Media Release
Pill press seizure and arrest
A 32-year old man has been charged following the seizure of three large commercial pill presses and restricted items capable of the manufacture of high volumes of amphetamine type stimulants.
The operation, which commenced in May this year, has been conducted by members of the State Crime Operations Command State Drug Investigation Unit with intelligence and targeting input from the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service.
As a result of information obtained by Customs and Border Protection officers, members of the State Drug Investigation Unit seized a pill press capable of producing 110,000 tablets an hour from a storage facility in Ipswich. It is alleged the press had been imported into the country in July.
Two further pill presses (each capable of producing 66,000 an hour) were seized on 29 October 2009 following their arrival into Australia last week.
A consignment of restricted glassware, including reaction vessels, condensers and splash heads, all capable of being used to manufacture illicit drugs were also seized as part of the operation.
All items are classified as restricted under the Drugs Misuse Act and carry a maximum penalty of 15 years.
Detective Superintendent John Pointing of the State Drug and Property Crime Group says the seizure of this type of equipment is timely.
“While individually presses of these size are capable of producing thousands of pills per hour, if used by an organised network we could see more than two million amphetamines, including ecstasy pills, produced each day.
“This would be dangerous at any time of the year, but with Schoolies and end of year celebrations fast approaching we are extremely pleased to have prevented the market being flooded with these types of illicit drugs,” Detective Superintendent Pointing said.
The man was charged with three counts of possession of a relevant thing and one count each of possession of a thing, possess dangerous drug, possess utensil and possess things. He will appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court tomorrow morning.
07 3015 2444
