Three rugby and league players charged with attempting to import several hundred kilograms of methamphetamine into New Zealand appeared before court again today.
Angus Naupoto, 34, appeared for allegedly trying to smuggle P into New Zealand on a boat skipped by a man known only as Johan.
The skipper is no longer around and hasn't faced any charges, the court heard today.
Mr Naupoto is one of five men charged with attempting to import methamphetamine into New Zealand from Tonga.
William Wolfgramm, Peter Lawrence Tanginoa and Mr Naupoto face charges of conspiracy to import the A-class drug and participating in an organised criminal group.
They were arrested in August.
The trio were allegedly in talks with a Tongan drug syndicate to import millions of dollars worth of P into New Zealand through a skippered boat.
Police discovered there was no methamphetamine, and believe the whole scheme was an elaborate hoax conspired by a Tongan group to con the three men out of a small fortune.
The alleged drug syndicate reportedly built a fake stockpile of methamphetamine out of blocks and rock salt, and offered a thin layer of purchased drugs lying on top of the pile as a sample.
Mr Naupoto also faces a charge of conspiracy to kidnap, as he allegedly threatened a Tongan woman to carry out certain requests or face death.
He was granted bail on strict conditions today, including a 24 hour curfew to a residential address, no access to sea or river-sides and reporting to a local police station every weekday.
Mr Wolfgramm and Mr Tanginoa, both Auckland-based and already on bail, had their bail term extended.
All three men have been involved as players or managers in premier league or club rugby.
Police arrested two more men in relation to the allegations in late August. David Charles Mafi and Douglas David Afeaki were charged with conspiracy to import the drug in late August.
Mr Naupoto, Mr Tanginoa and Mr Wolfgramm are due to appear in court again in November.
A 35-year-old Toowoomba man has been charged with numerous drug offences as a result of an alleged clandestine laboratory being located by police in August in Toowoomba.
A 35-year-old Toowoomba man has been charged with numerous drug offences as a result of an alleged clandestine laboratory being located by police in August in Toowoomba.
Police attended at the Ruthven Street address just after 1pm on August 25 where it will be allegedly they located utensils and chemicals used to manufacture drugs.
The 35-year-old man has been charged today with two counts of producing a dangerous drug, one count of possessing instructions for producing dangerous drugs, two counts of possessing relevant substances or things, one count possess property used in the commission of a crime, one count posses property suspected of having been acquired for the purpose of committing a drug offence and one count of posses tainted property.
The man is due to appear in Toowoomba Magistrates Court on September 19.
A MAN faces a string of drugs charges after a clandestine laboratory used to make amphetamines was found in the garage of his suburban north-western Melbourne home.
Police located the lab and a large amount of chemicals at the house in Hawkesbury Avenue in Hillside yesterday.
A 49-year-old Hillside man has been charged with possessing articles to manufacture a drug of dependence and trafficking amphetamines.
He was remanded in custody and is due to appear at the Melbourne Magistrates Court today.
Three people have been charged with selling heroin in Sydney's south-west.
Two men, a 32-year-old from Smithfield and a 37-year-old from Canley Heights, were arrested about 3:00pm (AEST) yesterday, along with a 28-year-old Smithfield woman.
Detectives from the Asian Crime Squad allegedly seized heroin, cash, a drug press and other drug paraphernalia from homes at Smithfield and Canley Heights.
The 37-year-old man was charged with supplying a large commercial quantity of heroin and dealing with proceeds of crime.
The others were charged with ongoing supply of heroin and other offences.
All three were held in custody overnight to face court this morning.
Police say the trio are "mid-level drug traffickers".
Four-month drug supply investigation leads to multiple arrests - Strike Force Tentmak
Four-month drug supply investigation leads to multiple arrests - Strike Force Tentmaker
Detectives investigating drug supply in the Illawarra have arrested 15 people during simultaneous raids across the region this morning.
Police attached to the Lake Illawarra Drug Unit formed Strike Force Tentmaker in May this year to investigate the supply and distribution of heroin, methylamphetamine, cannabis and OxyContin (also known as ‘Hillbilly Heroin’).
