The Australian/NZ Drug Busts Mega-Thread Part Triforce

[Jabberwocky]

Vincent Lahood charged after allgedly running a million-dollar drug ring from farm

A "SELF-employed farmer" who allegedly used his north coast property as the base for a million-dollar drug ring was charged after a covert police operation.

Vincent Lahood, 64, was arrested following a six-month police probe into what police say was a methylamphetamine manufacture and supply operation at his nondescript farm on the outskirts of Moree, documents tendered to the NSW Supreme Court this month reveal.

Lahood was charged with two counts of supplying a prohibited drug, supplying an indictable quantity of prohibited drugs, manufacturing a prohibited drug and selling a prohibited firearm.

He has not entered pleas to any of the charges.

Police listened in on phone taps as Lahood allegedly sold more than $40,000 worth of methylamphetamine to local buyers between November and May, court documents say.

When police stopped Lahood on the Newell Highway in May he was allegedly carrying a "lavender oil" bottle containing enough "methylamphetamine oil" to manufacture $1.44 million of the drug, court documents said.

On March 30, Lahood allegedly sold a .22 gun for $500 which was disguised as a pen, court documents said.

The North Coast father will next appear in the Moree Local Court on November 21.

Three of Lahood's children were arrested in the sting as well as two other men who are not related to the family.

On September 16, Lahood's son, Vincent Lahood Jr, was sentenced to a six month suspended jail term in the Moree District Court for his role in the alleged operation.

The suspended sentence came after Lahood Jr appealed against an earlier decision by Moree Local Court to sentence him to a nine month jail term for two charges including possessing a prohibited drug and possessing equipment to make prohibited drugs.

Documents tendered in the NSW Supreme Court this month said that Vincent Lahood Senior should not be granted bail because his alleged criminal activities "feed the criminal element within the (local) community".

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/ne...ase-for-drug-lab/story-fn7y9brv-1226173941218

 

[poledriver]

Cannabis booby trap accused fronts court

Cannabis booby trap accused fronts court

A 54-year-old man charged with setting a booby trap to protect a small cannabis crop has made a brief appearance in the Geraldton Magistrates Court.

In September, police raided Timothy Grant Carter's home in Wonthella and found 12 cannabis plants on the property.

They also found pieces of wood with long nails in them, which were buried in the ground around the plants.

He has been charged with setting a dangerous trap, cultivating a prohibited plant and possession of cannabis with intent to sell or supply.

The matter was adjourned until next month while Carter seeks legal advice.​

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Cannabis found at one of two house fires overnight

Cannabis found at one of two house fires overnight

Police discovered four large mature cannabis plants and one small plant being grown in an Old Noarlunga house after a fire earlier this morning.

Police and the Metropolitan Fire Service went to the home just before 4.00am after receiving reports of smoke coming from the roof.

Upon arrival, a fire was located in a room at the front of the house. Investigations uncovered the cannabis being grown hydroponically in the room.

The cause of the fire which caused approximately $10,000 damage has been linked to an electrical fault in the hydroponic equipment.

The male occupant of the house, who managed to escape uninjured is currently being interviewed by police in relation to the cannabis crop.

Police again remind the public of the dangers associated with the growing of cannabis, which as in this case involved the risk of injury from a fire.

And earlier in the night, fire destroyed a holiday home at Wellington.

The fire was reported at 2am and the shack was unoccupied at the time.​

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[poledriver]

Man charged with cannabis possession - Barrier LAC

Man charged with cannabis possession - Barrier LAC

Police in the state’s far west have arrested and charged a man after allegedly finding five kilos of cannabis leaf in his car.

About 12.15pm on Friday (21 October 2011), police were patrolling the Sturt Highway at Gol Gol when they stopped a Toyota Lexan to submit the driver to a random breath test.

The vehicle had a South Australian registration plate.

The test was negative, but following certain observations, police decided to search the car.

In the boot of the vehicle, police allegedly located a number of plastic shopping bags containing approximately five kilos of cannabis leaf.

The 43-year-old man from Alberton, South Australia, was arrested and taken to Dareton Police Station.

He was charged with possess prohibited drug and supply prohibited drug.

