Latest news with #Blunden
Sky News AU
3 days ago
- Sky News AU
French man arrested at Sydney Airport after more than $20 million worth of meth was allegedly discovered in his suitcase
A French national has been arrested and charged with importing a commercial quantity of methamphetamine after allegedly being caught trying to import 22kg worth of the substance into the country. The man, aged 20, was stopped by Australian Border Force (ABF) officers at Sydney Airport for a routine examination after arriving on a flight from Amsterdam, the Netherlands, on July 20. Officers allegedly discovered 22 vacuum-sealed bags hidden in his luggage that contained a clear crystalline substance, and presumptive testing revealed a positive result for methamphetamine, and Australian Federal Police statement (AFP) said. The estimated weight of the crystalline substance was 22kg, and AFP have since seized the alleged drugs. The amount of methamphetamine allegedly seized had an estimated street value of over $20 million, representing 220,000 potential individual street deals. AFP officers arrested the French national, who has since been charged with one count of importing a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug, namely methamphetamine, and a count of possessing a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug, namely methamphetamine. He now faces a lengthy sentence behind bars, with both offences carrying a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. The French national was formerly refused bail after appearing before Downing Centre Local Court on July 21 and he is set to reappear in at the court on September 16. AFP Detective Superintendent Morgen Blunden said the AFP and the border force continued to see people trying to smuggle illegal drugs into their country via luggage. The AFP is "working closely with our partners at the border and overseas" to disrupt the importation of such drugs into Australia, he said. 'This is not a victimless crime. The drugs these individuals carry fuel violence, addiction and organised crime in our communities. Every kilogram seized is a blow to the networks that profit from harm and a reminder that Australia is not an easy target," Detective Superintendent Blunden said.
BBC News
16-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Southampton City Council to sell river leisure area to water firm
A council has agreed to sell a river activities site to a water firm, despite environmental area of Woodmill Outdoor Activities Centre in Southampton is being bought by Southern Water, which will transfer the leisure part of the site to a scout said the sale raised concerns for the future health of the River Itchen, while union leaders voiced fears over Southampton City Council's ruling Labour group said the deal would secure environmental improvements as well as leisure access for young people. The terms of the sale were approved privately on Tuesday, after the press and public were excluded from a council cabinet meeting. Environmental campaigner Christelle Blunden, who joined a small protest outside, said activists only found out about the plan last said: "We'd like to see the proposals in the public domain so that they can be scrutinised."Ms Blunden, who leads the council-backed campaign for Southampton to be declared a National Park City, called for "deeply binding clauses" to protect the site, which is vital for Atlantic the Wessex Rivers Trust warned that salmon were at risk of extinction locally because of barriers in the Democrat councillor Thomas Gravatt said people were concerned about selling to "a company with a track record of dumping sewage into our precious chalk streams". However, councillor Toqeer Kataria, in charge of leisure, said he had no misgivings: "The proposed purchase is being driven by Southern Water officers on the clean water side of the business who have been tasked with delivering river restoration projects to support drinking water abstraction." Councillor Simon Letts, in charge of finance, said the council had been subsidising Woodmill by approximately £155,000 a year, while work to maintain the water courses was likely to cost close to £ sale terms will be finalised by 1 September, according to a council said the site could later be re-sold by the new owners, but only with a covenant "restricting the use of the property to be used as a youth camping, water sports, fishing establishment".The mill building will be retained by the city council, along with current tenant Above Board, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Water and Southampton City Scouts have been approached for comment. Additional reporting by Jason Lewis, Local Democracy Reporter
7NEWS
29-06-2025
- 7NEWS
Hidden meth lab uncovered and dismantled in Sydney's west with over 100kg of meth-related products seized
A hidden meth lab has been uncovered and dismantled after Australian Federal Police (AFP) seized more than 100kg of meth-related products. The clandestine lab was discovered during a search of a Fairfield East home in Sydney's west on June 19. Inside, officers found 77kg of drug-impregnated materials, 39kg of pre-manufactured methamphetamine, 35kg of liquid allegedly containing meth, and more than 600 litres of waste material. Electronic devices were also seized and will undergo forensic examination. This is part of an ongoing investigation into a criminal syndicate that began in October 2023, when 27kg of meth concealed in blankets bound for Australia was found in the US. The shipment, which originated in South America and had an estimated street value of $25 million, was seized by US Customs and Border Protection, who then alerted the AFP. The AFP traced the consignment to a phone number allegedly linked to previous failed import attempts. In April last year, officers executed a search warrant at a Cabramatta property, seizing two devices linked to the attempted import. Meanwhile, another search was carried out at a Canley Vale home, where police seized an encrypted communication device. Further inquiries led investigators to the Fairfield East address, allegedly used by the syndicate, where the meth lab was uncovered. AFP Detective Superintendent Morgen Blunden said those behind the operation showed no concern for the harm caused by illicit drugs and were only motivated by greed and profit. 'The people behind importations like this have no regard for the harm and damage that illicit drugs wreak on the Australian community every minute of every day,' Blunden said. 'I want to acknowledge the dedication and professionalism of all the AFP members involved in these investigations, from investigators and intelligence members to all of our other support capabilities. 'I also wish to thank our counterparts at NSW Police, in particular the Drug & Firearms Squad Chemical Operations team for their specialist and expert assistance in this matter.'
