News Mega Merged Drug Bust Thread v. "Drug Wars" a Bust

[Jabberwocky]

'Just like ordering a pizza': Dozens arrested as CBD cocaine syndicates smashed

A dial-a-dealer cocaine service operating out of Sydney's CBD has been smashed, with more than 30 people arrested in a two-month operation that resulted in 120 charges being laid.

Police allegedly seized 468 grams of cocaine and 196 grams of MDMA, as well as two loaded firearms and more than $120,000 in cash. Several cars and mobile phones were also seized.

Operation Northrop was established in September to investigate the distribution of drugs, mainly cocaine, through a number of syndicates in the CBD and surrounding suburbs.

Detective Chief Inspector Stuart Bell, commander at the Redfern Region Enforcement Squad, told a press conference on Friday that the syndicates would deliver drugs to customers after receiving a call or text.

"Just like ordering a pizza ... only illegal," he said.

"These criminal groups have an extensive client base that individuals were contacting for the sole purpose of purchasing cocaine.

"They were operating a dial-a-dealer service."

More than 2000 phone numbers found in the seized phones will now be contacted by police asking for assistance in the investigation.

On Friday, those numbers would be receiving a text message from Crime Stoppers, said Chief Inspector Bell, which would read: "Your number has been in contact with a person supplying cocaine. Are you able to assist with inquiries?"

He said those contacted via text would not be legally obliged to help.

The first arrests were made on November 17 on O'Connell Street in the CBD, where a 30-year-old man and 26-year-old woman were taken into custody after police allegedly found cocaine and more than $2500 cash.

Over the next two weeks, police arrested dozens of people at Wolli Creek, Sydney, Penshurst, Concord West, Paddington and Campsie.

It culminated in the arrest of three people at a business in the CBD on Friday.

In total, 28 men and eight women were arrested, ranging in age from 19 to 56. Most will face court in January and the group face a swath of drug-related charges including participating in a criminal group, supply and possession.

Chief Inspector Bell said those arrested were from "all walks of life".

"From corporates to the unemployed," he added.

"It shows that the demand for cocaine is high.

"While the demand is high, we'll continue to run these types of investigations."

The cocaine seized would have equated to about 500 street deals.


Source: http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/just-like...ocaine-syndicates-busted-20171201-gzwtaa.html

 

[Jabberwocky]

Raids across seven western Sydney suburbs target organised cannabis syndicate

DETECTIVES are dismantling a hydroponic set-up which has been brazenly operating right next door to a public school in Sydney’s north.

Crime scene tape stretches from the side entrance of Eastwood Heights Public School on Lincoln Street right around the front of the brick house - where each room is filled with cannabis plants.

Police could be seen walking out of the house carrying bundles of plants and are dumping them in piles on the front lawn.

Children’s toys and bikes were behind the piles of cannabis plants - props police say were used to give the house an air of legitimacy.

The home was one of 14 raided by police this morning as part of a mass operation targeting an organised cannabis syndicate operating in Sydney’s west and north-west.

Search warrants were executed about 7am across several suburbs including Carlingford, Smithfield, Beecroft, Greystanes, Parramatta, Rydalmere and Dundas Valley.

They uncovered a network operating 14 ‘grow houses’ in rental properties.

“It was right on seven, big bangs which I assumed was (them) breaking the doors down,” said a neighbour.

“The riot squad was here, there was about eight of them..... (but were out) within about ten minutes, and then they left and then it’s just been the normal cops since then.

“I didn’t see anyone get arrested at all. That’s why I didn’t know it was weed; I just thought it was a dead body to be honest”.

The raids were carried out by the NSW Police drug and firearm squad after a lengthy investigation into a number of hydroponic houses being used to grow cannabis.

Police were seen entering a house on Pennant Hills Road, Carlingford about 7.30am.

An elite tactical police unit of at least half a dozen officers stormed the house with white weathered blinds drawn.

The entire front yard was cordoned off and a large portion of time was spent searching the boot of an old white sedan which was parked in the garage.

Police are also raiding another Carlingford property nearby where they have so far found more than 100 cannabis plants.