The man appeared in Wentworth Local Court on 22 October 2011, where he was refused bail to appear at Broken Hill Local Court tomorrow (25 October 2011).​

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[Jabberwocky]

Flo Rida entourage member fined for drugs, weapons charges

A MEMBER of American singer Flo Rida's entourage was fined $1800 this morning after pleading guilty to weapons and drug charges following a raid of the rapper's hotel suite.

Dakari Dalawn Phillips, an employee of IMG Strongarm Management who represent the Miami artist, appeared in the Townsville Magistrates Court after spending the night in the Walker St watch house.

The 33-year-old refused to answer any questions from the media about what his arrest meant to the Australian leg of the rap tour, but he was happy to flirt with a female reporter calling her "cutie" and asking for an exchange of phone numbers, The Townsville Bulletin said.

However Phillips didn't get lucky outside the court house he definitely did inside - with no conviction recorded for possessing dangerous drugs, unlawful possession of restricted drugs, possessing property suspected of having being used in connection with the commission of a drug offence and unlawful possession of weapons category.

Police prosecutor Colleen Wainwright told the court that on Sunday, shortly before Flo Rida was set to take to the stage, the Northern Region Drug Squad received a tip-off that the "strong smell of burnt cannabis" was coming from Room 1914.

The room, on the 19th floor of the hotel complex which was exclusively booked out by the Miami artist and his crew, was raided by plain clothes detectives just after 8.40pm.

"Officers searched the hotel room and located a clip seal bag with 16g of green leafy material, a joint with 1g of cannabis, three grinders, a set of scales covered in specks of green leafy material, a gold capsule of tetrahydra cannabis, a Viagra tablet, a 10ml bottle of liquid cannabis and an Uzi taser," she said.

Ms Wainwright said Phillips, who had no previous criminal history, declined to be interviewed by the drug squad and spent the next 14 hours in custody.

Defence lawyer Anderson Telford, whose request was ignored for the details of his client's offence not to be read into the record, said Phillips was a single man with no children who was born and resides in the United States.

Mr Telford gave nothing away to the court about Phillips affiliation to Flo Rida except to say that his client had been in Australia for a month and half working as a "personal assistant".

The defence lawyer said his client was remorseful but claimed the drug possession was for "personal use" and the amount - which was 18g in total - was insignificant.

Magistrate Scott Luxton said despite the "serious and concerning aspects of the offences" no conviction was necessary due to the early plea and clean record of the defendant.

Phillips was fined $1800 for all four offences and released from the watch house a little after 10.30am - missing his 4am flight out of Townsville with the rest of the crew.

Read more: http://www.news.com.au/entertainmen...es/story-e6frfn09-1226175213690#ixzz1bg4FYrY6

 

[poledriver]

Drug trafficker walks free

Drug trafficker walks free

A Canberra woman who conducted a drug trafficking operation from her Kambah home has been released from custody.

Sharon Ann Stott, 49, was arrested in mid-2009 and placed in custody for trafficking methamphetamine from her home.

Two associates who visited her at the house were also caught with the drug in their possession.

She has been in custody ever since.

In the ACT Supreme Court on Monday, she pleaded guilty to the offence.

Last month Stott was also in court when she was sentenced to jail for holding a man against his will in her home to recover an $8,000 drug debt.

Stott has already served that jail term and yesterday Justice Richard Refshauge sentenced Stott to 21 months jail on the drugs charge.

That is also covered by the time Stott has already spent in custody and she has been released from jail.​

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[poledriver]

Drug raids stem illegal imports from China: police

Drug raids stem illegal imports from China: police

Authorities say they have shut down a syndicate importing illicit drugs from China to Australia.

Police raided properties across Adelaide last Friday and arrested two men and a woman.

Detective Inspector Phil Newitt, from the Organised Crime Investigation Branch, said the arrests resulted from a four-month joint investigation with Australian Federal Police and Customs officers.

"The searches also resulted in the seizure of approximately 2,500 ecstasy tablets, a quantity of steroids and about two kilograms of other powders, which are subject to further testing," he told a news conference.

