Torsten Posted May 28, 2011 http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/05/28/3229741.htm 14 arrested over drug-infused oil shipment Authorities carried out seven search warrants in Mackay overnight. Police have arrested 14 people in three countries after a drug bust in north Queensland. Authorities say the group used a highly sophisticated technique to import more than 50 kilograms of cocaine into Australia. They allegedly infused the drugs in barrels of hydraulic oil. Chemists in Australia and Colombia were able to hide and extract it. Police say the cocaine-laced oil arrived in Melbourne on May 10, was shipped to Brisbane and then sent to north Queensland by train. Australian Federal Police, Queensland authorities and Customs and Border Protection officers carried out seven search warrants in Mackay overnight, and seized the drugs along with hundreds of litres of chemicals. One Australian and three Colombians were arrested in Mackay. Seven others were arrested in Colombia and Panama. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tripsis Posted May 28, 2011 I'm curious as to how they knew there was cocaine infused into the oil. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zen Peddler Posted May 28, 2011 Tip off - like most things... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Torsten Posted May 28, 2011 yeah, informants, or swab testing. It's pretty difficult to avoid contamination of the packaging, so if it was swabbed it would easily trigger a closer investigation. And customs are certainly used to drugs being dissolved in things. It could also be about patterns. why imports hydraulic oils from south america into australia? could be something as simple as picking the wrong brand eg, why import an asian made oil via south america into australia REPEATEDLY. The fact they got the other end as well indicates informants though as these things take time to set up. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lofty86 Posted June 5, 2011 I'm curious as to how they knew there was cocaine infused into the oil. Authoroties had been watching Markis because they discovered a shipment of coke last year he was under suspision of importing but had no solid evidence. his head of QCME (queensland central mining and engineering) quite a well known man about town and is responsible for outsourcing labour from south america as well as africa and the philipenes. Its a trend ive seen in Mackay befor about 5 years ago we had a population explosion here well over a third were imported philipeno labour all of a sudden meth was easier to get than pot. just like coke was relativly unheard of and quite dear round these parts untill there were mass lay offs and the work force was inundated with cheaper brazilian/columbian workers. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
