The Australian/NZ Drug Busts Mega-Thread Part Triforce

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[NZ] Mum in fatal crash denies drug-use accusation

[NZ] Mum in fatal crash denies drug-use accusation

A mother charged with driving under the influence of drugs and causing a crash that killed her 12-year-old daughter "vehemently denies" she was affected by any substances and is struggling "tremendously" with her loss, her lawyer says.

She was supported in court by the boss of a feared Auckland gang.

Toni Maree Ericksen, 32, appeared in the Waitakere District Court yesterday to face a charge of driving while under the influence of drugs causing the death of her daughter Bryer Rose Greenwood on July 9.

She is also facing three other charges relating to the crash - injuring her 8-year-old daughter Gemma Greenwood and another motorist while under the influence of drugs, and being an unlicensed driver driving while prohibited.

Bryer died in hospital from brain injuries caused by the two-vehicle crash just north of Helensville.

Ericksen was driving her daughters home from Gemma's netball game when her car and a four-wheel-drive vehicle collided on the Kaipara Coast Highway.


The passenger side of the car, where Bryer and her 8-year-old sister Gemma were sitting, smashed into the 4WD.

Police have refused to comment on the charges. But it is understood they took a blood sample from Ericksen after the crash.

She arrived at court yesterday with the president of the Auckland chapter of the Hells Angels gang, Douglas Jay.

She looked pale, drawn and anxious as she stood in the dock. A scar from a cut she sustained in the July 9 crash was visible on her face.

Mr Jay sat in court with several other supporters.

Ericksen was bailed to a Papakura address until her next court appearance on December 1.

She was ordered not to drive, consume or possess drugs unless they were prescribed and told to surrender her passport to the Waitakere District Court by the end of today.

Ericksen avoided journalists at court yesterday but her lawyer Ron Mansfield spoke to the Herald on her behalf last night.

He said she had suffered a "tragic loss".

"There's not a moment in the day when she doesn't have that accident in the forefront of her mind," Mr Mansfield said.

"She's striving to deal with the realities of it on a daily basis. She is tremendously affected. She's devastated by the family loss resulting from that accident."

He said Ericksen would "vehemently deny" the charges.

"In particular the alleged cause of the accident. She denies that any drug was the cause or contributed to the accident."

Ericksen and Mr Jay left court in the same car.

She was visibly upset as she got into the passenger seat and made obscene gestures at a Herald photographer. Other supporters verbally abused media at court.

Bryer's father, Ken Greenwood, Ericksen's ex-husband, was also in court. He declined to comment on the case.

A source said Gemma was still living with her mother, and was "doing well".

Child Youth and Family confirmed yesterday they were "working with" Ericksen since the crash and were "committed" to supporting Gemma through her trauma.

CYF northern regional director Grant Bennett said Bryer's death was tragic, but would not comment further.

"We have worked closely with police throughout this time," he said.

"As this court case has only just begun, it would not be appropriate to provide further detail at this time."​

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Drug flusher to appeal against sentence

Drug flusher to appeal against sentence

A MAN with an extensive criminal history was sentenced to nine months jail on Monday for flushing steroids down a toilet during a police raid of his home.
Arthur Joseph Loveday, 58, of Lincoln Road, Port Macquarie, pleaded guilty at the Port Macquarie Local Court on Monday to obstructing the execution a warrant, assaulting an officer in the execution of duty, resisting an officer in the execution of duty and possession of a prohibited drug, namely two grams of steroids.

Loveday’s solicitor told the court he had turned his life around in the past 15 years with a successful marriage of 13 years, two children and by a positive contribution to the community through organisations including Little Nippers.

The defence sought a section nine bond.

But magistrate Thomas Hodgson said the nine-month custodial sentence was appropriate because of the need for deterrence for the community against Loveday’s most recent crime.

The defendant will appeal the sentence and was granted bail for $5000.

Documents tendered to the court stated Loveday had been an associate of motorcycle gang, The Banditos.

Operation Memory was established to investigate the large commercial

supply of prohibited drugs on the Mid-North Coast.

As a result, police went to Loveday’s property with a search warrant on December 7.

Loveday began to walk from the front door into the house and was warned against doing so while police attended a separate incident nearby.

Officers tried to stop him from entering a room through a glass sliding door.

“Don’t touch me,” Loveday said to officers and pushed one of them away while trying to close the door.

An officer grabbed hold of Loveday’s arm to stop him disrupting the search and he tried to pull free, pushing the officer in the chest with his right hand.

Other police arrived on the scene and Loveday managed to break free, close and lock the door.

Officers kicked in the door and searched the premises, finding Loveday in the ensuite of the main bedroom where he had flushed the toilet.

He was restrained and the rest of the home was searched.

Loveday apologised for his behaviour and was arrested and taken to the Port Macquarie Police Station.

A plumber was called to retrieve the steroids from the plumbing.​

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Bandidos associate charged with drug offences - Strike Force Raptor

Bandidos associate charged with drug offences - Strike Force Raptor

Officers from the Gang Squad’s Strike Force Raptor have charged an alleged associate of the Bandidos Outlaw Motorcycle Gang (OMCG) with drug offences.

The officers were patrolling the Granville area early this morning (Wednesday 16 November 2011) as part of Strike Force Felix when they stopped a Mercedes on Parramatta Road.

After speaking with the driver, officers searched him and the car, allegedly finding an expired driver’s licence, about 80 tablets believed to be ecstasy (MDMA), 13 Xanax tablets, three mobile phones and other items.

He was placed under arrest and taken to Parramatta Police Station.

The 34-year-old man, alleged to be an associate of the Bandidos, was charged with being an unlicensed driver, possess prohibited drug, supply prohibited drug and possess restricted substance.

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

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Police raid cannabis house - Tumbi Umbi

Police raid cannabis house - Tumbi Umbi

**Editor’s note: No images are available at this stage, however media are able to attend the scene of the raid and obtain their own images if they wish**

Police are in the process of dismantling a complex hydroponic set up on the Central Coast.

About 7.45am this morning, police from Tuggerah Lakes Target Action Group and the Drug and Anti Theft Unit executed a search warrant at a house on Wyong Road, Tumbi Umbi.

Inside the premises, police located a sophisticated commercial hydroponic cannabis set up, with a large amount of cannabis plants.

Two males, aged 19 and 27, have been arrested and are assisting with inquires at Wyong Police Station.

Investigations are continuing.​

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Further arrests in drug and firearms supply investigation - Middle Eastern Organised

Further arrests in drug and firearms supply investigation - Middle Eastern Organised Crime Squad

Middle Eastern Organised Crime Squad detectives investigating a drug and illegal firearms supply ring in Sydney have now arrested five people.

Strike Force Centre was established in June 2011 and last week executed search warrants at Liverpool, Ermington, Rydalmere and the Dundas Valley, seizing drugs, cash and firearms.

A 29-year-old Liverpool man was arrested on Wednesday 9 November 2011 and is currently bailed refused on firearms charges.

A second man, also 29 and from Liverpool, was arrested on Thursday 10 November 2011 and remains in custody and before the courts for supplying prohibited drugs.

On Friday 11 November 2011, a 24-year-old man from the Dundas Valley was the third person to be arrested and he is bail refused on drug supply and firearms charges.

About 10:15am yesterday (Tuesday 15 November 2011) a 36-year-old man from Ermington was arrested and charged with drug and firearms offences. He faced Parramatta Local Court yesterday and remains in custody.

Then, about 4.15pm, a 30-year-old Merrylands man was arrested at Merrylands Police Station and charged with firearms and ammunition offences, as well as participating in a criminal group.

He was refused bail to appear at Fairfield Local Court later today.

Commander of the Middle Eastern Organised Crime Squad, Detective Superintendent Deb Wallace, said Strike Force Centre had played an important role in getting illegal firearms and prohibited drugs off Sydney streets.

“Since its inception, Strike Force Centre has seized eight firearms, including semi-automatic pistols, more than two kilograms of prohibited drugs, 20 kilograms of precursors used to make prohibited drugs and a large amount of cash,” she said.

“But the strike force’s work is not yet over, with further arrests expected.”​

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[NZ] Ex-All Black's drug, assault charges

[NZ] Ex-All Black's drug, assault charges

A former All Black was given interim name suppression when he appeared briefly in Wellington District Court today on assault and drug charges.

Judge Bruce Davidson remanded the 45-year-old on bail without plea for three weeks.

He was told the accused was seeking a medical report and intended to ask for police diversion.

"There is sufficient medical opinion before me at the moment to justify interim name suppression,'' the judge said

The man has been charged with assault on a female, common assault, resisting police, and possessing cannabis and drug utensils.​

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[NZ] 80 plants found in Hamilton cannabis raid

[NZ] 80 plants found in Hamilton cannabis raid

A cannabis raid in Hamilton has netted police more than 80 plants.

Police made the discovery during a search of a property on the city's northern outskirts.

Senior sergeant Freda Grace says 15 cannabis plants were growing under lights in a garage on the property and another 67 plants growing in a gully behind the house.

Two men and a woman face drugs-related charges in the Hamilton District Court.​

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Man charged over $1m drug bust

Man charged over $1m drug bust

A man has been charged more than a year after the discovery of guns and $1-million worth of drugs on the New South Wales south coast.

Police say they discovered the illegal items in a storage shed at Eden in October last year.

Officers seized a rifle and shot gun plus liquid drug residue which police say could have produced five kilograms each of ice and ecstasy.

A man was arrested yesterday morning in Sydney's south at Beverley Park.

The 45-year-old has been charged with two counts each of commercial drug supply and possessing an illegal firearm.​

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[NZ] Drug raid nets police staff

[NZ] Drug raid nets police staff

Two police staff - one a prosecutor - and a millionaire businessman are among 19 people arrested after a covert investigation targeting a criminal syndicate allegedly making and selling thousands of Ecstasy pills every week.

Confidential police information was also allegedly leaked to members of the group.

About $14 million worth of assets were seized yesterday in raids.

They included multimillion-dollar homes, expensive cars such as Bentleys, BMWs and Range Rovers, jet skis, a boat and pill presses.

The seizures followed a 12-month inquiry into the manufacture, supply and distribution of Class B and C drugs.

Detectives say the syndicate was the biggest player in the underground pill market and sold tens of thousands of tablets - which fetch at least $40 each - a week.

More than 200 police officers executed search warrants at 45 addresses throughout Auckland.

The armed offenders squad was called to two properties.


Fourteen of the 19 arrested appeared in the Auckland District Court yesterday afternoon charged with drug-related offences, including the manufacture and sale of MDMA - the Class-B drug known as Ecstasy - and analogues such as 4-MEC and 4-MMC.

The other five defendants will appear today.

At the centre of the inquiry is the 37-year-old company director who has name suppression to protect the reputation of his business and lucrative overseas contracts. His $3 million property has been seized.

A 30-year-old staff member of the company also has name suppression, as do a 30-year-old hairdresser and her husband.

A 35-year-old from Meadowbank and a 58-year-old from Remuera had their names and occupations suppressed.

The two non-sworn police staff, including a prosecutor, will appear in court today.

Court documents reveal the 36-year-old prosecutor, whose name is suppressed, faces charges of conspiring to supply methamphetamine, a Class-A drug, and participation in an organised criminal group.

The second police staff member is a 34-year-old man.

All but one of the 14 accused was granted bail- Stanley Marshall Alphonsus Leone was recalled to prison.

The 30-year-old faces four charges of manufacture, supply and selling Class B and Class C drugs.

Others who can be named include Johnny Be Good, 35, Rangimarie Kemp, 27, Grant Oswald Petersen, 25, Kevin Sean Challis, 32, Shalendra Singh, 32, Kelvin Sonny Cress, 33, and Brendan Nguyen, 32.

While some of the accused are millionaires, Petersen is a disc jockey, Kemp is a road worker and Challis is a painter.

Nguyen faces 28 charges, including attempting to pervert the course of justice by providing police information to two co-accused.

He is also charged with conspiring with one of the police staff and Allen Bryan Cho to supply methamphetamine. Cho, 36, is on the run from police.

Singh faces 27 charges, including supplying methamphetamine and money laundering more than $100,000 through a bank account connected to Cho.

The head of the Auckland metro drug squad, Detective Inspector Bruce Good, said the syndicate was responsible for the bulk of Ecstasy manufacturing and supply in New Zealand, which involved tens of thousands of pills a week. He said Ecstasy sold for at least $40 a pill.

"What is also of concern is that many of the pills or tablets seized comprise various mixtures of compounds, the effects of which when consumed could be fatal. Some were being manufactured on premises where rat poison was also made."

Police found eight pill presses in Onehunga, Albany and Highbrook, as well as kilos of compound ready to be pressed and tens of thousands of pills.

WANTED MAN

Police are hunting for Allen Bryan Cho in connection with their 12-month investigation into the manufacture, supply and distribution of Ecstasy and Class-C analogues.

