Billy Sergio Palemene and 33-year-old Ruben Hurtado jailed Hurtado for 15 years with a non-parole period of nine years and Palemene for 12 years

49-year-old Billy Sergio Palemene and 33-year-old Ruben Hurtado were arrested last year after authorities in Brisbane intercepted a package containing more than 16 kilograms of pure cocaine. Prosecutor Michael Nicholson told the court it was a second attempt for the two men, after a smaller package containing more than 478 grams of pure cocaine was intercepted by US authorities. The court heard Hurtado was under pressure to clear a large drug debt and had enlisted Palemene's help because of his job with an international courier company. Justice James Douglas jailed Hurtado for 15 years with a non-parole period of nine years and Palemene for 12 years with a non-parole period of seven.

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Brendan James Brophy jailed for two-and-a-half years with a parole release date in April of next year.

Brendan James Brophy pleaded guilty to conducting what was described as a "sophisticated business".The Supreme Court in Brisbane heard Brophy imported steroids and human growth hormone from China, Great Britain and the United Arab Emirates. He also established a website to attract customers before his arrest in 2006. Police found steroids, almost $20,000 in cash, equipment to package the drugs and details of Brophy's customers at his Ashmore home. His lawyer Tony Kimmins said Brophy began using the drugs before he started selling them.
The Court heard they may have been destined for professional athletes as well as enthusiastic amateurs. Justice John Byrne jailed Brophy for two-and-a-half years with a parole release date in April of next year.

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Brendan James Brophy, 28, pleaded guilty in the Supreme Court in Brisbane on Thursday to a string of drug-related charges

Brendan James Brophy, 28, pleaded guilty in the Supreme Court in Brisbane on Thursday to a string of drug-related charges, including seven counts of importing tier one goods and trafficking in dangerous drugs.The court was told Brophy started his illegal business in July 2006, importing drugs from China, Dubai and the United Kingdom and selling them through a website he had created.He used a number of aliases to receive payments from customers, and to obtain the shipments of illegal drugs.When police raided his apartment at Ashmore on the Gold Coast in September 2006 they found 6.5 litres of liquid containing steroids and hormones, which had been intended for sale.They also found a database on his home computer that revealed he had sent drugs to 34 customers since establishing his business, and that several more people were waiting to receive their orders.
Prosecutor Glen Cash said it was impossible to determine how much money Brophy had made but that police found almost $20,000 in cash in his apartment.Mr Cash told the court that Brophy was arrested and released on bail shortly afterwards, but that he waited less than six months before he made another importation.
Defence barrister Tony Kimmins told the court his client had started importing again so he could fill orders he had not been able to meet prior to his arrest.
Mr Kimmins said Brophy had been threatened with physical violence if he did not deliver the drugs and that he feared for his safety.
The court was told Brophy is now remorseful for his actions, and that he is seeking to make his fortune in real estate.Justice John Byrne sentenced Brophy to two and a half years' jail.He ordered he be released on a two-year good behaviour bond after serving just six months behind bars.

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Taiwanese woman has been stopped allegedly attempting to smuggle up to 3.5kg of cocaine into Australia in Peruvian handicrafts

Australian Customs and the Australian Federal Police have once again intercepted a traveller who allegedly felt that she could outsmart a customs dog, a drug particle detector and human intelligence.

A 25-year-old Taiwanese woman has been stopped allegedly attempting to smuggle up to 3.5kg of cocaine into Australia in Peruvian handicrafts.The woman arrived at Brisbane International Airport on a flight from Santiago, Chile, via Auckland on Friday 18 April.A Customs detector dog reacted positively to the woman when she left the aircraft.An x-ray of her bags by the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service also led to a referral to Customs.During questioning Customs officers became suspicious of a series of wall hangings in the woman's bags. When x-rayed, a possible concealment in the frames of the hangings was detected.A trace particle detection test also indicated the possible presence of cocaine.
The woman was referred to the Australian Federal Police, who charged her with importing a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug contrary to section 307.2 of the Criminal Code Act 1995.The woman appeared in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Saturday, 19 April and was remanded in custody to reappear on 30 May 2008.
The maximum penalty for this offence is life imprisonment and/or a $825,000 fine.

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Cele Markovski ,Danica Jovic imprisoned for drug trafficing

A Brisbane judge has jailed a Gold Coast man for trafficking large amounts of high-grade cocaine and ecstasy.The man's former de facto was also jailed for drug possession.The Supreme Court trial of 52-year-old Cele Markovski and 35-year-old Danica Jovic heard the pair were arrested at Currumbin after an eight-month investigation.It is believed Markovski trafficked millions of dollars worth of drugs and he was described as being at the top of the totem pole in the illegal drug trade. He was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment while Jovic was ordered to serve four years.

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Robert Michael Steinebach,Candice Maree Brayton

Robert Michael Steinebach was arrested along with 24-year-old Candice Maree Brayton after they arrived on a flight from Hong Kong.
It is alleged up to 10 kilograms of cocaine was found in a false bottom in a suitcase belonging to Brayton and that Steinebach was involved.
Brayton appeared in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Tuesday and was remanded in custody to a further hearing next month.
Steinebach denied involvement and applied for bail.
The application was adjourned again yesterday and continued today.
Steinebach's lawyer told the court the evidence to date was hearsay but prosecutors were granted a further two-week adjournment to seek information from Canadian law enforcement officials.

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Mark Bronson

Mark Bronson, 44,Mr Bronson, who was born in Colorado, graduated from the Stanford Law School in 1989. He had been the editor of the prestigious university's Stanford Environmental Law Journal.
For the past seven years Mr Bronson worked with the prominent international corporate law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP & Affiliates.
A pioneer in his field, Mark developed many of the financing and investment structures commonly used in Japan today and frequently was asked to lecture on securitization, remedies and investments in Japanese companies holding real estate. For several years, Mark has ranked in the top tier of many prominent legal directories for his real estate and capital markets expertise.
Mark also gave back to the Tokyo community, serving on the board of directors for the Tokyo English Life Line, a nonprofit organization focused on suicide prevention, and as the chairman of the Real Estate Finance Committee of the American Chamber of Commerce in Jap
He was a partner in the firm’s Tokyo office, Law.com reports. Bronson had a seizure and vomited as he was speaking with customs officers at the Brisbane airport. He died hours later at a hospital.was stopped by customs officials after a drug-sniffing dog took an interest in him.
The officials scanned his baggage, and his luggage tested positive for cocaine, though preliminary tests can be inaccurate. Then while talking with the customs officers,Mark Bronson had a seizure, fell to the floor and began vomiting. He died later that day in the hospital.
According to the Courier-Mail, the cause of death has not been determined, and a scan showed that he wasn't carrying drugs in his body. However, the news article says his vomit allegedly tested positive for cocaine, and he may have thrown up pieces of plastic as well.

No drugs were found on Mark Bronson’s body. Sources claimed the vomit initially tested positive for cocaine, although such early tests are not always accurate. Officials had also scanned Bronson’s luggage after the drug dog alerted, and the early test also was positive, the sources alleged.
The cause of death was under investigation. Bronson developed many real estate financing and investment methods used in Japan.

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