"The raids also resulted in the seizure of $20,000, as well as cache of weapons, including six firearms and other prohibited weapons."​

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[poledriver]

^ : Police shut down international drug syndicate

^ : Police shut down international drug syndicate

Detectives from SAPOL’s Organised Crime Investigation Branch supported by members of the Australia Federal Police and investigators from the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service conducted a series of coordinated raids across Adelaide in relation to the suspected importation of illicit drugs.

The raids ended in the arrest of three people and the seizure of trafficable amounts of illicit drugs intended to be processed and marketed as ‘ecstasy’.

More than 2,500 ecstasy tablets were found plus a quantity of steroids and two kilograms of other powder - which are subject to further testing.

The raids also resulted in the seizure of $20,000 in cash and a cache of prohibited weapons including six firearms.

It will be alleged that the organised syndicate was responsible for the importation of illicit drugs from China into Adelaide via postal and international courier services.

The three people arrested are:

A 44-year-old man from Kilburn and his 54-year-old brother from Plympton.
Both men have been charged with importing a marketable quantity of border controlled drugs and importing a commercial quantity of border controlled drugs, as well as the trafficking in those drugs.
A 38-year-old woman from Woodville Park was also arrested and was charged with importing a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug and trafficking a commercial quantity of a controlled drug.
The woman was released on police bail while the two men were remanded in custody to appear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Tuesday 25 October.


The raids were the culmination of an intense four month investigation led by Detectives from SAPOL’s Organised Crime Investigation Branch, together with agents from the Australian Federal Police and investigators from Australian Customs and Border Protection Service.

On Friday 21 October a total of forty investigators searched seven houses and vehicles leading to the arrests. Police believe the syndicate is well established in the process of importation and are investigating activities that may have occurred over previous years.O

The illicit substances that are alleged to have been imported, and intended for use in the production of ‘ecstasy’ include; Benzylpiperazine (BZP) and Trifluoromethlyphenylpiperazine (TFMPP) as well as methyl amphetamine.

Investigations are continuing and further arrests are expected.

Detective Inspector Phillip Newitt, Operations Inspector from Organised Crime Investigation Branch, said: “The cooperative nature of this investigation allowed us to use all available legislation and resources to identify, investigate and dismantle this criminal group.”

“Friday’s search and seizure operation provides an excellent example of multiple investigation agencies working together to investigate and prosecute well organised criminal groups.

“The removal of 2500 ecstasy tablets and up to two kilograms of what we believe to be illicit drugs, along with guns and ammunition is a very positive outcome.​

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[poledriver]

Man charged with drug offences after Taree pursuit

Man charged with drug offences after Taree pursuit

Police have arrested a man and woman following a police pursuit through Taree today.

Police from the Manning-Great Lakes Target Action Group (TAG) were patrolling the city’s CDB when they attempted to stop the couple as they drove along Victoria Street about 11.45am (25 October).

Police will allege the driver ignored police directions and instead continued along Victoria Street. A pursuit was initiated: the blue Holden Commodore was followed along Pulteney, Albert and Manning streets then stopped at the entrance to the shopping centre complex.

A 41-year-old woman was arrested in the car while the driver, a 39-year-old man, ran into the shopping centre complex.

Plainsclothes police chased the man through the car-park, up the escalator, and through the food court before the man was arrested in the rear of a coffee shop.

Police seized 30 bags allegedly containing heroin, and six bags allegedly containing amphetamines.

The man was taken to Manning Base Hospital where he was treated before being released into police custody and taken to Taree Police Station.

The man has been charged with two counts of supply a prohibited drug (heroin and amphetamine), resist arrest, knowingly deal in the proceeds of crime, and having goods in personal custody suspected being stolen.

The man was refused bail and is due to appear in Forster Local Court tomorrow.

Police will also allege when the man’s home was searched a further three bags of amphetamine were found.

The woman was issued with a Future Court Attendance Notice for failing to comply with a police direction and was released from police custody.​

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[poledriver]

Op Funnest snares drug trafficking syndicate

Op Funnest snares drug trafficking syndicate

Police from the Croydon Divisional Tasking Unit (DTU) yesterday and late today concluded Operation Funnest, targeting a heroin syndicate in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs.

