Pubdate: Thu, 16 Mar 2006
Source: Townsville Bulletin, The (Australia)
Copyright: 2006 The North Queensland Newspaper Company Pty Ltd
Contact:  http://townsvillebulletin.news.com.au/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3758
Author: Kate Uebergang
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?236 (Corruption - Outside U.S.)

FORMER DRUG SQUAD DETECTIVES ON TRIAL

TWO former drug squad detectives faced court yesterday  over claims 
they ran a $1.5 million heroin ring.

Sen-Det Glenn Sadler, 40, and former detective sergeant  Stephen Cox, 
42, are accused of conspiring with a third  policeman to traffic 
heroin between mid-1999 and late  2002.

Sen-Det Sadler and Mr Cox sold about 10kg of heroin  with a wholesale 
value of $1.5 million to a drug dealer  over that period, a Victorian 
Supreme Court jury heard.

Prosecutor Michael Tovey, QC, said Sen-Det Sadler  received payments 
of more than $100,000 during the  2000-01 financial year while Mr Cox 
received $30,000  that could not be accounted for.

Sen-Det Sadler received a $60,000 Toyota LandCruiser  from the third 
officer, who bought himself a  LandCruiser and installed a swimming 
pool at home, the  court heard.

Mr Tovey said the drug dealer, who cannot be named,  would give 
evidence he was approached by the policemen  in 1999 to sell heroin for them.

Sen-Det Sadler and Mr Cox have pleaded not guilty to  conspiracy to 
traffic a commercial quantity of heroin.

Defence lawyers have yet to deliver their opening statements.

The trial continues today before Justice Stephen Kaye.
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