrow.

A post mortem examination is due to be conducted at Newcastle this week.

Investigations are continuing into all the circumstances surrounding the death of the 47-year-old man and a report will be prepared for the Coroner.​

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$22.6 million of cannabis seized

$22.6 million of cannabis seized

POLICE have seized cannabis worth almost $22.6 million during a five-month investigation targeting drug houses in south-western Sydney.

Strike Force Zambesi was formed by South West Metropolitan Region Enforcement Squad officers to shutdown hydroponic cannabis houses, while State Crime Command’s Asian Crime Squad has been probing the organised criminal syndicates behind them.

Police have raided 58 houses – on average one every three days – and seized and destroyed 6979 cannabis plants and 131kg of cannabis head since March this year. The cannabis has an estimated potential street value of around $22,580,000.

Eighteen people have arrested and charged with a combined total of 37 offences, including drug cultivation, drug possession, fraud and electricity theft.

South West Metropolitan Region Commander, Assistant Commissioner Frank Menilli, and State Crime Squad Commander, Detective Superintendent Scott Cook, will speak with media about the strike force's ongoing investigation this morning.​

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Teen to front court on drug charges

Teen to front court on drug charges

A Kondinin teenager charged with several drug offences is due to appear in the Perth Children's Court today.

Police charged the 16-year-old boy after going to a house in Graham Street on Friday where they found a quantity of cannabis plants, small bags of cannabis and two smoking implements.

He has been charged with possessing a prohibited drug, cultivating a prohibited drug with intent to sell or supply and possessing a smoking implement.​

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Drug chemicals hidden in bath towels

Drug chemicals hidden in bath towels

Police say they have broken up an international drug network, that was importing chemicals concealed in bath towels, to make the drug ice.

Detectives raided properties at Mill Park and Lalor in Melbourne's north last week and found the towels, which were imported from India.

They also found chemicals and $45,000 in cash.

It is alleged the towels were impregnated with ephedrine, a chemical used to manufacture ice.

A 36-year-old Mill Park man is due to face court today on drugs charges.​

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Man arrested on drugs charges in joint agency operation

^ More on the above article.

Man arrested on drugs charges in joint agency operation

A 36-year-old Mill Park man was charged in Victoria over the weekend and a complex drug importation and distribution syndicate has been dismantled.

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) made the arrest with the assistance of the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service, Australian Crime Commission, NSW Police State Crime Command’s Asian Crime Squad and Victoria Police’s Clandestine Laboratory Squad.

The investigation began in June when AFP and Customs and Border Protection officers identified of a series of suspicious consignments of bath towels that were sent to a Victorian address from India.

On Friday, three search warrants were executed in Lalor and Mill Park where a quantity of towels, $45,000 in cash, mobiles phones, enamel thinner, toluene, caustic soda and hydrochloric acid was seized.

The bath towels were seized with initial testing revealing they were impregnated with ephedrine.

Ephedrine is a precursor chemical used in the production of amphetamine type substances.

It is believed the total weight of ephedrine seized at the Victorian address as a result of this investigation is approximately 25 kilograms.

It will be alleged in court that the man was taking possession of the ephedrine for further distribution.

AFP Manager Melbourne Office Scott Lee said it is estimated that this quantity of ephedrine could be used to produce between 15 kilograms and 20 kilograms of methamphetamine, otherwise known by its street name as Ice.

“Law enforcement agencies are committed to working together anytime, anywhere to target and disrupt organised crime syndicates that seek to import and distribute dangerous drugs,” Commander Lee said.

Customs and Border Protection National Director Cargo Raelene Vivian praised the work of the officers involved in this seizure.

“Seizures like this send a strong message that if you attempt to bring illicit drugs or precursor chemicals used to produce such drugs into Australia, you will be caught,” Ms Vivian said.

The man is expected to face Melbourne Magistrates Court today, charged with:
• import commercial quantity border controlled precursor, contrary to s.307.11(1) of the Criminal Code Act 1995; and
• pre-trafficking a commercial quantity of controlled precursors, contrary to s.306.2 of the Criminal Code Act 1995.

Under Commonwealth legislation, the offences of importation and pre-trafficking of commercial quantities in ephedrine both carry a maximum penalty of 25 years imprisonment and/or a $550,000.00 fine.​

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Charges drug and trespass, Kholo (North Ipswich)

Charges drug and trespass, Kholo (North Ipswich)

Police have charged a number of people with trespass and one person with a drug possession offence during a planned police and SEQWater operation targeting offences on Kholo Road, Kholo.

On August 12, around 11pm police and SEQWater staff allegedly located six men and two women trespassing on SEQWater controlled land and one man was also charged with possession of a quantity of drugs.

They are all due to appear in the Ipswich Magistrates Court on August 26.​

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