Yesterday afternoon police executed three search warrants in Box Hill and Reservoir locating approximately $60,000 of heroin and ice. Two 23-year-old men both from Box Hill and 23 year old man from Reservoir were last night charged with trafficking a commercial quantity of heroin, and a 25-year-old man from Box Hill North was charged with possess heroin.

This afternoon police arrested four people in a shopping centre carpark in Ferntree Gully and recovered heroin valued at approximately $21,000. Three search warrants were executed at premises in Lilydale, Belgrave and Upper Ferntree Gully locating a quantity of stolen property.

A 37-year-old man, two females aged 29 and 37 all from Lilydale, and a 20-year-old man from Upper Ferntree Gully have subsequently been charged with drug related offences including trafficking a commercial quantity of heroin. A 30-year-old man from Woorie Yallock has also been charged with drugs and deception matters.

They have been bailed to appear before the Melbourne Magistrates Court on 31 October.

Senior Sergeant Jim Sutherland from Croydon DTU was pleased with the result of the operation and its impact on heroin distribution in the area.

“Police will continue to conduct operations like this to disrupt the trafficking of substantial quantities of heroin and other drugs, and it is anticipated the dismantling of this syndicate will make a real difference to supply throughout the eastern suburbs.​

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[poledriver]

Court dismisses appeal over party drug sentence

Court dismisses appeal over party drug sentence

The Victorian Office of Public Prosecutions (OPP) has failed to have a Melbourne student jailed for importing a new party drug into Australia.

Malich Koory, 20, was released on a bond this year for importing almost a kilogram of 'miaow miaow' from China.

Another 1.5 kilograms of the drug was found in his family's home in the Melbourne suburb of Greenvale.

But because the drug was new to Australia at the time, the county court judge ruled it had not yet been found to be harmful.

Prosecutors told the court of appeal the sentence was "manifestly inadequate" but the appeal was today dismissed.​

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[poledriver]

[NZ] Ten Malaysian drug smugglers jailed

[NZ] Ten Malaysian drug smugglers jailed

Ten Malaysians caught smuggling methamphetamine in their shoes have been sentenced to between nine years and 11 months and 10 and-a-half years in a New Zealand jail.

The eight men and two women were found with 8.5kg of the illicit drug when they arrived at Auckland airport in April.

They pleaded guilty to charges of importing methamphetamine. Each had between 800g and just under 1kg hidden in their shoes.

The total amount of methamphetamine has a street value of roughly $850,000

The bust involved the largest number of drug couriers caught in a single incident at the New Zealand border.

Yuen Fatt Wong, 61, Teng-Kim Ooi, 52, Tan Ah Nya. 51, Sit Mooi En, 29, Lian Fong Wong, 53, Eng Wan Teoh, 22, Ah Kooi Teoh, 21, Eng Hin Ong, 39, Waihong Leong, 23 and Ewe How Ong, 40 all appeared for sentence at the Auckland High Court today.

They were accompanied by translators. Some had to be seated in the dock and others had to sit at the lawyers' benches.


Justice Graham Lang said all 10 had problems with money back in Malaysia and had borrowed money from loan sharks who charged "outrageous'' interest rates.

But he said it was important to send a clear message to drug dealers and couriers that New Zealand was not a soft touch.

"They have to know that if they are caught in this country, they will spend significant lengths of time in our prisons.''

Lawyers for the accused said their clients were promised amounts of between $9000 and $16,000 for importing the drugs and some were told that they were acutally bringing gold into the country.

They said their clients had to pay for education and health bills of loved ones and some had been threatened physically or had their family threatened.

Justice Lang said although the 10 were couriers, their role was vital to importing drugs.

"At the end of the day, you were willing participants of bringing drugs into this country.''

He said he took into account their early guilty pleas when passing sentence and also those with clean records.

Each prisoner will also have to serve a minimum term in prison of 40 percent of their sentence.​

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[poledriver]

$4.4m ice ring: suspect arrested at Sydney Airport

$4.4m ice ring: suspect arrested at Sydney Airport

A man has been arrested at Sydney Airport over his alleged involvement in a major drug ring trafficking methamphetamines from NSW to Western Australia.
The arrest follows the seizure of 11kg of the drug, also known as ice, with an estimated value of $4.4 million, as well as almost $1 million in cash and luxury cars, police said.
A joint-agency operation seized the goods in February this year.

Police will allege the ring was trafficking drugs between NSW and WA.
On February 15, officers allegedly seized more than 11kg of ice and more than $7000 in cash after stopping a van in George Street, Sydney.
Subsequent raids at Bondi and Vaucluse netted smaller quantities of ice, $900,000 in cash and three luxury cars. The drugs had an estimated potential street value of $4.4 million, police said.

Two men arrested that day and another man arrested in May are currently before the courts.
Investigations resulted in an arrest warrant being issued in August for a 51-year-old man.
He was arrested at Sydney's Domestic Airport yesterday afternoon and charged with participating in a criminal group, supplying a prohibited drug and two counts of supplying a large commercial quantity of a prohibited drug.

The man was refused bail in Sutherland Local Court on today to appear at Central Local Court on November 1.​

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[poledriver]

Horse trainer on drug charges

Horse trainer on drug charges

A Tasmanian horse trainer has appeared in a Melbourne court charged with manufacturing illegal drugs.

Harness racing and horse trainer, Craig Andrew Toulmin, was charged with two counts of manufacturing methamphetamine.

The 40-year-old was arrested in Melbourne yesterday after Australian Federal Police raided his Carrick property in northern Tasmania.

Toulmin later appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates Court where he was granted bail.

An AFP spokeswoman says Toulmin's charges carry a maximum penalty of 12 years in prison and fines of up $250,000.

Toulmin will appear in court again in Melbourne in January.​

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[poledriver]

Three charged after police seize cannabis worth almost $2.7million - Brisbane Water L

Three charged after police seize cannabis worth almost $2.7million - Brisbane Water LAC

Police have charged three people and seized almost $2.7million worth of cannabis after raids at two locations in the Central Coast area yesterday.

On Wednesday 26 October 2011, police from Brisbane Water Local Area Command Drug Unit, assisted by detectives and officers attached to the Target Action Group, executed two separate search warrants.

The first search warrant was executed about 12.15pm, at a house on Fox Close, Kariong.

Police allegedly located an elaborate hydroponic set-up and seized 205 cannabis plants.

The estimated street value of the plants is more than $715,000.

Two men – aged 50 and 46 – were arrested at the location and taken to Gosford Police Station.

They were subsequently charged with enhanced indoor cultivation of cannabis plants, cultivate prohibited plant – large commercial quantity and steal/divert electricity.

Just before 5pm, officers executed a second search warrant at a house on Tania Drive, Point Clare.

Police allegedly located an elaborate hydroponic set-up and seized 540 cannabis plants.

The estimated street value of the plants is more than $1.98million.

A 34-year-old man was arrested at the location and taken to Gosford Police Station.

He was charged with enhanced indoor cultivation of cannabis plants, cultivate prohibited plant – greater than large commercial quantity and steal/divert electricity.

All three men have been refused bail and are due to appear at Gosford Local Court today (Thursday 27 October 2011).

Investigations are continuing.​

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[poledriver]

Man to front court over drug lab

Man to front court over drug lab

A 26-year-old man has been charged after the discovery of a drug lab near Bundaberg in Queensland's south-east.

Police raided a house at Delan yesterday after a tip-off.

They discovered drugs and a laboratory.

The man has been charged with producing a dangerous drug, unlawful possession and possession of utensils.

He is due to face the Bundaberg Magistrates Court next month.​

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[poledriver]

Drugs found hidden in beer

Drugs found hidden in beer

Federal Police officers in Melbourne have intercepted almost 55 kilograms of cocaine hidden in a cargo of Mexican beer.

Nearly 700 cases of the beer arrived at the Port of Melbourne earlier this month.

Customs and Border Protection discovered bottles in 44 of the cases contained a liquid not consistent with normal beer.

Forensic testing showed they contained cocaine and methamphetamine with an estimated wholesale value of up to $14 million.

Victoria Police then delivered the consignment to a business in Tullamarine, where it was unloaded and sent to various addresses across Melbourne.

Overnight, a 27-year-old Yarraville man was arrested on importing charges.

He will face the Melbourne Magistrates Court today.

