Random drug search nabs its first

[Oz]

The first person detected allegedly trafficking drugs interstate by a random police drug search introduced three months ago at Sydney's domestic airline terminals has appeared in a Sydney court.

 

Chilong Hoang, a Laotian refugee who came to Australia in 1985, was arrested after 13 kilograms of cannabis were allegedly found in his luggage.

 

Suffering from a skin condition caused by chemical agents used in his former war-torn homeland, Mr Hoang usually survives on a fortnightly pension of $300.

 

But yesterday he was brought before Waverley Local Court, charged with supplying a commercial quantity of cannabis and possession of cannabis.

 

Mascot police, whose plain-clothes target action group squad was deployed in the drug sweep, admitted outside the court that "Operation Flora" was like a lucky dip that targeted luggage coming off arriving and departing flights at the airport domestic terminals.

 

"They did not know whether they would come up with anything. He has to be one of the unluckiest blokes," Detective Sergeant Gary Spencer said of the discovery of the cannabis with a street value of $300,000.

 

The large purple trolley bag that contained the drugs allegedly had the name of 47-year-old Hoang on a tag attached to the handle, police said.

 

Hoang, a single man from Kingsford, had arrived in Sydney at 8.45am on Wednesday on Virgin Blue flight DJ140 from Adelaide. But as he left the aircraft, police had a team of drug-sniffer dogs running over bags being unloaded and his caught the attention of a police dog.

 

Police alleged in a statement of facts tendered to the magistrate, Jayeann Carney, that Hoang's bag was not opened but put on the carousel and allowed to travel through to the baggage collection area.

 

The police prosecutor, Sergeant Jason France, said the operation was filmed by police.

 

Sergeant France told the court that Hoang was videotaped collecting the bag and was stopped by officers at the terminal's exit and taken to a room where the bag was again videotaped being opened in his presence.

 

The bag contained no clothing but had 26 vacuum-sealed plastic bags containing "green vegetable matter" which police alleged to be cannabis.

 

Police gave no explanation of where in South Australia Hoang had obtained the cannabis.

 

Hoang sat silently throughout the hearing and offered no plea.

 

An application for bail was refused by Ms Carney, who said the police case appeared to be overwhelming and the likelihood of a prison sentence on conviction gave rise to Hoang being an extreme flight risk, even though he was an Australian citizen and had no criminal record.

 

Hoang was remanded in custody to reappear before Waverley Local Court next Wednesday .

 

Police said last night that the operation was not a response to publicity surrounding the Schapelle Corby conviction in Bali for possession of marijuana.

 

Ms Corby had claimed in her defence that the marijuana had been put in her boogie-board bag somewhere between the Brisbane and Sydney domestic terminals.

 

Author: Les Kennedy

Date: 15/07/05

Source: The Sydney Morning Herald

Copyright: Copyright © 2005. The Sydney Morning Herald

[fsagertyaef]

sux to be that guy

[dsyfer]

When the cops calculate the street price, which street is that based on, cause the way I work it out is 13 kilos @ $300,000 = $654 per ounce, now who in the hell is buying stuff for $654 an ounce? I mean when a case like this goes to court do the police just get to make up whatever prices they want to make it look worse? Edited July 15, 2005 by dsyfer

[Claudia]

It's a joke isn't it dsyfer? If only it was though... The dirty piglets are in the know as to the current market prices, but they just love pumping the figures up for bullshit political reasons, 4 the media to report bigger busts & 2 ensure a heavier sentence.

If only we could sell our Oz's 4 $600-$700!!? We'd be cheerin!!

 

Did u see the post in news/busts, where it reports the oinkers found a quantity (whateva it was) of leaf estimated at over a Million dollars!!? FOr Grief!!?

 

Gotta love those wart hogs hey? :thumbdown Yeahhh rite!....

[Tom]

Suffering from a skin condition caused by chemical agents used in his former war-torn homeland, Mr Hoang usually survives on a fortnightly pension of $300.

No wonder he needs to supplement his income.

 

[Spurious]

I'm sure it must've been for personal consumption.

[Brash]

When the cops calculate the street price, which street is that based on, cause the way I work it out is 13 kilos @ $300,000 = $654 per ounce, now who in the hell is buying stuff for $654 an ounce? I mean when a case like this goes to court do the police just get to make up whatever prices they want to make it look worse?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Someone should introduce the police to a decent dealer ... they are clearly being ripped off at $654 an ounce ... maybe they should grow their own.

Edited July 17, 2005 by Brash

[Claudia]

:sly Do you think someone should go down & leave a few business cards & a pricing catalogue down at the local cop shop Brash!?

 

With coupons: Buy an oz, get ur next rigga 10% off the rrp!

Half yearly clearance, we're overstocked! everything must go at up to 50% off!!

 

With the prices they appear to be happy with, they'll be squealing in delight at a $350 half price Oz windfall! normally $700! (yeah rite!)

You'd clean up! The only little obstacle you'd come up against are those handcuffs & jail time... Mmmm? back 2 the drawing board i think with that idea...