Neighbour Richard Norton-Taylor, 35, said he had just got out of the shower when he noticed the police cars out the front of his house and went outside to watch the action unfold.

Mr Norton-Taylor said the man had been there for a few years but that he only ever saw him “once in a blue moon”-- and also noted that he was very private and overly protective of his back hedge.

“I remember once I was trying to prune the hedges and he came out straight away and told me to stop,” he said. “Sometimes he’d the front yard but the backyard was like a forest.”



Source: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/n...e/news-story/76eb96fa265340674cf18b667fc57d48

 

[Jabberwocky]

Man arrested over $40-million drug haul bound for Canberra

A Canberra man will face court charged with importing a commercial quantity of drugs after MDMA with an estimated street value of $40-million was seized at a Sydney air cargo facility.

An investigation was launched in May after Australian Border Force (ABF) officers intercepted an airfreight consignment of 144 buckets labelled as chlorine from Germany, bound for an industrial building in Fyshwick.

Inside the buckets they allegedly found 356kg of MDMA, which authorities said has the potential to produce over 1.2 million tablets.

Australian Federal Police, ACT Policing and the ABF swooped on a properties in Phillip and Lawson yesterday and arrested a 23-year-old man.

Police said they also seized around $3000 in cash, a small amount of white powder believed to be drugs and fireworks.

The man was taken to the ACT Watch House and is expected to appear in the ACT Magistrates Court today.

AFP Manager of Crime Operations Justine Gough said investigations are ongoing.

“We want criminals involved in these operations to know that we are working to disrupt their networks, track down those involved and bring them to account,” she said.


Source: https://www.9news.com.au/national/2...-over-40-million-drug-haul-bound-for-canberra

 

[Jabberwocky]

Canberra man charged over alleged importation of 356kg of ecstasy from Germany

A 23-year-old Canberra man is behind bars after allegedly importing more than 350 kilograms of ecstasy into Australia, hidden in buckets of chlorine bound for a pool company.

Tamim Jamaal Nozhat was arrested yesterday, after police seized 356 kilograms of ecstasy at an air cargo facility in Sydney.

The shipment was worth an estimated $40.5 million.

Mr Nozhat was charged with importing a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug, and appeared in the ACT Magistrates Court this morning dressed in black tracksuit pants and a hoodie.

The court heard Australian Border Force (ABF) officers intercepted a consignment from Germany in May that contained 144 buckets labelled chlorine.

But buried underneath the powdered chlorine, was a "white crystal substance" that tested positive as MDMA.

Police said the buckets contained enough MDMA to make more than 1.2 million tablets.

Crown prosecutor Edward Chen told the court the chlorine was destined for a company called Wholesale Pool Supplies, registered under Mr Nozhat's name.

It was sent from a German company based in Hamburg called Dimitridis Carparts & Motors, which was no longer registered.

Lawyers argue over flight risk

Mr Chen told the court when Mr Nozhat was asked about the chlorine for Wholesale Pool Supplies, he stated: "No comment."

The prosecution opposed bail, arguing Mr Nozhat was a flight risk because of family ties in Afghanistan and the fact he had access to large amounts of money.

It also argued Mr Nozhat might try to flee because the penalty for the charge was life imprisonment.

Mr Chen told the court a recent drugs case had seen a man jailed for 10 and a half years for importing 10 kilograms of methamphetamine.

"There is a significant risk that Mr Nozhat will flee the jurisdiction," he said.

"There are no bail conditions that would ameliorate the very significant and real risk."

Defence lawyer Michael Kukulies-Smith argued that while the charges were serious, it was "quite extraordinary" to say Mr Nozhat was a flight risk.

"Bail conditions could adequately address the concerns," he said.

But Magistrate Beth Campbell sided with the prosecution, refusing bail, saying it was "one of the most significant import of drug matters" she had seen.

Mr Nozhat was remanded in custody and will appear in court again later this month.

Biggest drug haul ACT has seen

ACT Policing deputy chief police officer commander Mark Walters said it was the biggest drug haul "of direct impact to the ACT".

"The drugs were actually seized at the border so fortunately they didn't make their way to Canberra, but in terms of drugs that were directly related to the ACT this is the most significant drug seizure," he said.

