$20m Drug Pile Seized
The Age
Saturday November 27, 1999
Three men faced court yesterday after one of the largest seizures of amphetamines in Victoria's history, with an estimated street value of $20million.
Detectives are believed to have discovered the drug stockpile at a Broadmeadows house after they went to the Fir Close address to execute a warrant on another matter on Thursday.
Between 25,000 and 30,000 amphetamine pills and 10 kilograms of amphetamine and pseudo-ephedrine powder were found in a bedroom, the Melbourne Magistrates Court was told.
A pill press and other paraphernalia were also seized.
The court was told the drugs had a commercial value of $3million.
It was estimated they could fetch about $20million on the street.
George Williams, 53, his son, Carl, 29, both of Katandra Crescent, Broadmeadows, and Barry Armstrong, 38, of Fir Close, Broadmeadows, were all charged on three counts of possessing and trafficking a commercial quantity of a drug of dependence. Mr Armstrong was also charged with obtaining financial advantage by deceit.
The amphetamine haul is thought to be one of the largest in Victoria in recent years. In 1994 seven tonnes of chemicals capable of making 226kilograms of amphetamine with a street value of $406million was found during a raid on the Mooroopna property of recently jailed drug baron John Higgs.
Police yesterday seized a large amount of property from the Fir Close home, including furniture, white goods, electrical appliances and other accessories. The seizures are part of tougher measures in the Asset Confiscations Act that allow police to seize property they believe was bought with money accumulated through drug trafficking.
The property will be sold if the men are found to be guilty of trafficking in amphetamines.
In August police signalled that they were serious about asset confiscation when hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of property, luxury cars and appliances were seized after a heroin ring was smashed in the western suburbs.
No application for bail was made yesterday and the three men were remanded to appear in the Melbourne Magistrates Court on 28 February.
© 1999 The Age