The Australian/NZ Drug Busts Mega-Thread Part Triforce

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Thieves take 120kg of prescription drugs

Sydney Police have reported a major theft of prescription drugs from the city's south-west, which they say could be used to produce more than $40 million worth of illegal drugs.

Police say more than 50 kilograms of pseudoephedrine and 67 kilograms of codeine were stolen from an industrial unit at Kingsgrove some time between Saturday and Sunday afternoon.

Pseudoephedrine is a major component of the illegal drug methylamphetimine, also known as "speed".

The pharmaceuticals have a potential street value of approximately $43 million.

The theft was reported to police at Campsie yesterday.

A crime scene was established and specialist forensic officers examined the scene surrounding the industrial unit.

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Cannabis plants pulled out of swamp

Police have seized 25 cannabis plants found growing in the Carine Swamp, in Perth's northern suburbs.

The plants were spotted on the eastern side of the swamp yesterday during a routine helicopter patrol.

The two metre high plants have been pulled up.

Police say investigations into the crop are continuing.

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Man to be sentenced for shooting

A Supreme Court jury has found a Rockhampton man not guilty of attempted murder but guilty of unlawful wounding.

Jason Robert Ryan had pleaded not guilty to charges relating to the shooting of Kelly Carter outside a Rockhampton motel room in 2009.

The court was told Ms Carter was shot in the arm when she went out on the verandah during a dispute with Ryan and a group of men.

The jury found Ryan not guilty of attempted murder and not guilty of unlawful wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

But it did find him guilty of the simple offence of unlawful wounding. Ryan will be sentenced tomorrow.

Meanwhile, a Supreme Court judge has imposed a four-and-a-half year jail term for a Rockhampton man who has pleaded guilty to drug trafficking.

Luke Anthony Sharpe admitted selling methyl amphetamines to an undercover police officer in two transactions totalling $12,000 in 2009.

The court was told Sharpe was distributing drugs for convicted dealer Adrian James Sutton.

Justice Duncan McMeekin said Sharpe had been selling drugs to young people who think it is not harmful, but can destroy their lives.

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Drug sentencing delays for former Knights player

Former Newcastle Knights player and confessed drug dealer Danny Wicks will not be sentenced until later this year because he may be called to testify in other court cases.

The 25-year-old was charged in December 2009 with three counts of supplying illegal drugs, including ecstasy and methamphetamine.

The offences happened in September and November 2009 at Charlestown, in the Hunter Valley, and Grafton, on the New South Wales north coast.

Wicks has previously pleaded guilty and in the Newcastle District Court today he told Judge Paul Lakatos he adheres to those pleas.

He was due to be sentenced but the matter has been adjourned because of "other legal proceedings".

Wicks' defence barrister, Paul Rosser, said the Crown is considering "calling on Wicks to testify" in other matters and said ordering him to do so will be "against his will".

Bail has been continued and Wicks is now due to be sentenced on May 3.

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Former cop avoids jail over drug offences

A 46-year-old former Perth police officer has avoided a jail term after pleading guilty to drug offences.

Graeme Bradley Lewington was in charge of the Cottesloe police station when he was charged with possessing and using methylamphetamine and driving under the influence of the drug in September last year.

He was also charged with unlawfully using a police computer to check the background of his drug supplier and possession of a pipe to smoke methylamphetamine.

Lewington was fined a total of $2,000 under the criminal code.

The magistrate issued a spent conviction on the drug charges to give Lewington, who has resigned from the police force, some chance of gaining future employment.

The former officer served in the force for 22 years.

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Cocaine, ice and ecstasy ring busted by police strike force

DRUGS, cash, weapons and vehicles have been seized by a special strike force investigating an alleged drug supply and money laundering racket in Sydney’s south.
A 33-year-old Cronulla man, allegedly the principal of the syndicate, was arrested on Sunday and charged with commercial drug supply, drug possession, money laundering and firearms offences.

A firearm, more than $40,000 cash, 380 grams of cocaine, hundreds of ecstasy pills and a 2008 Porsche Cayenne believed to be the proceeds of crime was seized from a Cronulla address and a vehicle following Sunday’s arrest.

The drugs have an estimated potential street value of about $180,000.

Today, detectives arrested a 35-year-old Beverley Hills man at a truck stop on the M5.
He is also alleged to be a significant player and is assisting detectives with their inquiries. He’s expected to be charged with commercial drug supply and money laundering offences. A related search warrant is currently underway.
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More than 12 search warrants were conducted across the Sutherland Shire and 11 people are currently before the courts on a range of drug, weapons and stolen property offences.

Additional drug charges are expected to be laid.

Items allegedly seized by police during the warrants include cocaine, ice and cannabis, a luxury boat, two motorcycles, two stolen vehicles, a large quantity of cash and a range of weapons, including firearms, OC spray, nunchakus and handcuffs. The weapons were not police issue.

Police also dismantled a hydroponic cannabis house in Caringbah and a second one at Koonawarra, in the Illawarra region, which investigators will allege was linked to the Sutherland Shire-based syndicate.

Drugs seized during the entire operation have an estimated potential street value of well in excess of a quarter of a million dollars, while $80,000 in cash has been seized. Other property seized by detectives is worth close to $1 million.
Strike Force Vain was established in November last year to investigate the commercial supply of ice (crystal methylamphetamine), cocaine and ecstasy.

Acting Superintendent Damian Henry said the work of Strike Force Vain would have a big impact on the availability of illicit drugs in the local area.

"We'll be alleging this was a well-established syndicate with high-level drug contacts and a large customer base throughout the Sutherland Shire, as well as further afield," Supt Henry said.

"It was moving large quantities of cocaine, ice and ecstasy on a regular basis, so the demise of this syndicate is going to leave a gaping hole in the local drug market.

"We'll be watching that space closely to target any other individuals or groups who think they can move in."

Investigations are continuing into the money laundering activities of the syndicate.

Detectives are also looking into additional associates of the syndicate, including other drug suppliers, and believe members of the public could provide vital information.

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Man convicted of manufacturing drugs

The first person in Queensland to be prosecuted for making the drug known as "death" has been given a suspended jail sentence.

Ross John Jorgensen, 43, pleaded guilty in the Supreme Court in Cairns to producing the drug PMA and to possessing chemicals, equipment and instructions on how to make the drug.

The court heard police found the lab and several books on how to make amphetamines at Jorgensen's Cairns home in September 2008.

No traces of the drug were found.

He told police he had previously used the equipment to extract essential oils from flowers to help two old ladies.

Jorgensen's lawyer said his client had been trying to produce a drug to treat his insomnia but failed in his attempt.

He described him as a "private, sad, eccentric" man, who was a computer geek and a hobby chemist.

Jorgensen was convicted and sentenced to two years in jail, suspended from today.

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Money laundering suspects arrested in southern Sydney

Weapons, cash and drugs have been seized during raids on a major drug syndicate in Sydney's south.

The haul included a quarter of a million dollars worth of cocaine, methamphetamine and cannabis.

Officers say they found evidence of money laundering and stolen goods.

Police also intercepted luxury cars at homes in Cronulla and Sutherland.

The alleged syndicate leader, a 33-year-old Cronulla man, has been charged.

A 35-year-old from Beverley Hills was arrested at a truck stop on the M5 motorway.

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Cannabis plants seized during drug bust

Police say they found 16 cannabis plants during a raid on a house in Nathalia this morning.

Police executed a warrant on a house in Veldt Street where they say they found the plants and other drug-related material.

Acting Sergeant Travis Hampshire says a 35-year-old woman and a 24-year-old man have been charged with drug trafficking, cultivating, possession and use.

He says it is too early to put a street value on the plants that were seized but many were ready to harvest.

"There was a number of those plants that were very mature, quite large, so in our opinion, fairly close to being harvested," he said.

"So a large amount of cannabis we thought would have been manufactured from those plants."

Meanwhile, Cobram police are investigating a series of aggravated burglaries over the past two weeks.

Police say five homes have been broken into and items have been stolen while the occupants were asleep.

About six cars have also been broken into in Cobram over the past two weeks and police are investigating if the robberies are linked.

They say some of the homes and cars were left unlocked.

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[NZ] 'Highly volatile' P-lab found near kindy

A "highly volatile" P-lab has been discovered just 20 metres from a Northland childcare centre.

The methamphetamine lab and cannabis operation was operating at a house over the fence from a Parakao childcare centre playground, about 40km west of Whangarei.

Whangarei police Detective Sergeant Rob Huys told the Northern Advocate the chemicals used to make methamphetamine were highly volatile and could cause an explosion.

Police believed at least one child under the age of five lived at the house. At least 18 pre-school children play at the child care centre every week.

A 34-year-old Parakao timber worker has appeared in Whangarei District Court charged with cultivating cannabis, producing cannabis oil, possession of precursor substances and manufacturing P.

- NZPA

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Bail for man who allegedly sold heroin while 4-year-old watched

A DRUG dealer who allegedly sold heroin from his car while being watched by a young relative has been given bail today.

Gregory John Paul McDonald, 52, was released from custody at Liverpool Local Court after police said they did not oppose his application.

McDonald is accused of selling heroin from his car in Sydney's southwest and the four-year-old girl was present during a number of the deals.

He was arrested inside his car Greystanes by officers attached to Strike Force Realistic last month.

Two female relatives were in court to greet McDonald as he was released. As he left the court, he covered his face with paper and swore at a photographer.

The matter returns to court next month.

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Fisher sold "dud" drugs to Wicks

The man who has admitted to supplying former Knights player Danny Wicks with ecstasy has told a Newcastle Court he sold the drugs because they were "duds".

27-year-old Edmond Graham Fisher, formerly from Merewether, has pleaded guilty to supplying Wicks with 30 ecstasy tablets in September 2009.

The Knights had just been knocked out of the NRL premiership.

During sentencing submissions in Newcastle District Court today, Fisher said on big weekends he would take more than a dozen ecstasy tablets.

The Court heard he bought the 30 pills in the bathroom of Newcastle's King Street Hotel for around $600 but after taking one realised they were of a "poor quality".

He then on-sold them to Wicks via co-accused, 24-year-old Emma Frankham.

She was sentenced in November last year to a three-year good behaviour bond after pleading guilty to a drug supply charge.

25-year-old Wicks has pleaded guilty to three counts of supplying illegal drugs, including ecstasy and methamphetamine and is due to be sentenced on May 3.

Fisher's matter has been adjourned to March 18.

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Man charged following three drugs raids – Wetherill Park and Glenmore Park

A man has been charged following three simultaneous drugs raids in Sydney’s south west and north west yesterday.

About 9am police executed three simultaneous search warrants as a result of ongoing investigations into the supply of prohibited drugs including cannabis, cocaine, amphetamine and ecstasy.

The warrants were carried out by officers from Wetherill Park Region Enforcement Squad (RES) with the assistance of Bass Hill RES, Dog Unit and Fairfield, Penrith and Marrickville Local Area Commands.

During the warrant executed at a commercial premise in Victoria Street, Wetherill Park, police allegedly located and seized 830 grams of cannabis, 45 grams of amphetamine, five grams of cocaine, four ecstasy tablets, 25 anabolic steroid tablets, 17 anabolic steroid satchels and almost $2000 in cash.

A 32-year-old Wetherill Park man was searched at the premise and allegedly found to be in the possession of a small amount of cannabis.

A 36-year-old man also searched at the premise was allegedly in the possession of a hunting knife.

Both men were arrested and taken to Fairfield Police Station.

Police allegedly located and seized an unregistered and unsecured firearm and a quantity of cannabis at a home in Shelley Place, Wetherill Park.

A further 63 grams of cannabis, 11 ecstasy tablets and four prescription tablets were located at a house in Kenneth Slessor Drive, Glenmore Park.

The 32-year-old man was charged with 12 offences including seven counts of possessing a prohibited drug, three counts of supplying a prohibited drug and two counts of possessing a prescribed restricted substance. He was refused bail and is due to appear at Fairfield Local Court today.

The 36-year-old man was charged with custody of a knife in a public place. He was bailed to appear at Fairfield Local Court on 4 April 2011.

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Man accused of selling drugs from wheelchair

Northern Territory police say they have arrested a man dealing drugs from his electric wheelchair.

Police say they got a tip that the man was selling marijuana at a shopping centre in Darwin's northern suburbs.

They allege they found him with 10 clip bags of cannabis.

The man has been given bail but no court date has been set.

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Buttrose nephew's cocaine sentence reduced

he nephew of media personality Ita Buttrose has had his jail sentence for cocaine dealing cut by three years.

In March 2010, 37-year-old Richard Buttrose was jailed for at least 12-and-a-half years after police found drugs with a street value of around $10 million at his homes in Sydney's eastern suburbs.

He also sold cocaine to an undercover police officer

Around $1.3 million in cash was found when police raided his homes in Darling Point and Paddington.

The District Court judge who sentenced him, Robert Sorby, applied a significant discount for his early guilty plea and offer to help police.

Buttrose had told the court he started using cocaine to cope with the stress of running several restaurants in Sydney's eastern suburbs.

His aunt, Ms Buttrose, told the court she was shocked to learn of his drug use.

Her nephew said he started selling the drug to get out of some of his debts, but denied being a "major supplier".

Today in the New South Wales Court of Criminal Appeal in Sydney Buttrose's original sentence was cut by three years.

Buttrose will now be eligible for parole in August 2018.

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Two men face drugs charges in Tamworth Local Court

Two alleged drug suppliers have faced Tamworth Local Court.

John Earl Brosie and Paul Lavender were both arrested in December as part of an operation targeting drug supply in the Tamworth area.

It is alleged Mr Brosie, from Westdale, had more than $3,000 in cash and $4,000 worth of amphetamines in his car when he was stopped by police.

He was charged with drug supply, drug possession and dealing with the proceeds of crime.

Paul Lavender is also charged with drug supply and dealing with the proceeds of crime.

Both men have been refused bail and will appear again on April 6.

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Police find 375 cannabis plants in bush

Cannabis plants worth an estimated three quarters of a million dollars have been located near Wollongong, police say.

The 375 plants, some of which measured 1.83m in height, were found growing in bushland at Helensburgh, Garrawarra and Darkes Forest on Thursday morning.

The discovery was made by local police, along with officers attached to the State Crime Command Drug Squad and the Police AirWing.

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Police estimate the plants have a street value of $750,000.

All plants have since been destroyed.

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Navy raids sailors' quarters in drug probe

The Defence Force says investigators have raided sailors' quarters at HMAS Cairns naval base amid concerns about drug use.

A spokeswoman says a search for prohibited substances took place late last week and the matter is still under investigation.

In December, the Chief of Navy wrote an open letter to all sailors warning them of the potential consequences of using drugs.

He was responding to allegations of a drug ring operating at Sydney's Garden Island Naval Base. That issue also remains under investigation.

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Public tip-offs lead to drug charges

Dampier Peninsula police have charged four people with drug offences after receiving tip-offs from the public.

A man and a woman in their 30s were allegedly found with 15 grams of cannabis and smoking implements at Beagle Bay.

Another man and woman, also in their 30s, were allegedly found with a small amount of cannabis and smoking implements at Djarindjin.

Police say the tip-offs came from people on the peninsula who do not want drugs in their community and hope the charges encourage more people to dob in drug users.

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Man reported over alleged drug bunker

A tip-off has led police to an underground bunker at Wild Horse Plains, north of Adelaide.

Police allege they found 14 marijuana plants, hydroponic equipment and several unsecured guns.

A man has been reported for drug and firearms offences.

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