The Australian/NZ Drug Busts Mega-Thread Part Triforce

[poledriver]

Man charged over ecstasy supply - Murrumbateman

Man charged over ecstasy supply - Murrumbateman

Police from Goulburn Local Area Command have charged a man with drug supply after allegedly finding over 500 ecstasy tablets on a motorcycle he had been riding.

About 8pm on 1 September 2011, police and emergency services were called to the Barton Highway north of Murrumbateman following reports of a motorcycle crash.

The 18-year-old rider of the Kawasaki Ninja was taken to hospital, where he was treated for a broken arm and internal bleeding.

Police searched the motorcycle and allegedly found a plastic bag containing 551 ecstasy tablets in the storage compartment under the rear seat.

On his release from hospital and following subsequent police inquiries, the man presented himself at Yass Police Station yesterday (29 September 2011).

He was charged with supplying a commercial quantity of a prohibited drug, riding whilst unlicensed and negligent driving.

The man, who is from Nubba, was granted conditional bail to appear at Yass Local Court on 8 November 2011.​

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[poledriver]

Police raid Commancheros bikies - 10 arrested

Police raid Commancheros bikies - 10 arrested

Detectives from Crime Gangs Task Force this morning led a series of raids on premises belonging to, or closely linked with, the Commancheros outlaw motorcycle gang. Ten were arrested for a number of drug and firearms offences.

The operation involved 160 police who searched a total of 34 properties.

During the searches police seized a total of six handguns, four rifles, a quantity of ammunition and prohibited weapons including; a flick knife, bayonets, tasers, batons.

Police were particularly concerned to locate four of the handguns fully loaded – one was fitted with a silencer and a laser sight.

Police allegedly located a handgun at the home of a Commanchero member who received a gunshot wound to the groin on 17 September 2011.

A number of drugs were discovered including; a kilogram of cannabis, 22 cannabis plants, approximately 300 grams of amphetamine, a small quantity of pills (believed to be ecstasy), a large quantity of steroids and cocaine along with glassware, chemicals and other items of prescribed equipment used in the production of illicit drugs.

Computers, 27 mobile phones, fireworks and $135,300 in cash were also seized.

In addition to issuing a number of General Expiation Notices, Cannabis Expiation Notices, and Drug Diversions, Police arrested and charged;

· 27-year-old man of Prospect for a first instance warrant

· 26-year-old-woman of Hindmarsh Island for Traffic a Controlled Drug

· 26-year-old man of Parafield Gardens for Possess Class H firearm, Unlawful Possession of Prescription Drug, Possess Dangerous Article, Unlawful Possession of Cash (Commanchero member)

· 31-year-old man of Klemzig for Aggravated Affray, Possess Steroids and Prohibited Weapon (Commanchero member)

· 45-year-old man of Enfield for Possess Class H Firearm and Possess Prescription Drugs (Commanchero member)

· 26-year-old man of Clarence Gardens for Cultivate Commercial Quantity of Cannabis, Traffic Controlled Drug, Possess Prescribed Equipment, Theft of Electricity and Possess Prohibited Weapon.

· 46-year-old man of Henley Beach South for Unlawful Possession of Cash.

· 51-year-old man of Torrensville for Possess Class H Firearms and Possess Firearms, Possess Silencer, Unlawful Possession of Cash, Possess Prescribed Equipment, Possess Prohibited Weapons.

· 49-year-old man of Adelaide for Possess Prohibited Weapons and Possess Prescription Drugs.

· 36-year-old man of Fulham for Unlawful Possession of Cash and Traffic Commercial Quantity of Controlled Drug.

Reported:

· 28-year-old man for Possess Prescription Drugs, Possess Prescribed Equipment and Carry Offensive Weapon (Commanchero member)

· 40-year-old man of Burton for Cultivate Cannabis​

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[poledriver]

Pair charged after drug raids

Pair charged after drug raids

Two people have been charged following multiple drug raids in Melbourne’s West and South this morning.

Detectives from the Moorabbin Divisional Response Unit, along with members of the Casey Tasking Unit, executed warrants on four residential premises in Cairnlea, Endeavour Hills, Moorabbin and Sunshine at around 7am.

The raids were the culmination of “Operation Monument”, a three-month police investigation into drug trafficking.

A 59-year-old Cairnlea man and a 50-year-old Moorabbin woman have been charged with cultivate a large commercial quantity of cannabis and possess proceeds of crime.

The duo appeared in an out-of-sessions court hearing at the Moorabbin Police Station this afternoon.

They were remanded in custody to face the Melbourne Magistrates Court tomorrow.​

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[poledriver]

Drug charges, Willowbank (Ipswich)

Drug charges, Willowbank (Ipswich)

A 45-year-old man has been charged with six drug related offences following the discovery of property allegedly used in connection with a clandestine laboratory.

Police executed a search warrant at a Willowbank property early yesterday morning where it will be allegedly they located utensils and equipment used to manufacture drugs.

The 45-year-old local man was issued a Notice to Appear for permitting use of place, possession of a dangerous drug, possessing relevant things, two counts of possession of utensil for use and unlawful possession of a weapon.

The man is due to appear in Ipswich Magistrates Court on October 27.​

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[poledriver]

Wicks has devastated family: father

Wicks has devastated family: father

Former Newcastle Knights NRL star Danny Wicks will spend a maximum three years in jail after being found guilty of trafficking drugs.
The 25-year-old rugby league forward was sentenced to a non-parole period of 18 months when he appeared in Newcastle District Court today.
In handing down the sentence, Judge Helen Syme described the moment as a "sad day" for the community, Wicks and his family.

Judge Syme said she took into account that he had good prospects for rehabilitation and had taken responsibility for his actions.
"His fall from grace has been dramatic," she told the court in handing down Wicks' sentence.
"From time to time, good people do bad things and this, in my view, is one of those occasions.
"This is a sad day for him and his family."

Judge Syme said Wicks was "one of many" in a drug supply chain which she described as a "joint criminal enterprise".
She said although there was no evidence of the profits, if any, Mr Wicks had made from supplying the drugs, he had played "a necessary role".
Wicks pleaded guilty on three counts of supply for trafficking 150 ecstasy tablets and more than 20 grams of methylamphetamine.
Dressed in a grey suit, the 25-year-old listened as his father, Gary Wicks, told the court earlier what the family had gone through.
"He knows that [what] he has done is wrong, that it was a silly thing," Mr Wicks told the court.

"He knows the devastation the family has gone through.

"He's just so remorseful of what he's done to the family."

Sports manager Steve Gillis told the court that Wicks's career as a professional player was effectively over.
"He's unlikely to return to professional sport and I would be very surprised if he ever plays again," he said.
Mr Gillis said there were many pressures facing professional athletes.

"There are a lot of pressures on them ... there is a lot expected of them apart from just running out on to the field and playing footy."
He estimated Wicks could have made up to $1.5 million had he remained in the sport.

Wicks's lawyer Paul Rosser, QC, asked the judge to take his client's loss of career and earnings, as well as his remorse, into consideration in sentencing him.
Mr Rosser also said Wicks was a prime candidate for rehabilitation and had been working in a pub and sawmill since his suspension.
Crown prosecutor Diana Paterson said the Crown had no information as to how much, if any, money Wicks earned from dealing drugs but that he put himself "at risk" in doing so.
She said Wicks "placed in danger" all his prior good behaviour and community service when he decided to supply drugs.​

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[poledriver]

Diggers help deliver fresh blow to heroin trade

Diggers help deliver fresh blow to heroin trade

Diggers in Afghanistan have helped to find and destroy a huge haul of narcotics, the Department of Defence says.

Included in the bust inside the restive Helmand province was what Defence described as "a large quantity of narcotic manufacturing equipment and chemicals".
It is estimated the ingredients would have been used to make heroin with a street value in excess of around $350 million.

Afghan National Security Forces led the operation and were supported by Australia's Special Operations Group Taskforce.

The raid is part of broader operations which reportedly have hit the budget of enemy combatants.

"This is one of the biggest narcotics busts by Afghan National Security Forces, comprising the National Interdiction Unit and the Air Interdiction Unit and Australian Special Operations Task Group, to date," an anonymous lieutenant-colonel said in a statement.

In Afghan terms, the combined hauls will remove around $US21 million from directly funding the insurgency.

"The destruction of such a large quantity of drug products will have a considerable effect on the insurgent operations in northern Helmand and west Uruzgan throughout the remainder of 2011 and into 2012," the lieutenant-colonel said.​

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[poledriver]

State transit officer allegedly assaulted - Brookvale

State transit officer allegedly assaulted - Brookvale

A mother and her son have been charged after a transit officer was allegedly assaulted in Brookvale last night.

The transit officer, a 54-year-old woman, has told police she was in a marked car on Mitchell Road when a piece of timber was thrown at her car, striking the passenger door.

It is alleged a man then approached the car and kicked it numerous times before opening the driver’s door and spitting blood in the woman’s face.