Sky News AU
21-06-2025
- Sky News AU
Double Bay man charged over attempted cocaine collection following AFP operation at multimillion-dollar home
A man has been charged over an alleged 30kg cocaine deal after he was arrested in an AFP-led raid in Double Bay. The Australian Federal Police had been investigating since March intelligence concerning an alleged transnational drug trafficking syndicate targeting Australia. The man was the alleged intended recipient of a 30kg cocaine importation into New South Wales from a criminal syndicate offshore. He allegedly attended a 'dead drop' in Alexandria on Friday, about 5km from the Sydney CBD, where he was expecting the importation, but the AFP executed a "controlled delivery" and placed 30kg of an inert substance in the package. "The AFP will allege the man removed a sports bag containing the 30kg of the substitute material from a parked van in Alexandria and then returned to his home in Double Bay," the AFP said in a statement. Later on Friday, police conducted a raid on a multimillion-dollar home in Double Bay and a nearby unit, where he was arrested after a brief pursuit down the road. The items seized from the two properties allegedly include multiple encrypted mobile devices, a sports bag which contains the substitute material, and an amount of anabolic steroids. AFP Detective Superintendent Morgen Blunden said anyone connected to drug trafficking activity in any way was committing a crime. 'The AFP has successfully disrupted a significant drug trafficking syndicate's operations thanks to this investigation,' Det Supt Blunden said. '30kg of cocaine has an estimated street value of $9.7 million and would have equated to about 150,000 street level deals.'. 'This result should serve as a serious warning to potential drug traffickers in Australia – don't get comfortable - because the AFP is constantly working to target and disrupt your criminal operations and bring you to justice.' The 40-year-old man was set to appear before Parramatta Local Court at some point on Saturday, charged with one count of attempting to possess a commercial quantity of unlawfully imported border controlled drugs, contrary to section 307.5 of the Criminal Code (Cth). He faces a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
BBC News
10-02-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Basingstoke: Former Beacon pub set to become community hub
A former pub has been bought by a council wanting to turn it into a community and Deane Borough Council said it would lease the Beacon pub building on Kings Road, South Ham, to housing provider Sovereign Network Group (SNG), who were working with Westside Community Association (WCA) to provide a community council said it hoped the building would reopen later in the Blunden from WCA said the opportunity meant they could "ensure key services remain available for the community". "With help from SNG and the council, we're excited to start to shape ideas to maximise the use of the space at the new facility," she said Raac found WCA has been looking for more space for its community activities since the discovery of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (raac) forced the closure of Westside Community Centre and South Ham council said that it, alongside SNG, had been supporting WCA in their search, and that Russell Howard Park, the Ridgeway Centre in Buckskin, and a new shop in Kings Road were all being used to deliver services such as a community cafe and council's cabinet member for communities, partnerships and inclusion, John McKay, said the WCA's services were important to the local community."We have been doing everything we can to explore opportunities for temporary space in the heart of South Ham to support them to restart more activities for residents of all ages," he said."The purchase of this building provides a unique space to provide these life changing activities in a central and accessible location."He said the council was working to firm up the plans, as well as looking at a more long-term solution. You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
