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Oceania

Oceania, People, War on Drugs
Former undercover cop seeks damages from police force
06.17.06 | Permalink | Comment?

Peter Stephenson, a former undercover policeman from Queensland, Australia, who worked on drug cases and later quit because of psychological, alcohol and drug problems he developed as a result, is seeking, along with several other former policemen, damages from the State Government for negligence leading to personal injury.

He began undercover work when he was a “green, so-boy-next-door” 23-year-old, after a couple of months earlier having “barely passed” a three-week training course that he felt was grossly inadequate. He was taught “drug lingo” but didn’t actually see any drugs up close. As smoking marijuana for the people he was supposed to be eventually busting “was like having a beer” he had to be shown by colleagues at one of their homes how to use a bong.

While it takes one to know one he eventually was to become one. During his two years on assignment he nearly blew his cover several times, was constantly stoned on the job and slowly but surely disintegrated under the pressure of the job. Things came to a head after a day at the beach with his pregnant wife turned into a nightmare as some criminals he had dealt with in the past turned up and threatened him.
Oceania, People
The last days of Tifiga Atanoa
06.08.06 | Permalink | Comment?

It only seems to be a matter of time before 33-year-old Tifiga Atanoa of South Auckland will be dead. Terminally ill with cancer, wanted by police on firearms and violence charges, feared by other criminals for his violence and a string of stickups at their expense – with some of them having worked with police for his arrest – he has told people he won’t be taken alive by police.

A member of the Mongrel Mob gang, Atanoa is also said to be a P (crystal meth) addict and has gone on a crime spree to fund his addiction; although something tells me he would have been bad, mad and dangerous to know in any case. He was last spotted at a Caltex station last night and is said to have several firearms on him. Police have warned people to steer clear of him if sighted. He has a distinctive growth on his neck.
Oceania
Less prisoners in New Zealand testing positive for drugs
06.05.06 | Permalink | Comment?

According to the New Zealand Department of Corrections the number of prisoners testing positive for drugs as a percentage of the prison population has dropped again since general random drug tests were introduced in 1998.

In the last nine months up to March 2006 15.6% of prisoners tested positive for drugs compared to 15.6% last year; it was 34% in 1998 and 25.5% a year later. New Zealand has a prison population of around 7,500 of which 3,000 are randomly tested each year.
Oceania, Smuggling
Papua New Guinea Drug Highway
06.02.06 | Permalink | 2 Comments

Fears have been raised in Papua New Guinea (PNG) concerning the construction of a new highway connecting the Western and Gulf provinces of the small nation.

Politicians in the fragile democracy are concerned that the “Trans Western-Gulf Highway” project could aid drug and weapons dealers in the country.

â€œDrugs are being brought down from Karamui in Simbu and the Eastern Highlands provinces and further across to Western province where it is traded for cash and firearms,â€ Mark Maipakai, the national Housing Minister said.
Oceania, People
Deadly neglect
06.01.06 | Permalink | Comment?

A mother who fell asleep in her hotel room for 13 hours and then woke up to find her 11-day-old baby girl dead next to her on the bed suggested that a high methadone dosage may have been the reason for her deadly slumber. Brenda Newby testifed in the West Australian Coroner’s Court this week that she had against medical advice checked Tamsyn Lee Newby out of hospital on the 26th of January last year, then taken her daily 90ml dose of methadone as well as some tranquillisers. Early the next day she checked into a hotel room.
Oceania, People
Ruzana Zubir to set up legal fund and write a book
05.31.06 | Permalink | Comment?

It cost between 650,000 and 700,000 Malaysian ringgits (US$180,000 – US$194,000) to defend Ruzana Zubir on charges of smuggling five kilograms of opium resin into Australia last year and it was only thanks to donations was she able to afford the legal fees. Zubir, who had been fooled into carrying the package in her suitcase during her flight into Sydney by a newly made acquaintance, was eventually acquitted on the charges last month. And pending permission being given by the donors who contributed to her legal fund, the remaining balance will be set up as a trust fund for other Malaysians in trouble with the law overseas. While her lawyer, Muhammad Shafee, hasn’t disclosed how much of her fighting fund is actually left, it is known that most of the initial funds raised before the trial began earlier this year were spent. However, some cheques were received afterwards. She also plans to write a book about her experiences, with her lawyer as a co-author.
Oceania
Home Drug Testing Kits Available for Australia
05.28.06 | Permalink | Comment?

From next month, Australia will join the growing list of nations in which it is possible to purchase home drug testing kits from the local chemist.

The Oraline saliva test kit will retail for around US$20 and is capable of testing for marijuana, heroin, amphetamines and cocaine through a basic saliva test. The kit will also be able to provide results within 7 minutes as opposed to other kits which can take up to 48 hours to return a result.

According to the manufacturers, the kit tests the saliva and can detect drug use within the last 24 to 48 hours.
Oceania, Smuggling
Biggest Drug Bust in NZ History
05.27.06 | Permalink | Comment?

New Zealand papers are reporting the biggest drug bust in the small nation’s history.

According to varsity.co.nz, Auckland police are claiming to have seized drugs worth US$85 million dollars.

The seizure includes a whopping 95 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine and 150 killograms of pseudoephedrine.

The drugs were hidden among bags of plaster in incoming shipping containers on two seperate shipments during the last few weeks and police are saying that the drugs were bound of New Zealand’s illicit drug market.
Oceania, People
Alcohol Ends a Career
05.26.06 | Permalink | Comment?

Promising young rugby league player, Tevita Latu’s career is almost in tatters.

After a late night of binge drinking with friends, the professional league player punched a 19 year old woman in the face, breaking her nose and giving her two black eyes.

From all accounts there doesn’t appear to be any reason to the attack other than the fact that the 24 year old sportsman was drunk.

The reaction from his club and the Australian Rugby League was swift and harsh. Latu’s contract was torn up and he is banned from ever playing rugby in Australia again. Morever, the NRL is encouraging other sporting codes and international organisation to respect their decision and not sign the talented player to their own competitions. This is in line with their strict stance against violence against women and indicative of their growing concern with alcohol fueled thuggery within the ranks of its players.
Oceania
Buy GHB on the Net!
05.22.06 | Permalink | Comment?

Newspapers are reporting that users of the drug, GHB, are simply pruchasing the product online to import it into Australia.

According to the report in the Sydney Morning Herald, a credit card and internet access are all that is required to import GBH (aslo known as G, GBL, grievous bodily harm and liquid ecstacy) into the country. Only a fraction of the parcels containing the drug are ever intercepted by the authorities.