POLICE believe drugs were behind a series of kidnappings in which alleged dealers drove their victims around Sydney at gunpoint forcing them to withdraw money. A couple alleged by police to be drug dealers in the local nightclub scene have been charged with three counts of kidnapping after a Sydney DJ and a couple were held hostage for several hours in two separate incidents. Police have found a "sophisticated replica" weapon which they believe was used in the alleged attacks. Police say the nightclub DJ was forced into the couple's vehicle in St Leonards last Friday and driven to several ATMs around the city. He was forced to hand over a large amount of cash before his friends noticed him missing and called the police. Police contacted the victim and he was released unharmed. During investigations into the kidnapping, police uncovered a second and third victim allegedly held by the pair in April. ``The partner of the victim was detained in what could be called a drug house in Surry Hills, whilst these transactions took place,'' Detective Superintendent Robert Critchlow told reporters in Sydney. Police say the couple were threatened and did not make any reports. They allege all three … Continue reading →

May 25, 2012 in Nation/World Senate approves overhaul in FDA approvalprocess From Wire Reports An outline of the Senate bills key provisions. A14 WASHINGTON The Senate overwhelmingly approved legislation Thursday that would allow Americans speedier access to generic drugs as well as breakthrough treatments for life-threatening diseases as part of a Food and Drug Administration revamping that now heads to theHouse. The FDA bill includes routine financial provisions as well as new policies that supporters say could save lives by bringing new drugs and medical devices to the marketplace morequickly. The legislation would allow the continued collection of fees agreed to by brand-name drug and medical device manufacturers in addition to launching new fees on generic drug makers to fund FDA review and approval of productapplications. At the same time, the legislation would allow the FDA to create a breakthrough designation to speed the development of drugs that may demonstrate substantial improvement over existing therapies for those with serious or life-threateningillness. The Senate bill, approved by a 96-1 vote, also addresses a number of concerns about the safety and quality of importedmedicines. The legislation represents a major shift in how the government oversees the pharmaceutical industry. For more than 70 … Continue reading →

RACHEL YOUNG Large quantities of performance and image-enhancing drugs have been found during police raids in Christchurch. An operating pill press, unidentified drugs, prescription medications and large sums of cash were some of the items seized in a series of inter-agency searches of properties throughout the country this week. Waikato Crime Services supervisor Detective Senior Sergeant Nigel Keall said police, Customs and Medsafe investigators raided properties in Christchurch, Auckland and Hamilton as part of Operation Adder. The search teams found "large quantities" of performance and image-enhancing drugs and unidentified powders in Christchurch. Keall said there would be arrests in Christchurch afterscientific analysis of the unidentified powders and prescription medicines. "Operation Adder involved staff from each of the government agencies and centred on the investigation into a group who are alleged to have been importing the illicit drugs." He said the imported drugs wererepackaged and sold to customers in New Zealand for "considerable profit". The group was responsible for importing over21 kilograms of 4MEC, a common substance in ecstasy pills, which was sufficient to manufacture more than 200,000 pills with a total street value of $8 million. At one Hamilton address, several kilograms of illicit drugs, steroids and prescription medicines were … Continue reading →

RACHEL YOUNG Large quantities of performance and image-enhancing drugs have been found during police raids in Christchurch. An operating pill press, unidentified drugs, prescription medications and large sums of cash were some of the items seized in a series of inter-agency searches of properties throughout the country this week. Waikato Crime Services supervisor Detective Senior Sergeant Nigel Keall said police, Customs and Medsafe investigators raided properties in Christchurch, Auckland and Hamilton as part of Operation Adder. The search teams found "large quantities" of performance and image-enhancing drugs and unidentified powders in Christchurch. Keall said there would be arrests in Christchurch afterscientific analysis of the unidentified powders and prescription medicines. "Operation Adder involved staff from each of the government agencies and centred on the investigation into a group who are alleged to have been importing the illicit drugs." He said the imported drugs wererepackaged and sold to customers in New Zealand for "considerable profit". The group was responsible for importing over21 kilograms of 4MEC, a common substance in ecstasy pills, which was sufficient to manufacture more than 200,000 pills with a total street value of $8 million. At one Hamilton address, several kilograms of illicit drugs, steroids and prescription medicines were … Continue reading →