Following lengthy inquiries, strike force investigators – assisted by officers from Goulburn, Shoalhaven and Wollongong Local Area Commands and the Public Order and Riot Squad – executed search warrants on 10 residential properties in Barrack Heights, Berkeley and Warrawong about 7am today (Thursday 8 September 2011).
A total of 15 people were arrested during the simultaneous raids.
The 11 men and four women were taken to Lake Illawarra Police Station and are expected to be charged with various drug supply offences.
Further arrests are likely.
Meanwhile, officers are continuing to search the properties but have already seized numerous items as evidence – including quantities of prohibited drugs, prohibited weapons and cash.
Police have also executed a search warrant on a hotel in Wentworth Street, Port Kembla.
Lake Illawarra Local Area Command Crime Manager, Detective Inspector Michael McLean, said Strike Force Tentmaker has dealt a significant blow to the local drug trade.
“This team of dedicated and determined police, through their thorough investigations, have severely disrupted the drug distribution network in the Illawarra region,” Detective Inspector McLean said.
“The strike force has worked tirelessly to achieve the significant results it has today, including the large number of arrests.
“Police are on the front foot in their fight against drugs and we have again demonstrated that today.
“Drugs are a serious scourge on the community and police will continue to do everything we can to keep them off the streets and out of the hands of our young people.
“We will continue to come down very hard on those caught peddling them,” he said.
Investigations by Strike Force Tentmaker are continuing. Further arrests are expected.
The High Court has ordered a retrial for a Melbourne woman convicted of drug trafficking, after drugs belonging to her partner were found in her apartment.
Vera Momcilovic was convicted of the charge in 2008.
During her trial she and her partner gave evidence that she had no knowledge of the drugs in her apartment.
The prosecution had relied upon the Victorian Drug Act which states that a substance is in the possession of a person if it is on land or premises occupied by them, unless they can prove otherwise.
They jury was told once it had determined Ms Momcilovic lived in the apartment, she was deemed to be in possession of the drugs unless she could prove she did not know they were there.
But the High Court has found the jury was misdirected and they have quashed the conviction and ordered a retrial.
A Colombian woman made a 10,300km flight carrying half a kilogram of cocaine in her stomach - and died at Auckland Hospital 37 minutes after one of the 26 packages of the drug leaked into her body.
Sorlinda Arirtizabel Vega, 37, arrived in Auckland from Buenos Aires in Argentina on Tuesday morning. She cleared Customs without any problems and travelled into the city with her partner and children.
But by early Wednesday morning, Mrs Vega was dead.
She was admitted to the emergency department at Auckland Hospital at 5.44am on Wednesday, and was declared dead at 6.21am.
The Herald has learned her partner took her to the hospital and then left to go and see to their children.
He was back with Mrs Vega when police arrived, but it is unclear whether he was there when she died.
"The woman was unable to be revived, despite vigorous resuscitation, following cardiac arrest," a hospital spokeswoman said.
Police were called to the hospital, as is procedure with a sudden death.
During a post mortem examination, doctors found at least 26 20g packages filled with a white substance believed to be cocaine.
"That is more than half a kilo which, if established to be cocaine, would have had an estimated street value of up to $175,000," said Detective Inspector Scott Beard.
He said at least one of the packages had burst inside Mrs Vega, but would not be drawn on what material they were made of.
"It went into her body and her body couldn't cope," he said.
"There are always serious risks to health when smuggling drugs internally, and this woman has paid with her life."
Mr Beard said Mrs Vega was in Auckland on holiday, not for the Rugby World Cup. She travelled to New Zealand with family members.
Mr Beard would not be drawn on who those family members were but said they were in Auckland and not being held by police.
He said they would be spoken to and police were also looking into whether Mrs Vega had any links with local organised crime groups.
She came through Customs at Auckland Airport with no problems, and Mr Beard said she was the first person this year to be caught carrying drugs internally.
Emergency doctor Paul Quigley told 3 News there was no way Mrs Vega could have survived.