Acting assistant commissioner of the ABF's enforcement command Sharon Huey said this seizure was particularly stunning in a city like Canberra.

"We're becoming used to seeing large seizures of this kind in our major cities, such as Sydney or Melbourne," she said.

But to have over 350 kilograms destined for Canberra and surrounding regions is much more uncommon.
"It's frightening to think what impact this haul could have had on the community."

The ABF, in a joint operation with the Australian Federal Police and ACT Policing, arrested the man in Lawson, also seizing steroids, fireworks, cash and "a small amount of white powder suspected to be an illicit substance".


Source: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-12-06/canberra-man-charged-over-alleged-import-of-ecstasy/9230600

 

[S.J.B.]

"It's frightening to think what impact this haul could have had on the community."

Less people doing bunk ecstasy at raves?

 

[S.J.B.]

Canada - Nearly 100 kg of cocaine nabbed in largest seizure ever at Alberta border crossings
CBC
December 8th, 2017

Border guards at Coutts in southern Alberta discovered 84 bricks of cocaine hidden in a semi-trailer truck in what officials say is the biggest ever cocaine seizure at U.S.-Alberta crossings.

Officers selected the truck for inspection on Dec. 2 just after midnight, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) revealed Friday.

The truck was supposed to be carrying produce from California to a business in Alberta, but CBSA officers discovered 84 bricks of cocaine weighing 99.5 kg with a street value of up to $8 million.

The first eight bricks of cocaine were found hidden in a microwave and the rest were found hidden in and under the living quarters, RCMP said in a release.

Read the full story here.

 

[CFC]

Cor blimey. I wonder if they nabbed a brick or two - cough cough - I mean lost a couple while inspecting the truck

 

[Jabberwocky]

Another Big Cruise Ship Drug Bust in Australia

The federal police in Australia report that its law enforcement officers and the Australia border protection agency seized thirty (30) kilos of cocaine stashed aboard an unidentified cruise ship which docked in Sydney on November 30, 2017. Four passengers were arrested on the ship and escorted from the cruise ship - a 41-year-old Belgian woman and three French nationals, including a 61-year-old man, a 54-year-old man and a 32-year-old woman.

The Australian Federal Police and Australian Border Force released a multimedia news release titled No Sooth Sailing for International Cocaine Syndicate, with photographs of the drugs and the suspects. The release did not identify the name of the cruise line or cruise ship.

The cruise ship originated in the United Kingdom. The arrests took place after a joint operation between the Australian Border Force and their counterparts in United Kingdom.

The Australian authorities have been successful making drug busts on cruise ships entering the ports in Sydney. Last year, authorities seized 95 kilos of cocaine that three passengers smuggled on a Princess cruise ship (the Sea Princess). The question arises whether smuggling anywhere from 30 to 100 kilos of drugs aboard a cruise ship must involve help from crew members. Given the use of screening equipment on cruise ships, some people M/S Astor - Cruise and Maritime Voyages question whether the drugs were loaded onto the ship along with food and provisions and then transferred to the passengers to be smuggled off the ship in their luggage.

The cruise ship where the drug bust occured is the M/S Astor, operated by Cruise & Maritime Voyages, according to several individuals familiar with the cruise ports in Austrralia. The Astor was docked at the White Bay Cruise Terminal at the time of the drug sizure and arrests.

Source: http://www.cruiselawnews.com/2017/12/articles/drugs/another-big-cruise-ship-drug-bust-in-australia/

 

[Jabberwocky]

23 arrested in Arkansas drug bust

JONESBORO, AR (WMC) -
Twenty-three people were arrested in an Arkansas drug bust.

The bust happened Wednesday, Dec. 13. Investigators from various Arkansas law enforcement agencies teamed up to execute the arrest warrants in Jonesboro, Paragould, Trumann, and Marked Tree.

In addition to arrests, the investigation resulted in the seizure of a pound of meth, 400 hydrocodone pills, and lots of drug paraphernalia.

