SIX of the eight men arrested in dawn raids throughout the South East yesterday morning have fronted the Mount Gambier Magistrates Court today and each was remanded in custody on a range of drug trafficking charges.
Court proceedings commenced at around 2.15pm and details of a 12-month drug trafficking investigation by the Serious and Organised Crime Branch began to emerge.
Penola man Aaron Devereux, 34, was the first man to enter the court dock charged with seven counts of trafficking in a controlled drug.
His defence counsel made an application for bail.
As the prosecution began to outline their case in opposition of bail, the court heard it would rely predominantly on telephone intercepts, which used language they claim is “pertinent” to drug trafficking.
“There are various conversations which take place talking about motorcycle and car parts, which we say is drugs,” the prosecution said.
Magistrate Teresa Anderson began to question how they would prove those conversations were in relation to drugs.
“Is it just guess work?” Magistrate Anderson said.
“You need to tell me what the case is.”
The prosecution said $2,500 cash, three mobile phones, ice pipes and digital scales were also found at the premises, which would also be used as evidence.
Magistrate Anderson said she would need to know more information to be able to assess bail.
She ordered a home detention bail report and listed the matter for ongoing bail applications on Thursday.
“Your office will need to give me more information on the next occasion,” Magistrate Anderson told the prosecution.
Naracoorte man Jason Davies, 45, was next to appear charged with 31 counts of trafficking in a controlled drug and three counts of trafficking in a commercial quantity of a drug.
His lawyer made no application for bail.
Defence counsel for Naracoorte man James Hillman, 47, also made an application for bail when he faced the court on 13 counts of trafficking in a controlled drug and two counts of trafficking in a commercial quantity of a drug.
It was adjourned until Thursday, so a home detention bail application could be ordered.
Magistrate Teresa Anderson once again indicated to the prosecution that it would be difficult to assess the strength of their case without more information on the next occasion.
Naracoorte man Aaron Brooksby, 39, appeared next facing 10 counts of trafficking in a controlled drug.
His lawyer made no application for bail.
Mount Gambier man Brenton Davies, 25 also made no application for bail after he was charged with one count of possessing a firearm, one count of trafficking a controlled drug and one count of trafficking a commercial quantity of a drug.
Daniel Millowick, 21, from Mount Gambier appeared next on two charges of trafficking in a controlled drug and also made no application for bail.
Jason and Brenton Davies, Brooksby and Millowick have all been set for a second appearance on January 14 next year.
Each can have their matter called on for a bail application before that date.
Two men from Naracoorte, aged 21 and 29 – who were arrested as a result of the same investigation – were granted police bail following their arrests yesterday.
They will appear in August.
If anyone in the community has any information about the sale and manufacture of illicit drugs, you can call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
