Drugs bust in AussieLand

Olympian, rugby great's son in drug bust


April 17, 2008 - 6:30PM


Olympic silver medallist Scott Miller and the son of Wallabies legend Ken Catchpole are facing criminal charges after Sydney police raids allegedly uncovered drug manufacturing equipment.
Police allegedly found a pill press capable of producing up to 27,000 pills an hour, and a professional tablet counter when they searched a storage facility in Brookvale, on Sydney's northern beaches, at 11am (AEST) Wednesday.
Officers arrested Miller, 33, and allegedly seized OC (capsicum) spray and steroids after raiding his Dee Why unit at 2pm Wednesday.
Mark Catchpole, 40, was arrested at his Seaforth home at the same time.
Catchpole faced Manly Local Court Thursday on 11 charges, including possession of a tablet press, four counts of possessing a prohibited drug, firearms offences, possessing ammunition, possession of equipment to administer a prohibited drug, supplying a prohibited drug and dealing with proceeds of crime.
Police charge sheets allege that during the Seaforth raid, officers found an Amadeo Rossi brand .32 calibre revolver loaded with five Smith and Wesson bullets.
They also allegedly seized ecstasy, the illicit drug ice and three glass pipes used to smoke it, which are also illegal, as well as cocaine and cannabis.
Police also allegedly seized bundles of cash totalling almost a quarter of a million US dollars, suspected of being the proceeds of crime.
Catchpole elected not to appear in court during a brief mention of his matter, and a bail application was foreshadowed for his next appearance via audio-visual link on April 22 at Sydney's Central Local Court.
Bail was formally refused by Magistrate Andrew George and the former Sydney club rugby player and state representative was remanded in custody.
Outside the court, Catchpole's solicitor Ian Rolfe said his client was embarrassed by the charges.
"He's fine in the circumstances, a little embarrassed," Mr Rolfe said.
Miller has also been charged with possession of a tablet press, two counts of possessing a proscribed restricted substance and possessing an offensive weapon.
He was granted police bail on Wednesday night to appear at Manly Local Court on May 7.
The 33-year-old has gone into hiding and had yet to contact his family Thursday afternoon.
"I don't know anything about it mate," Miller's father Barry told AAP.
"The first I heard about it was on the news.
"I rushed in and tried to call him but he is not answering the phone.
"I expect he's inundated.
"I haven't spoken to him, but if I did, I would advise him to fight the charges."
Miller won a silver medal in the 100m butterfly and bronze in the men's medley relay at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.
Mark Catchpole's father Ken played 27 Tests for Australia - 13 as captain - and is widely regarded as one of rugby union's greatest scrum halves.
In 1961, he became one of only nine players to make their Test debut as captain when, aged 21, he led the Wallabies in the three-Test series against Fiji.
A medal in his name is awarded annually to the best and fairest player in Sydney club rugby.
Mark Catchpole won that award twice - in 1994 then in 1998, the first year it was named in honour of his father.
© 2008 AAP