"The success of today’s operation is a direct result of the commitment of Chief Rick Elliot, Sheriff Marty Boyd, Chief Todd Stovall, the members of the Second Judicial District Drug Task Force, and the efforts of the officers involved in the investigation. I appreciate their hard work and dedication to make our community a better place to live and raise a family," attorney Scott Ellington said.

The investigations in this bust remain open, and law enforcement officials expect more arrests to be made.

Source: http://www.wmcactionnews5.com/story/37070321/23-arrested-in-arkansas-drug-bust

 

[Jabberwocky]

Largest-ever haul of drugs busted off Penghu

Taipei, Dec. 16 (CNA) The Penghu District Prosecutors Office Saturday revealed more details on a drugs bust off the outlying county of Penghu which took place a day earlier and is being called the largest ever by the county.

Speaking at a press conference, head prosecutor Liu Shih-kuo (???) said that law enforcement agents seized 20 bricks of ephedrine, weighing 506 kilograms, on board a Chinese vessel the Min Long Yu 60894.

The batch of ephedrine, which is a level four drug and an active ingredient in the manufacture of methamphetamine, is estimated to have a market value of NT$100 million (US$3.34 million), according to Liu.

The police are currently investigating the upstream source of the drugs as part of an ongoing crackdown on the drug trade in the area and detained the five crew members on board the Chinese ship for questioning.

According to law enforcement authorities, the smuggling of ephedrine has become more common because it is easy to make into metamphetamine once it has made its way into Taiwan and can then be sold for ten times the price, in this case that would be more than NT$1 billion (US$33.33 million).

Source: http://focustaiwan.tw/news/asoc/201712160009.aspx

 

[Jabberwocky]

'Shark Tank' Contestant Arrested in Massive Drug Bust

A former contestant on ABC's Shark Tank has been arrested in connection to a New Jersey cocaine-distribution ring.

John DePaola, 53, was among the nine defendants arrested on Sunday,

On Monday, the Monmouth County prosecutor said that the group distributed cocaine in the Freehold area.

DePaola is charged with conspiracy to possess cocaine. His lawyer, Herbert Ellis, calls the charge 'baffling' and 'without merit.' He argues DePaola is not a 'druggie' or a drug dealer.

Ellis also said DePaola is a 'highly regarded individual in the community,' and the charge against him is 'a mistake.'

The Jackson resident appeared on a 2014 episode of 'Shark Tank.' His company, which sells paint brush covers, attracted a $200,000 investment from Shark Tank personality Lori Greiner.

DePaola and his business partners said in a follow-up segment that their product landed in 14,000 stores nationwide, with $1.5 million in sales.

The federal state and local authorities seized over 721 grams of cocaine and $14,943 in cash after conducting a search warrant, according to the Philly Voice.

Late last week, federal, state and local authorities executed several search warrants between Monmouth and Middlesex counties for the drug investigation, which spanned nine months, App reports.

Prosecutor Charles Webster has said that Hugo Hernandez, 48, is the drug ringleader in charge of the cocaine trafficking enterprise and describes the other men involved as lower-level dealers.

The other men accused include Carlos Hernandez-Campos, 35, Roberto Tlapa De La Era, 35, Antonio Romano-Jiminez, 29, Procopio Morales-Hernandez, 49, Lucino Roldan-Coria, 58, Gregorio Morales, 35, and Miguel Garcia-Tapia, 30.

Apparently a third of a kilo of cocaine was being distributed per week.

If convicted DePaola faces a sentence of three to five years in prison.

Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...contestant-hit-drug-charge.html#ixzz51gTN9yJh

 

[Jabberwocky]

DRONE VISION: Police raid marijuana crop worth $60m

Police estimate a large-scale marijuana crop, containing more than 11,000 plants and allegedly produced by two young men, is worth tens of millions of dollars.

Officers from the Drug and Serious Crime Group and Southern Region raided three properties in Coominya, Mount Hallen and Churchable yesterday and allegedly found "sophisticated" hydroponic grow houses.

Plants were raised from small seedlings to mature plants of up to one-and-a-half metres in height.

Police said the seizure included product in various stages of drying procedure, which was yet to be distributed.

Two men, aged 24 and 26, were found in the raids at Coominya and were charged with producing dangerous drugs.