The 36-year-old lives at the Hobson Garden Apartments in Hobson St, central Auckland, and police are concerned he may try to obtain false documentation to flee the country.​

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Dealer fined for selling drugs to school students

Dealer fined for selling drugs to school students

An 18-year-old former Wesley College worker has been given a spent conviction and fined $2,500 for his involvement in the sale of drugs to students.

Andrew Bruce Nottage, a former student of the school, was charged with a range of drug related offences after police raided his home in October.

He pleaded guilty to all of them today in the Perth Magistrates Court.

The court heard Mr Nottage helped arrange the sale of cannabis to students at the school in September while he was employed as a part time IT support officer.

The Magistrate told Mr Nottage it was a difficult decision to make and he was awarding him a spent conviction by the narrowest of margins.​

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Man to appear in court on fraud and drugs charges - The Rocks

Man to appear in court on fraud and drugs charges - The Rocks

A 20-year-old Mount Pritchard man will appear in Central Local Court today, after being charged with a number of fraud related offences and for being in possession of an illegal drug.

On Tuesday 15 November, police were contacted by a credit card company in relation to a number of suspicious transactions on a client’s account.

Police commenced an investigation into the matter and, on Wednesday 16 November, attended a room in a Circular Quay apartment block where they questioned two male occupants.

A search of the room was conducted and police found a number of suspicious financial documents and a small amount of an illegal drug.

One of the men was arrested and charged with 16 offences including possession of identification material with intent to commit an indictable offence, dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception and possessing a prohibited drug.​

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Guns seized in drug lab bust

Guns seized in drug lab bust

Police say they have dismantled a large drug laboratory and seized firearms in an operation targeting organised crime groups.

Yesterday, search warrants were executed at properties in Cobbity, Cecil Hills and Leichhardt in Sydney, as well as Parkesbourne in the Southern Highlands.

At Cobbity, police found the drug lab and more than $20,000 in cash, while at Parkesbourne, they seized a rifle, ammunition, mobile phones and chemicals.

Four people have been charged with drugs and firearms offences and are expected to face court later today.​

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Meth lab discovered during Sydney drug raids

Meth lab discovered during Sydney drug raids

Police have dismantled a large illegal drug laboratory and seized guns during a series of raids across Sydney.

Early yesterday officers simultaneously raided properties at Cobbitty, Cecil Hills and Leichhardt and Parkesbourne, in the southern tablelands near Goulburn.

Police say they found a drug lab at the Cobbitty home plus chemicals they believe were being used to make methylamphetamine.

Officers also seized quantities of methylamphetamine and cannabis along with $20,000 cash and a replica gun.

Two men, aged 41 and 51, and a 42-year-old woman were arrested and charged with drug and gun offences being part of a criminal group.

At Cecil Hills police say they arrested a 62-year-old man and recovered more equipment and recipes for making methylamphetamine.

He was charged with drug offences and being part of a criminal group.

Officers say they seized documents and steroids at a Leichhardt unit.

At Parkesbourne they allegedly seized more chemical ingredients plus a rife, replica pistol, ammunition and mobile phones.

Police say they four people arrested have linked to a mafia-style crime body.​

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Synthetic drugs seized ahead of schoolies

Synthetic drugs seized ahead of schoolies

Police have raided businesses across Brisbane and the Gold Coast, seizing synthetic drugs they say were destined for schoolies celebrations.

Today's raids uncovered 1.8 kilograms of synthetic cannabis and 172 synthetic ecstasy and cocaine pills.

Across the state in the past six weeks, authorities have seized about 100 kilograms of synthetic drugs.

The drugs are designed to mimic the effects of the real substances but police say they could be more dangerous.

"The hundred kilograms of product that we have seized, the majority of those seizures have got illicit compounds or illicit substances and do come within the definition of a dangerous drug under the Drugs Misuse Act," Detective Superintendent Steve Holahan said.

"We'll be looking at launching prosecutions in relation to those previous seizures.

"The seizures today - obviously we need to get our forensic chemists to analyse them."

Detective Superintendent Holahan says the substances are often called "legal highs" or "fake weed", but they are not legal and could cause serious health problems.

"Anything that you don't know what it contains, should sound alarm bells straight away," he said.

"They've contained pesticides, crushed glass - extremely dangerous for human consumption.

"I really can't emphasise enough, don't ingest something that you don't know what it contains.

"People need to understand they're taking a very real risk both for their personal health and also leaving themselves open to serious prosecution for criminal offences."​

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Drug charges, Euleilah (Central Region)

Drug charges, Euleilah (Central Region)

A 45-year-old Euleilah man has been issued with a notice to appear following the alleged discovery of a quantity of cannabis earlier today.

Around 11.00am, police executed a search warrant on a Taunton Road premises and following a search of the property, allegedly located the drugs along with other items.

The man has been charged with possess dangerous drug, produce dangerous drug, supply dangerous drugs and possess thing used in commission of an offence.

He is due to appear in the Bundaberg Magistrates Court tomorrow.​

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[NZ] Syndicate's pills make drug users turn vicious

[NZ] Syndicate's pills make drug users turn vicious

Police say a criminal syndicate allegedly making thousands of Ecstasy pills every week sold the "Red Rocket" tablets that led to people being taken to hospital with violent seizures and hallucinations.

And it was revealed the 12-month-long inquiry hit a snag when detectives were forced to switch off covert cameras after the Supreme Court in September ruled such surveillance illegal, until a new law was urgently passed by the Government.

Detective Inspector Bruce Good, the head of Operation Ark, spoke about the potential dangers posed by the hundreds of thousands of pills on display with bundles of cash and firearms at a press conference yesterday.

He said some of the tablets seized during the investigation were linked to recent hospital admissions where patients had to be sedated because they suffered seizures and displayed extreme violence.

"Those who've been manufacturing such pills have regularly modified the molecular structure of various compounds and, by so doing, created dangerous substances that have been sold as Ecstasy," said Mr Good.


"Some of the product we've investigated and seized has been made alongside rat poison."

At least six people were admitted to Middlemore Hospital in one weekend after taking Red Rocket pills, as first revealed by the Herald in September.

Mr Good said the alleged drug syndicate imported the raw materials from overseas and each week in Auckland was pressing tens of thousands of tablets, which sold on the street for at least $40.

But he said manufacturers were "tweaking" the molecular structure of the pills, which meant they were classified as Ecstasy, a Class-B drug, but also included analogues 4-MEC and 4-MMC which are Class-C.

"You cannot ignore the dangers. If someone puts an Ecstasy tablet in your mouth, you don't know where it's come from, who's made it, the structure of it and what effect it might have.

"These people are tweaking the structure on a very regular basis. My advice to anyone putting Ecstasy in their mouth - don't."

Mr Good said secret cameras were switched off after the covert surveillance ruling in September.

But they were turned back on last month after Parliament passed the Video Camera Surveillance (Temporary Measures) Bill into law under urgency.

Mr Good said the alleged criminal syndicate supplied up to 90 per cent of the Ecstasy market for several years, making millions of dollars.

Two more men were arrested yesterday, including Allen Bryan Cho, 37, who handed himself into police and was charged with laundering more than $300,000. He also faces charges of supplying Class B drugs, as well as methamphetamine and cocaine.

The other was a 30-year-old North Shore man granted name suppression.

The two arrests took to 21 the number of people charged.

Five others appeared in Auckland District Court yesterday to face a wide range of charges, including the supply and sale of Class A, B and C drugs, money laundering, and attempting to pervert the course of justice.

All were granted interim name suppression, except for Raj Devi, a 54-year-old woman from Hillsborough charged with money laundering of $45,000.

About $14 million in assets were seized in the raids on Wednesday, including up to $1 million iin cash, multimillion-dollar homes, expensive cars such as Bentleys, BMWs and Range Rovers, jet skis and a boat.

At the centre of the inquiry is a 37-year-old whose $3 million home was seized.

Strict suppression orders protect the identities of some of the accused, including their occupations.​

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[NZ] Meth lab busted in Hawke's Bay

[NZ] Meth lab busted in Hawke's Bay

Police making firearms inquiries at a Taradale house yesterday found a clandestine lab suspected to be manufacturing methamphetamine.

About midday, Napier police visited a residential address on Howard Rd in relation to a firearms matter, Napier Police Senior Sergeant Kevin Kalff said.

"Police visited the place yesterday and discovered what appears to be a clandestine lab," he said.

"It's manufacturing something dangerous, so [methamphetamine] is what is expected."

When officers entered the address they were hit with a strong "smoky smell with a kind of acidic chemical tinge".

They found a number of items indicating the presence of a lab, Detective Jay Mason said.

Police officers and plainclothes police were guarding the cordoned-off house yesterday and this morning, many were heavily armed with firearms and tasers.

Detective Sergeant Heath Jones, who is in charge of the investigation, said more information about the lab would be known once forensic experts from Auckland arrived this morning.

"Experts are flying in from Auckland today. They have been busy with a big operation up there but are flying in to work on this one now."

Neighbours were surprised something so serious could happen in their street.

"It's unbelievable," one resident said.

"I'm surprised that there is anything there at all because there is no activity there or anything.

"We have Neighbourhood Watch and we are a quiet residential street in good old Taradale, but I guess anything can happen anywhere these days."

Mr Kalff said a number of people were spoken to in relation to the discovery, but no charges had yet been laid. Mr Jones said there was no evidence of gang ties at this stage.

Eastern Police District staff had been targeting drug suppliers and burglars over the past two days, along with people who had failed to appear in court.

Yesterday, eight arrests were made in Hawke's Bay and a significant number of addresses were visited by police to locate some of the 600 who still have outstanding arrest warrants.

There was also a focus on the nearly 500 people in the district who are wanted for service of driver suspension notices as a result of accumulating more than 100 driving demerit points. A number of those notices were served - resulting in persons having their driver's licence suspended for three months.​

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Police charge group with supplying drugs - Wellington

Police charge group with supplying drugs - Wellington

Detectives from Orana Local Area Command have charged two men and a woman with multiple drug offences after an investigation into drug supply in the state’s west.

On 23 September 2011, Dubbo detectives attached to Strike Force Herbert commenced an investigation into the suspected commercial supply of cannabis in Wellington by a 37-year-old man and a 30-year-old woman.

The pair allegedly had a 45-year-old man pick up the cannabis from Sydney and conduct deliveries.

As a result of the investigation, police allege the trio has been involved in the supply of almost 28 kilograms of cannabis. The cannabis has an estimated potential street value of $ 246,000.

About 9.30pm yesterday (Thursday 17 November 2011), detectives stopped a gold-coloured Nissan Patrol on Goolma Road, Wellington, and arrested the man and the woman.

Police attended a Wellington residence, where a search warrant was executed. A 45-year-old man was located and arrested at the scene.

All three were taken to Wellington Police Station and charged with supply prohibited drug greater than commercial quantity.

They were refused bail to appear in Dubbo Local Court today.​

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Police arrest 105 in drug crack down

Police arrest 105 in drug crack down

Police arrested 105 people as part of a two-week crack down on drug trafficking and street crime in the City of Yarra.

Operation Scado (Street Crime and Drug Offensive) kicked off on 7 November 2011 and saw police patrol the streets of Richmond, Collingwood and Fitzroy.

Local police along with Melbourne East and Melbourne West police patrolled in uniform and plain clothes and were assisted by specialist units including Transit police, the Mounted Branch, Yarra Highway Patrol and Yarra tasking Units.

During the operation, police checked 750 people and charged 16 with trafficking a drug of dependence. Two of those charged were remanded.

Members also charged an additional 31 people with possessing a drug of dependence, 29 people with other street crime offences and executed 29 warrants of apprehension.

During Operation Scado, a 40-year-old Richmond man was charged with possessing 28 grams of a drug of dependence, an approximate street value of around $10,000.

Sergeant Bill Brown from Richmond police said as a result of targeting drug offenders, street crime reduced across the area.

“In the Yarra area, we recognise that there is a connection between illicit drug use and trafficking and criminal offences such as burglary and theft,” he said.

“The illicit drug use and trafficking is also known to impact on the resources of community health and welfare services.”

Sgt Brown said that similar to Operation Elizabeth in March this year, a number of people throughout the operation were referred to community health services for support and advice. This re-affirms the commitment of Yarra Police to Support Link.

“Police are determined to reduce illicit drug use and trafficking in our community by reducing the supply and demand and the harm caused by their use. This in turn will create a safer community.”

Operation Scado concludes today and Yarra police will continue their crack down on drug and street offences over the next year.​

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Man arrested on knife and drug possession

Man arrested on knife and drug possession

A 32-year-old Macquarie man was arrested by members from Belconnen Police Station earlier today on knife and drug possession charges (Friday, November 18).

About 1.20pm police attended K-Mart at Westfield Belconnen after receiving a report of suspicious activity. The man was spoken to and consented to search of his items, where police located a knife inside a bumbag.

As the man was being arrested, he attempted to swallow a small clip seal bag which police will allege contains a white crystallised powder suspected to be methamphetamine. A struggle ensued between police and the man with all parties falling to the ground.

The 32-year-old was taken back to Belconnen Police Station and will be charged with possessing a drug of dependence, possessing a knife in a public place, breach of bail, theft and obtain property by deception.​

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