"She had the equivalent of 80 doses of cocaine all in one go, so she would have developed extreme high blood pressure and may have had a stroke and a heart attack," he said.
"She may have got a degree of anxiety at first, felt shaky, but it is likely she would have gone into cardiac arrest and collapsed very rapidly."
Mrs Vega's death has been referred to the coroner but Mr Beard said a police investigation was continuing.
Closure of multi-agency maritime operation, Moreton Bay
Closure of multi-agency maritime operation, Moreton Bay
A two-day multi-agency operation targeting drug and other illegal activity on commercial and recreational fishing vessels in the Moreton Bay region finished yesterday. Operation Juliet Osprey covered a sea zone stretching 100 nautical miles north and south and, out to the 200 nautical mile limit from the Scarborough Harbour.
Operation Juliet Osprey was a joint operation between the Queensland Police, Australian Customs and Border Protection Service, Australian Federal Police, Australian Fisheries Management Authority and the Australian Crime Commission.
The third phase of the multi-agency operation began on Tuesday in the Scarborough Harbour and the greater Moreton Bay area targeting illegal activity such as drug trafficking and possession, firearms and weapons act offences, being in charge of vessel whilst under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and compliance and enforcement of maritime regulations.
Multi-agency boarding teams consisting of members of the QPS and Customs and Border Protection boarded and searched a total of 58 commercial fishing and recreational vessels during the two day operation resulting in five people being charged with nine offences relating to drugs and firearm charges.
Some of those charged by police during the two days of the Operation include:
· a 57-year-old Surfers Paradise man charged with unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition. He is due to appear in the Redcliffe Magistrates Court on September 19;
· a 43-year-old Redcliffe man charged with possession of a dangerous drug. He is due in the Redcliffe Magistrates Court on September 28;
· a 29-year-old Kallangur man charged with seven offences including possession of a dangerous drug, possession of a utensil and unlicensed driving. He is due to appear in the Redcliffe Magistrates Court on September 26;
· a 43-year-old Woody Point man and a 33-year-old Newport woman who were both charged with possession of a dangerous drug. They are due to appear in the Redcliffe Magistrates Court on October 3.
Police also issued a number of Maritime Infringement Notices for marine and fisheries related matters.
Traffic enforcement was also conducted at boat ramps from Clontarf to Donnybrook and Bribie Island over the two days resulting in 631 roadside breath tests, 15 roadside drug tests, 18 Traffic Infringement Notices, and three Notices to Appear for drink driving and disqualified driving matters. At least one driver returned a positive drug swab and a sample taken from the driver has been sent for further analysis.
Approximately 94 personnel, including officers from the Water Police, uniformed police Customs and Border Protection drug detection dog teams took part in the operation.
Senior Sergeant Ross Simpson, Redcliffe District Crime Manager, said it was a well coordinated and highly successful multi-agency operation.
“In the past two days we brought together assets and personnel from five federal and state agencies in a coordinated approach. Apart from the arrests made, we have secured a significant amount of intelligence that will be developed and will form the basis for future operations.
“The professionalism displayed by personnel from all agencies in both the planning and operational phases is to be commended and helped ensured the success of the operation,” Senior Sergeant Simpson said.
Police have charged a 32 year old man after allegedly finding more than $700,000 dollars of the drug ice at his Kardinya home.
Gang crime officers allegedly seized almost 450 grams of methamphetamine from the house along with some cannabis.
The man has been charged with possession of a prohibited drug with intent to sell or supply.
Superintendent Charlie Carver says it's believed the man has links to a bikie gang.
"No he's not a patch member, I can tell you that," he said.
"However, there's associations there and this person is in the mix. Half a kilo of methamphetamine is a good seizure.
"It's a good result and we're always glad to get this off the street, it just interrupts the food chain for drug dealers etc and stops the drugs getting into the community."
Sydney man charged with cocaine importation as police seize $460,000 cash
Sydney man charged with cocaine importation as police seize $460,000 cash
The Joint Organised Crime Group (JOCG) yesterday seized $460,000 in cash and charged a 24-year-old Sydney man with the attempted importation of more than two kilograms of cocaine.