Detective Superintendent Jon Wacker of the State Crime Command Drug and Serious Crime Group said the seizure was significant and would have a major impact on the availability of marijuana in the southeast.

"Prior to the execution of yesterday's search warrants investigations throughout Operation Papa Cider had already netted the arrest of seven people on 10 charges and the seizure of approximately 87kg of cannabis," he said.

"The estimated value of cannabis seized throughout this operation to date stands at approximately $60m."

Police launched Operation Papa Cider in July this year, focusing on the production and trafficking of marijuana in the southeast, specifically in the South Brisbane and Brisbane Valley areas.

Both are expected to appear in the Ipswich Magistrates Court on January 10.

Meanwhile, detectives in North Queensland say they have smashed a drug network, arresting 37 people on more than 120 drug-related charges.

Officers seized cannabis, MDMA, LSD, cocaine and cash.

Whitsunday Detective Sergeant Chris Caswell said the high-level arrests included six people being charged with drug trafficking.

A 25-year-old Palm Grove man was charged with one count each of trafficking in dangerous drugs, and possessing dangerous drugs and nine counts of supplying a dangerous drugs and is due to appear in the Proserpine Magistrates Court on January 8.

A 27-year-old Mount Julian man was charged with one count of trafficking in dangerous drugs and ten counts of suppling dangerous drugs and is due to appear in the Proserpine Magistrates Court on January 8.

A 28-year-old woman and a 27-year-old man from Cannonvale were both charged with one count of trafficking in dangerous drugs, three counts each of supplying dangerous drugs and possessing dangerous drugs.

Both are due to appear in Proserpine Magistrates Court on January 29.

Source: https://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/news/police-raid-marijuana-crop-worth-60m/3284765/

 

[Jabberwocky]

3-5 years for that others would get 10-life...

 

[Jabberwocky]

Australia’s biggest drug bust: Billion dollar meth haul

A BOAT in Western Australia has played host to Australia’s biggest drug haul.

Eight men have been charged over the $1.04 billion drug bust involving a boat in Geraldton on Thursday and face life in jail if they convicted of drug importation.

The massive drug bust tops a 903kg seizure in Melbourne earlier this year in which the drug was found packed inside the hollowed out floorboards of a sea container.

The joint Western Australian and Federal police operation culminated in a pre-dawn raid on the 16m vessel early yesterday, and the arrest of at least six people. All have all faced the Geraldton Magistrate’s Court charged with possessing a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug.

It is understood the drug haul could have fetched more than $1 billion if it had been allowed to hit Australian streets.

Police allege a vessel called Valkoista arrived in Geraldton, in WA’s Mid West region, about 2am on Thursday and the drugs were then offloaded into a white van just before 4am.

Officers intercepted the van as it reversed from the dock, allegedly finding 59 bags containing about 20kg of methamphetamine.

Police arrested the three people inside, including a 33-year-old man from southern Sydney and two other men from NSW, aged 38 and 52.

Officers also boarded Valkoista and arrested three crewmen including a 45-year- old man from the NSW Central Coast and two men from South Australia, aged 48 and 44.


A bag containing about 20kg of methamphetamine was found on the vessel. Police believe the drugs originated from China and were destined for the east coast.

A further 20 search warrants were conducted at residential properties in Sydney, the NSW Central Coast and Adelaide.

Two men from South Australia, both aged 37, were later arrested at a Perth hotel.

Charges include importing a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug, and possessing a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug reasonably suspected of having been unlawfully imported.

Details of the case were only revealed today after a suppression order which prevented publication of any details surrounding the case was lifted.

The order allowed police to conduct further raids and arrests, including today’s in Perth.

The bust was the culmination of a six-month, multi-agency investigation.


Source: http://www.news.com.au/national/cri...l/news-story/0e0ea75ef788908c4a88223fd33046a0

 

[Jabberwocky]

Hundreds of cannabis plants are seized in separate hydroponic drug labs discovered by

Hundreds of cannabis plants are seized in separate hydroponic drug labs discovered by police following reports of smoke and small fires on two NSW properties

Two hydroponic cannabis drug labs have been discovered by police after reports of smoke and small fires at separate properties in New South Wales.

