James Anthony McCabe Melbourne detective on loan to Australia's top crime-fighting agency has pleaded guilty to stealing drugs from a dealer

James Anthony McCabe, 39, was due to stand trial yesterday on armed robbery and drugs charges in the NSW District Court. But he agreed to plead guilty to a lesser charge of robbery in company, with the drugs charges to be considered only as an aggravating factor when he is sentenced. McCabe, a Victorian police officer on secondment to the National Crime Authority, was charged after a NSW Police Integrity Commission investigation in 2004. The commission heard evidence from several NCA informants that McCabe and his partner, former NSW police officer Samuel John Foster, set up drug deals and stole cash and drugs in phony busts. Foster and McCabe were investigating Asian organised crime for the NCA, now the Australian Crime Commission. "The methodology involved was to arrange a purchase of prohibited drugs from a person known as a drug trafficker," a statement to the court said. "As the deal was finalised, Foster would arrive with another person and pretend to arrest those present. "Foster would then persuade the drug trafficker his primary interest was in arresting (the informants) . . . and he was prepared to ignore and go easy on the drug trafficker. "On the basis that the loss of drugs was preferable to arrest, the drug trafficker would be willing to cut his losses and depart without the drugs or monies." McCabe yesterday admitted his role in one such bust, involving the theft of a "significant" quantity of methylamphetamine (speed) in 2002. McCabe fled to Cambodia after the PIC hearings and was informally extradited to stand trial last year. His barrister, Louise McManus, applied yesterday for the trial to be permanently stayed, arguing Cambodian and Australian authorities had not followed due process in returning McCabe to Australia. Judge Michael Finnane dismissed the application. McCabe was released on continuing bail until a sentencing hearing on July 11. Foster was jailed in December to a maximum of 7 1/2 years for drug, robbery, deception and corruption offences.

Daniel Patterson, Mark Baensch charged with heroin trafficking

Daniel Patterson, 36, and Mark Baensch, also 36, were arrested at their Autumn St unit on Monday.Magistrate William White adjourned proceedings until April 15 for a contest mention and neither defendant applied for bail.The defendants' lawyer, Michael Brugman, told the court there were ``custodial issues'' in remanding the two men as both were taking methadone daily as part of drug treatment
Mr Brugman said Mr Baensch also suffered from stomach ulcers and was taking anti-depressant tablets.Police seized a crossbow, arrows and some sporting goods when they arrested the men at their unit on Monday.Mr Patterson slouched low during yesterday's court proceedings while Mr Baensch stared at the floor.

BrokeFellas: $55 million in assets,cash from Tony Mokbel and his crime family

Victoria Police Criminal asset seizure on one criminal group has netted 61 houses and businesses, vehicles worth more than $1.5 million and huge caches of cash.
have seized $55 million in assets and cash from "The Octopus" or "Fat Tony", Antonios Sajih Mokbeland crime network.
And police promise more pain for those who aligned themselves with the underworld kingpin. police confiscated a $500,000 property in which a good friend of Mokbel had been living.
It is believed some of what was seized by police had been set aside for a war chest to pay for Mokbel's coming legal proceedings, which could cost millions.
Mokbel has been in a Greek jail since his arrest in Athens last June, more than a year after he skipped bail while awaiting sentencing on serious drug charges.
Police have seized 61 houses and businesses from him, his family, associates and others since the Operation Kayak raids of 2001.


In Kayak, police seized $2 billion in drugs and $25 million in assets, and 31 people were arrested in the dawn raids.
In total, 36 cars have now been confiscated, including eight Mercedes-Benzes and six BMWs.
Eleven motorcycles, including four Harley-Davidsons, have been grabbed, as well as hundreds of thousands of dollars of jewellery.
Cash totalling more than $1.5 million has been taken and bank accounts holding up to $250,000 each have been confiscated or frozen.
"We're confident we'll find more," said Det-Sgt Jim Coghlan, of the Purana anti-gangland taskforce. "There's more to come."
The house most recently seized was impounded just before Christmas.
A convicted criminal and former lieutenant of Mokbel is believed to have been living there. The man has a conviction for trafficking ecstasy and amphetamines to a police informer on behalf of Mokbel.
Det-Sgt Coghlan, who led the asset confiscation team, said it had been a hard blow to dozens of people close to Mokbel.
"What's the point of (being involved in organised crime) if you can't have the cash and the toys that go with it?" he said.
"They don't mind doing five years, but they get pretty upset if you take their house from them."
Det-Sgt Coghlan said the Office of Public Prosecutions' asset confiscation unit and Australian Taxation Office officials had been key players in hunting and removing the hidden wealth.
The Purana leg of the assets crackdown has followed its successful attack on the gangland war that plagued Victoria and cost 29 lives.