The JOCG comprises the Australian Federal Police, NSW Police Force, Australian Customs and Border Protection Service, Australian Crime Commission and NSW Crime Commission.
The Surry Hills man is the third person to be arrested in relation to the attempted importation of almost 2.2kg of cocaine, hidden within an air-cargo consignment of books sent from China in July 2010.
The man is scheduled to appear at Sydney Central Court today.
The JOCG has previously charged a 20-year-old man and a 19-year-old man with importation offences in January and March respectively.
The JOCG yesterday executed search warrants at Surry Hills and Lansvale, seizing $460,000 in cash. It will be alleged in court that this money was the proceeds of crime.
The man has been charged with importing a marketable quantity of border controlled drugs, namely cocaine, contrary to Section 307.2 Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth); and dealing in proceeds of crime, worth $100,000 or more, contrary to Section 400.4(2) Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth).
The respective maximum penalties for these offences are: 25 years imprisonment and/or a $550,000 fine; and 10 years imprisonment and/or a $66,000 fine.
A man was taken to hospital last night after being assaulted with a machete at his home in Elizabeth Park.
At about 9.50pm, three men armed with a machete, firearm and baseball bat forced their way into a house in Salway Avenue, assaulted the man and threatened a female occupant.
The three men then left the house, and were last seen heading south on Salway Avenue.
After searching the house, police allegedly located hydroponic equipment and an amount of dried cannabis.
The 27-year-old woman from Elizabeth Park was reported for possessing prescribed equipment and issued a cannabis expiation notice, and will appear in court at a later date.
Police wish to remind the public of the dangers associated with the possession and manufacture of illicit drugs, and the criminal elements and activity they attract.
Hard work has paid off for the members of the Altona North Divisional Response Unit after the discovery of a clandestine laboratory in the garage of a Hillside home earlier yesterday morning.
Members from the DRU with investigators from the Clandestine Laboratory Squad executed a warrant at Hawkesbury Avenue where they located a lab and an extensive amount of chemicals around 10.30am.
Due to the large amount of chemicals found, processing the scene will not be completed until some time today.
A 49-year-old Hillside man has been charged with possess articles for manufacture a drug of dependence and trafficking amphetamines.
He has been remanded in custody to appear at the Melbourne Magistrates Court this morning
A Sydney man has been charged with importing more than two kilograms of cocaine, as police seized nearly $500,000 from two properties.
The 24-year-old, from Surry Hills in the inner city, was arrested yesterday.
The 2.2 kilograms of cocaine was allegedly found in a parcel of books that was flown to Australia from China in July 2010.
Police also searched two properties yesterday, one at Surry Hills and the other in the city's south-west at Lansvale.
They seized $460,000 in cash at the properties.
The man has been charged with importing a marketable quantity of a drug and dealing in proceeds of crime.
He is scheduled to appear in court today.
Australian Federal Police say he is the third man arrested over the cocaine plot, after a 20-year-old man was charged in January and a 19-year-old man in March.
Man charged over alleged commercial supply of GHB - Strike Force Gascoyne
Man charged over alleged commercial supply of GHB - Strike Force Gascoyne
A man has been charged over the alleged large-scale supply of prohibited drugs in Sydney.
Earlier this month, police from the Redfern Region Enforcement Squad formed Strike Force Gascoyne, to investigate a 30-year-old man’s alleged large-scale supply of prohibited drugs in the Sydney metropolitan region.
Investigations revealed the man was planning to travel to Melbourne to purchase a considerable quantity of the drug GHB.
About 12.40pm yesterday (Friday 9 September 2011), police arrested the man in the domestic terminal at Sydney Airport.
When searched, police allegedly located an amount of the drug ICE, with a street value of about $24,000.
Search warrants were also executed at three residences connected to the man. These were located at Botany, Ultimo and Roselands.
The man was taken to Mascot Police Station, where he was subsequently charged with supply indictable quantity of prohibited drug; possess prohibited drug; deal with proceeds of crime; possess prescribed restricted substance; supply large commercial quantity of a prohibited drug; drive while disqualified and breach bail.