It is alleged the man’s mother then assaulted a male transit officer after he attempted to intervene.

The man and woman then fled the scene and emergency services were notified.

Officers attached to Northern Beaches Local Area Command attended and canvassed the area.

An 18-year-old man was arrested a short time later in Pine Avenue, while a 48-year-old woman was arrested in nearby Pittwater Road.

During a subsequent search of the woman police allegedly found an amount of cannabis.

Both were taken to Dee Why Police Station where the man was charged with assault and malicious damage, and his mother was charged with assault and possess prohibited drug.

They were both granted bail to appear at Manly Local Court on 2 November 2011.

The transit officer was treated by NSW Ambulance Paramedics before she was taken to Manly Hospital for further treatment.​

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[poledriver]

Cannabis seizure and arrest

Cannabis seizure and arrest

A man has been arrested on the Stuart Highway just north of Coober Pedy in possession of an estimated 30 kilograms (66 pounds) of dried cannabis packaged in 1000 one ounce street deals.

Coober Pedy Police arrested the 42-year-old Oakden man for trafficking in a large commercial quantity of a controlled drug on the evening of Thursday 29 September 2011.
Cannabis seized by police.

The man has since appeared in court at Coober Pedy and has been remanded in custody to reappear in court at a later date.

“This is a significant seizure of drugs and it serves as a reminder that police remain vigilant in detecting and stopping the movement of drugs even in remote areas,” Officer in Charge of the Far North Local Service Area, Acting Superintendent Ian Humby said.

South Australia Police are mindful of the effects of cannabis use in remote communities and continue use many and varied techniques to detect and take action against drug traffickers.

Motorists can expect extra patrols on rural roads this month as part of Operation Safe October.

“This is a significant seizure which will have an impact on the supply of cannabis,” Superintendent Humby said.

“Whether the drugs were intended to be sold to residents in the far north of South Australia or destined interstate is unclear, however this a very serious crime and harsh penalties, including imprisonment apply.”​

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[Mr Blonde]

Please read the rules for this thread; posting of news articles only, no discussion and especially no off-topic discussions.

 

[poledriver]

Drug charges, Brisbane (City)

Drug charges, Brisbane (City)

Three people are to face court following the alleged discovery of drugs at a Brisbane City hotel yesterday.

It will be alleged that around 9.30am police conducted a search of a room in an Albert Street hotel allegedly locating a significant quantity of drugs.

A 23-year-old Mermaid Beach man has been charged with trafficking in dangerous drugs and is expected to appear at the Brisbane Magistrates Court on October 19.

A 22-year-old Palm Beach man has been charged with possessing dangerous drugs and is expected to appear at the Brisbane Magistrates Court on October 26.

A 22-year-old Currumbin woman has been charged with possessing dangerous drugs and is expected to appear at the Brisbane Magistrates Court on October 27.​

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[poledriver]

Cash and drugs seized near Saddleworth

Cash and drugs seized near Saddleworth

A routine traffic stop by a patrol on Marraville Rod near Saddleworth last night has resulted in the seizure of $55,000 cash and approximately 600 grams of what police will allege is amphetamine.

The car was stopped at about 10.30pm and a 47-year-old man of no fixed address was arrested and has been charged with possess trafficable quantity of a controlled drug and unlawful possession in relation to the money.

Bail has been refused and he will appear in the Port Pirie Court tomorrow.​

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[poledriver]

Prosecutors hope to recover Mokbel millions

Prosecutors hope to recover Mokbel millions

Victorian prosecutors have applied to recover $4 million that drug lord Tony Mokbel allegedly accumulated from crime.

A pecuniary penalty application has been made for money related to Mokbel's drug trafficking between July 2006 and June 2007.

At a directions hearing in the Supreme Court, Justice Simon Whelan told Mokbel it was an application to "recover a sum of money, $4 million odd" made by Mokbel.

He said the $4 million was all the payments the Director of Public Prosecutions alleged were either made to Mokbel or were connected to him.

The amounts are detailed in a spreadsheet document known as the Raymond Wiel that was made by a member of Mokbel's organisation, The Company.

Appearing via videolink, Mokbel, who did not have legal representation, told the court he had not been served with an affidavit that the Office of Public Prosecutions had provided to his lawyers.

"One hundred per cent they haven't found their way," Mokbel said of the application papers.

Justice Whelan said to his knowledge Mokbel did not have Legal Aid funding for the matter.

He adjourned the matter until October 20 to allow Mokbel time to read the documents.

Mokbel is due to face a pre-sentence hearing on drug charges on October 18.

In April, Mokbel pleaded guilty to trafficking a large commercial quantity of methylamphetamine between July 2006 and June 2007.

Mokbel, 45, fled Australia in 2006 during a drug trafficking trial.

He was extradited from Greece in 2008 to face murder and drug trafficking charges.

In May 2009 prosecutors dropped a murder charge against him for the killing of Michael Marshall, 38, in South Yarra in 2003.

Later that year Mokbel was found not guilty by a Supreme Court jury of murdering Lewis Moran.

It had been alleged Mokbel paid for the March 2004 execution.
AAP​

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[poledriver]

[NZ] Fresh drug charge against former party pill maker

[NZ] Fresh drug charge against former party pill maker

A fresh charge has been laid against a former party pill manufacturer arrested with his daughter in a drug bust last week.

Police have laid a new charge of importing ephedrine against 44-year-old Tauranga consultant Gary John Read.

He is already facing charges of importing the Class B controlled drug ephedrine into New Zealand, possession of ephedrine for supply, conspiring with his daughter to import the drug and possession of methamphetamine for supply.​

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[poledriver]

Melbourne man arrested over $2m ice haul

Melbourne man arrested over $2m ice haul

A Melbourne man charged with trafficking about $2 million worth of drugs has been remanded in custody.

Troung Nguyen, of Derrimut, was arrested at Southern Cross Station after getting off a bus from Sydney early Wednesday morning.

Police say the 34-year-old had swallowed heroin and was carrying two kilograms of methylamphetamine - also known as ice - in a black suitcase.

Prosecutors estimate the drugs' wholesale value at $400,000 and a street value of $2 million.

They say Nguyen described himself to police as a drugs courier but refused to say who he was working for.

His lawyer told the court Nguyen is a drug addict who will use his time in custody to get clean.

He will return to court in December.​

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[poledriver]

Man charged for importing cocaine

Man charged for importing cocaine

Australian Customs and Border Protection officers have stopped a 53-year-old Canadian national from importing approximately two kilograms of cocaine in his luggage at Sydney Airport on Monday (3 October).

The man has been charged by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and is scheduled to appear in the Sydney Downing Centre District Court today.

He was subject to a baggage examination by Customs and Border Protection after he arrived at the Sydney International airport from Dubai yesterday.

During the examination, the officers noticed an inconsistency in the man’s luggage. An x-ray revealed approximately two kilograms of a powdered substance concealed in the lining of his bag.

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

The matter was referred to the AFP and the man was charged with importing a marketable quantity of border controlled drugs, namely but not limited to cocaine, contrary to Section 307.2 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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[poledriver]

Police charge woman with drug offences - Blacktown

Police charge woman with drug offences - Blacktown

Police have charged a woman with a number of offences during an operation at Blacktown in Sydney’s west.


About 6.40pm last night (Tuesday 4 October 2011), police spoke to a 21-year-old woman at Blacktown Railway Station after a police drug dog indicated she may be in possession of illegal drugs.

After speaking to the woman, she was searched and it is alleged police located an amount of drugs including ‘ice’ and ecstasy, as well as a knife and an amount of cash.

She was arrested and taken to St Marys Police station where she was charged with:

One count of supply prohibited drug,
Two counts of possess prohibited drug,
One count of possess prescribed restricted substance,
One count of custody of a knife and;
Goods in custody suspected of being stolen or unlawfully obtained.
The woman was granted bail and will appear in Blacktown Local Court on Thursday 17 November 2011.​

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[poledriver]

Clandestine drug laboratory at Pooraka

Clandestine drug laboratory at Pooraka

SAPOL Drug Investigation Branch Detectives searched a business premises at Pooraka late yesterday afternoon and located a clandestine drug laboratory. Police also seized a taser and extendable baton from that address.

Police then searched an associated property at Inglewood where four firearms, ammunition, fireworks, further glassware and chemicals were located.

A 40 year old Glenelg man was arrested at the Pooraka address. He has been charged with Manufacture a Controlled Drug and bailed to appear in the Holden Hill Magistrates Court on 16 December 2011.​

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[poledriver]

[NZ] Meth ring members handed prison sentences

[NZ] Meth ring members handed prison sentences

A meth dealer who was leading a double life living in a multi-million dollar home with his family while working in a drug ring has been sentenced to 10 years imprisonment.

Steven John Baird and five other men involved in an operation to manufacture and supply methamphetamine were sentenced at the Auckland High Court today.