Police are still searching for several others they believe are involved in the syndicate.​

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[poledriver]

Clandestine laboratory, Rockhampton

Clandestine laboratory, Rockhampton

Police have discovered an alleged clandestine drug laboratory on Fitzroy St, Rockhampton yesterday.

Around 9am on October 26 police executed a search warrant on a business and allegedly located the laboratory.

Police investigations are continuing.

There is no further information is available at this time.​

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[poledriver]

Most wanted man arrested on Central Coast of NSW in Drug Squad operation

Most wanted man arrested on Central Coast of NSW in Drug Squad operation

ONE of New South Wales' most wanted men has been arrested during a Drug Squad operation on the Central Coast.

Detectives from the State Crime Command’s Drug Squad have been conducting inquiries into the manufacture of amphetamines and ecstasy under Strike Force Chain.

Those inquiries led them to a 43-year-old man listed on the state’s most wanted list.

He was wanted by virtue of arrest warrants for the offences of manufacturing commercial quantities of illicit drugs, possession of prohibited weapons and stolen vehicles.

The warrants relate to a clandestine lab located by police in the Hawkesbury area in November 2008. He was added as one of New South Wales’ Most Wanted in August this year.

Strike Force Chain detectives have also been investigating the discovery of a clandestine lab at Leppington in May 2009.

About 11.30am today (Thursday 27 October 2011) officers from the Tactical Operations Unit arrested the 43-year-old man at a property on Hue Hue Road at Wyee.

He was taken to Toronto Police Station where he is assisting detectives with their inquiries. He is expected to be charged with the arrest warrants.

Meanwhile, Drug Squad officers will execute a search warrant on the property at Wyee. Inquiries are continuing.​

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[poledriver]

[NZ] Designer drug 'buyer beware' warning

[NZ] Designer drug 'buyer beware' warning

A designer drug used to launch what became a bungled enterprise among a group of Napier flatmates has brought a "buyer beware" warning from police as the illicit drugs market becomes flooded with cheap substitutes.

The four novices thought what they bought in Auckland to sell in Hawke's Bay was the Class B drug ecstasy.

But ESR analysts now say it's 4-Mec (methylethcathinone), a Class C drug within the Misuse of Drugs Act.

It hasn't stopped their conviction for conspiring to supply ecstasy, while one has also admitted possession and trading of 4-MEC, legal in some countries, marketed alone or in mixtures with other substituted cathinones under such names as "NRG."

Depending on its composition, it has been described as similar to ecstasy, or even cocaine.

In the UK a similar legal high known as 4-MMC or meow meow, is blamed for 42 deaths in the last two years, with another 56 being investigated for the same cause.

While police prefer to have no illicit drugs around at all, Eastern District organised crime unit head Detective Senior Sergeant Mike Foster warned there's "very little real ecstasy around any more" and substitutes are becoming more and more prevalent.


"Don't buy it, because you don't know what you're getting," he said.

"There are all sorts of things on the market which aren't what they're said to be."

Police in Auckland last year seized 6000 4-MEC tablets, Metro Drugs Squad head and former Napier police officer Detective Senior Sergeant Chris Cahill warned: "You could be taking one thing one week, and have one sort of reaction. The next week it could be a totally different drug, even though it's called the same thing, and you could have a more adverse reaction."

The Napier situation was revealed in Court on Tuesday when David James Lothien, 19, was to face charges of conspiring to supply ecstasy and possessing, supplying and offering to supply the drug, laid after police searched a flat in Alexander Ave, Onekawa South, on June 4.

He admitted the conspiracy, and new charges of possession, supplying and offering to supply 4-MEC, and was remanded in custody for sentence on December 9.

The three flatmates at the outset admitted conspiring to supply ecstasy and were sentenced last month to six months' community detention and 100 hours' community work.

The enterprise involved getting a bank loan and driving to Auckland to buy 350 ecstasy tablets to sell in Hawke's Bay.

Visiting the flat on an unrelated matter police detected a waft of cannabis smoke, searched the house and found 29 blue tablets and cash totalling $5265 hidden in a roof cavity, and other evidence.​

Ecstasy tablets taken during a police seizure in 2001. According to Napier police, there's little real ecstasy around anymore - prompting a 'buyer beware' warning. Photo / NZ Herald

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