He was refused bail to appear at Parramatta Bail Court toady (Saturday 10 September 2011).
Amphetamine use is up forty percent across NSW and local police say they are also seeing an increase.
The Bureau of Crime Statistics recent quarterly report showed amphetamine use and possession had risen dramatically, cannabis use had gone up 27 per cent and the use of narcotics had risen nine per cent.
The Acting Commander of Albury Local Area Command, Brad Blanshard, says police continually run operations and are now receiving more tip-offs from the public about amphetamine production, use and supply.
"We had a recent operation running at Holbrook where we charged a person for a large supply of amphetamine, up to a kilo. So I mean it's certainly out there," he said.
"No one should kid themselves it's not. A lot of the labs these days, they're not elaborate, they can be simply a bunsen burner over a flame."
Police conducted a search of a Craigmore home on Saturday 11 September 2011, locating 18 cannabis plants, some being grown hydroponically in a purpose built room in a shed.
The plants ranged between 30 cm and 1 metre in height.
A quantity or transformers, lights, globes and filters which are liable to forfeiture and destruction were seized.
Police also located a replica handgun similar in appearance to a .357 revolver.
A 74-year old man and a 66-year old woman both from Craigmore were reported for cultivating cannabis, possessing prescribed equipment to grow cannabis and possessing a replica firearm without a licence and will appear at Elizabeth Magistrates Court at a later date.
Police remind people of the dangers associated with the growing of cannabis, including the risk of home invasions and violence as well as increased risk of fires and electrocution through non-compliant and illegal electrical connections.
The Defence Force says three soldiers have been questioned by New Zealand military police over allegations involving illegal drugs.
A Defence spokeswoman says the soldiers are in New Zealand as part of a military exchange program.
"Defence can confirm that three soldiers are currently assisting New Zealand military police with regard to a matter involving a prohibited substance," the spokeswoman said.
"As this matter is currently being investigated, it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time."
Radio New Zealand is reporting that as many as eight Australian soldiers are involved at the Linton Military Camp near Palmerston North.
The report cited an ADF source who said the soldiers were accused of taking drugs and said there could be video footage of the alleged offending.
Five men have been arrested as part of an operation which South Australian police say has smashed an international drug trafficking syndicate.
Drugs and chemicals have been seized in an operation involving SA and Federal Police, Customs and Vietnamese police.
Authorities say the seizures included more than one kilogram of white powder thought to be a variation of ecstasy and more than 10 kilograms of a liquid.
Police said they were tipped off last month by Vietnamese authorities and intercepted a container filled with the amphetamine BZP in Western Australia, shipped from Vietnam.
After swapping the BZP with another substance, police tracked the container to South Australia.
PHOTO: Liquid seized in drug raids
AFP
Forensic testing is trying to determine precise details of the materials involved.
The arrested men, two from Rosewater, aged 52 and 49, one from Salisbury Park, aged 30 and two from Mount Barker, aged 44 and 42, have been charged with a range of drug offences.
Authorities say BZP has only been a banned drug under Australian laws since April.
Police say child porn and a drug lab have been uncovered during a search on a New South Wales central coast home.
Computers, external hard drives and flash drives were seized in the Umina unit yesterday, along with equipment used to make methylamphetamine, also known as speed.
A 44-year-old man was arrested and charged with possessing child pornography.
Advertisement: Story continues below
He was refused bail and is due to appear in Gosford Local Court today.
Australian Federal Police and Customs officials say they have intercepted more than 270 kilograms of cocaine hidden in a shipment of lawnmowers from Brazil.
Police say the seizure is the largest cocaine haul ever intercepted in Victoria and the fifth largest in Australia.
The drugs, said by police to have a street value of around $200 million, arrived from Brazil on August 19 inside crates carrying ride-on lawnmowers.
The shipment was detected in Melbourne by x-rays and physical searches.
After searches in Melbourne last night, a 20-year-old Australian man and two Chinese men were charged.
They will face the Melbourne Magistrates Court today.
Investigations into the case are continuing in Hong Kong and Australia.