All six men had been previously found guilty of multiple charges of manufacture and supply of the class A drug at a High Court trial in July.

Baird had owned a successful party equipment and sound system hire business and a home in the upmarket Auckland suburb of Remuera where he lived with his wife and two teenage children.

In June 2009 his double life was exposed by Operation Jacaranda when police seized $2.7 million worth of assets from him and drug squad detectives raided the Omahu Rd property to find $310,000 hidden in the concrete floor of a backyard shed.

The 42-year-old was the distributor for a drug syndicate headed by "controller of the operation and leader" Zhongjie Tang, 30, said Justice Peter Woodhouse.


He described Baird as also playing an active role in the operation by assisting with manufacture and being"directly involved as a principal in supplying methamphetamine".

Baird remained expressionless as he was handed a sentence of 10 years imprisonment and a minimum non-parole period of six years.

He committed the offences while on bail for previous drug offences - a "seriously aggravating factor", said Justice Woodhouse.

In July 2009 he was sentenced to six years, eight months' jail for offences of possession of P, heroin and LSD for supply, which he was serving.

Operation ringleader Tang leased the Jacaranda Motor Inn in Epsom used the restaurant kitchen as a laboratory to extract pseudoephedrine, the main ingredient in P, as well as to make methamphetamine.

Tang received 13 years imprisonment for his role in the operation - a term reduced by two years because of evidence he had contributed positively to society in other ways, said Justice Woodhouse.

Another main member of the syndicate was Terrence Arthur Sims, 49, who was in charge of making the drug and would take the finished product to the motor inn, where Baird would later arrive to uplift the drugs from Tang.

Sims was sentenced to nine years and six months imprisonment.

Also part of the operation were Auckland men Jialin Wu, 30, Wenbin Gu, 47, and Robert Jones, 43, who were responsible for arranging chemicals and equipment needed to make P.

For their roles Jones was sentenced to 6-1/2 years, Wu to six years and Gu to three years and six months.​

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[poledriver]

14yo NSW boy arrested in Bali over drugs

14yo NSW boy arrested in Bali over drugs

A 14-year-old Australian boy has been arrested in Bali for possession of illegal drugs.

The boy, from New South Wales, was arrested two days ago in possession of 6.9 grams of marijuana.

He is believed to be the youngest Australian arrested in Indonesia under the country's harsh anti-drugs laws.

If charged with possession he would face a maximum penalty of 12 years in prison.

However, as there is no juvenile court system in Indonesia, he would likely be placed in an adult prison if convicted.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade says Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd has "directed the Ambassador in Jakarta and the Consul-General to make this their top priority and undertake all efforts to resolve the matter quickly and see the early release of the boy".​

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[poledriver]

[NZ]Illness helps drug smuggler avoid prison

[NZ]Illness helps drug smuggler avoid prison

A member of a drug syndicate that smuggled hundreds of thousands of Ecstasy pills into New Zealand in Harrods gift baskets has escaped a jail sentence because he has a rare medical illness.

Nicholas Bowyer, 36, was sentenced to 12 months home detention for supplying the Class B drug MDMA at the Auckland High Court today.

He was found guilty of six charges including supply of the drug in June this year.

Bowyer was one of 16 people arrested in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch after a police investigation found the group had smuggled 100,000 Ecstasy pills into the country over three months.

He was diagnosed with the rare immune deficiency disorder hyper IgM syndrome as a child, and doctors have said he was lucky to live beyond his childhood.

At the age of 36, Bowyer is among of the world's oldest living survivors of the disease. There are three over the age of 40, and only one over the age of 50, said Justice Patricia Courtney.

He has to receive specialist infusions once every three weeks for his disorder and faces a high risk of death if he gets an infection.


Justice Courtney said Bowyer was likely to be dead within a decade and the illness had likely affected his judgement, contributing to his involvement in the drug smuggling operation.

During his time as a supplier of MDMA, Bowyer was a high-powered Microsoft employee earning $205,000 each year before benefits.

Justice Courtney ruled a jail term would likely bring a risk of a deadly infection and prison staff were unlikely to respond with emergency medical attention as quickly as needed.

She also ruled that Bowyer's role in the syndicate was a minor one, and wasn't undertaken for financial gain.

"Your involvement in drugs was out of character and a massive error in judgement on your part," she said.

"Good luck for the remains of your life. I think that you should be humbled and grateful for the level of support that you have had."

The public gallery of the court was packed with Bowyer's teary parents, sister and friends.

Two friends, who wish to remain anonymous, said outside the court how relieved they were at the sentence considering his health conditions.​

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