7 held in Thai-linked Australia drug bust

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7 held in Thai-linked Australia drug bust

Published: 31 Jul 2012 at 20.43
Online news: Asia

SYDNEY : Australian police have seized half a billion dollars' worth of crystal methamphetamine and heroin after smashing a Hong Kong-linked international drugs syndicate, they said Tuesday.

Police arrested seven people after finding 306 kilogrammes of 'ya ice' and 252kg of heroin, worth US$525 million inside these and other terracotta jugs from Thailand. (AFP photo) Police raided addresses in Sydney on Monday, arresting seven people after finding 306 kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine - known as 'ice' - and 252kg of heroin, worth a total of Aus$500 million (16.55 billion baht, US$525 million).Four of those detained were from Hong Kong and the other three were Australian residents, though reportedly originally from the former British territory.It was the largest haul of ice in Australian history and the third-biggest heroin bust, and was the culmination of a protracted operation following a tip-off from the US Drug Enforcement Administration."This was an 11-month investigation where we've had tight control over a number of people who we suspected of being involved in illicit narcotic importations," said deputy police commissioner Andrew Colvin."This has prevented half a billion dollars of drugs reaching Australian streets. This seizure is significant in any terms."He added that the investigation was still ongoing and "we have high prospects of more arrests".Home Affairs Minister Jason Clare said it was a major breakthrough."This is more heroin and more amphetamine than we often seize in an entire year," he said.Customs officials said they pinpointed a number of people believed to be associated with the syndicate...

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aussie
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Discussion 8 : 01 Aug 2012 at 13.348
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Yeah Dis#2 ,hard job to seach everything but their methods definately are getting better though ?
You would think with chalerm and uncle priewpan on the case and in charge , and all the big busts that they seem to make , Thailand would be drug free or that maybe by now the trail would have led them both directly to the Mr bigs of the operations and any corrupt officials ?
Half tonne shipments of class A narcotics , these people arn`t amatures and how many get through , compared to how many are busted , perhaps the reason for the lapsed concealment method used , as if you send enough containers , some are bound to get through ?
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rastas
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Discussion 7 : 01 Aug 2012 at 10.597
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Another score for the Aussie Customs/AFP & US DEA. Maybe the perpetrators should be extradited back to Hong Kong/China to face the Courts in their mother Country.
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samut
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Discussion 6 : 01 Aug 2012 at 10.156
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If you want to combat drug business you have to start at the place of origin first, looking to find it in the market is not much of help. You shut down a production place you disrupt supply lines but this is where the real problems lie.
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bigpicture
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Discussion 5 : 01 Aug 2012 at 08.265
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Donduck #4: Agree with you on the sharing of intel and such. Very important elements of a nasty task.
IMO
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donduck
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Discussion 4 : 31 Jul 2012 at 22.524
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bigpicture, in this case it is 99.99% certain that Thai narcotics officers knew what was going on and cooperated with US, Hong Kong and Australian (at least) counterparts to get the most information and arrests out of the case.
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dao
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Discussion 3 : 31 Jul 2012 at 22.113
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I cant understand how so much yaba floods into Thailand from right across the border in Burma and the government does say anything to Burma about it .You hear about some low level delivery person getting caught every few months but that's about it .The ingredients to make it were being ordered out of Thai hospitals .It almost seems like people care more about the money than the fact that its wrong and kills people .Get it together Thailand and Burma .
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loopholes
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Discussion 2 : 31 Jul 2012 at 21.342
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It is just the tip of the iceberg ! Many may have just slipped through the so called tough Aussie customs checks !!! The Aussies have just to work harder to deter the illicit drugs from entering into their country !!!
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bigpicture
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Discussion 1 : 31 Jul 2012 at 21.241
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Another transaction indicting Thailand but this on seems to be a bit slack as the article mentions. Wrapping, concealment in terracotta,etc. No matter, IMO every little bit helps. Want to see Thailand's response to this soon.
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7 held in Thai-linked Australia drug bust | Bangkok Post: news