Emergency services were called to a property in Gymea, in Sydney's south, around 10.30pm on Friday after smoke was seen coming from the home.

Fire and rescue crews entered the building using 'forced entry' but found no trace of a fire.

'Fire and Rescue NSW attended in relation to the sounding of a smoke alarm, forced entry to the home and immediately found what they said was a moderately sized hydroponic set-up within the house,' NSW Police Inspector Chris Hill told the Daily Telegraph.

Witnesses described the house as suspicious as police removed several power boards and hydroponic equipment from inside.

Electricity company AusGrid disconnected power to the site before specialist teams removed the plants.

A guard was placed at the residence overnight as yet another fire was reported in Sydney's North Shore on Saturday morning.

Firefighters discovered 95 mature cannabis plants growing inside an East Lindfield home just before 9am on Saturday.

Crew were called after reports of a fire on Tyron Road and discovered the plants after extinguishing the blaze.

Investigations are ongoing for both cases and no arrests have been made as police search for suspects.


Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...oponic-cannabis-drug-labs-discovered-NSW.html

 

[NewJerseyChill]

3-5 years for that others would get 10-life...

That's what happens when you save money and grow charisma + learn how to manipulate others. You can contest power with power.

 

[Tubbs]

This happens a lot, I remember reading about a guy, in Florida if I remember right, who won the lotto, and used the money to set up a massive scale meth lab and start distributing.

 

[Transform]

http://www.dw.com/en/drugs-german-p...ance-used-to-make-hallucinogen-dmt/a-41965135

German police seize 1 metric ton of substance used to make hallucinogen DMT

German authorities have uncovered 1 metric ton of a raw substance used to produce the drug dimethyltryptamine (DMT). A 25-year-old man has been arrested.

Police in the German town of Gummersbach near Cologne announced on Thursday that they had seized 1 metric ton of a crystalline powder used to produce the hallucinogenic drug dimethyltryptamine, more commonly known as DMT.

Authorities said it was the largest find of its kind in Germany.

Although still unprocessed, the powdered substance itself falls under Germany's narcotics laws.

The suspect, a 25-year-old male, initially fled the scene, but turned himself into police after the district court in Gummersbach issued a warrant for this arrest. Authorities said the investigation into how he acquired the substance was ongoing.

 

[Jabberwocky]

Australian Navy seizes heroin and hashish worth $415 million in Arabian Sea

Australian Navy personnel have seized hashish and heroin worth about $415 million during an operation in the Arabian Sea.

Heroin and hashish worth $415 million has been seized by the Australian Navy in the Arabian Sea.

The Royal Australian Navy HMAS Warramunga seized almost eight tonnes of hashish and 69 kilograms of heroin from three ships between December 27 and 29, the Department of Defence says.

"The operation will impact on the flow of narcotics around the world and the use of drug money to fund extremist organisations," the Commander of Australian Forces in the Middle East, Major General John Frewen, said in a statement on Saturday.

The operation was months in the making, co-ordinated by the Combined Maritime Forces and supported by Australian and Canadian staff.

It's the largest haul of hashish seized by an Australian ship in Middle East maritime security operations.

The drugs are estimated to be worth around $415 million overall and are set to be disposed at sea.


Source: https://www.sbs.com.au/news/austral...-and-hashish-worth-415-million-in-arabian-sea

 

[Jabberwocky]

Police find 745kg of cocaine stashed inside South American pineapples

Spanish and Portuguese police say a joint operation resulted in the seizure of 745 kilograms of cocaine, much of it allegedly concealed inside pineapples shipped from Latin America.

The Iberian police forces announced the big drug bust yesterday. They said it unfolded over several months, led to nine arrests and broke up an international smuggling ring led by Colombians.

In November, Spanish police discovered almost 400 kilograms of cocaine in Madrid and Barcelona.

They say that led to an import company shipping fruit from Panama to Portugal and to a search of ships at the port of Lisbon.

The searches uncovered wax-covered cylinders hidden inside pineapples and containing more than 300 kilograms of cocaine in all. Also seized was €400,000 (A$612,680) in cash.

Source: