Ex-ABC presenter Ashley Hall arrested on drug supply charges

A former prominent ABC presenter has been arrested on drug supply charges, with $600,000 worth of drugs seized.

Police have arrested a former ABC radio presenter and hit him with a string of drug supply charges after a major investigation.

Ashley Hall was arrested during a police raid which saw $600,000 worth of drugs seized from two hotel rooms in the Sydney CBD on Wednesday.

The 52-year-old was arrested in Commonwealth St around 10am on Wednesday and charged with 23 offences, including eight counts of supplying a prohibited drug at an indictable commercial quantity.

Ashley Hall was previously executive producer on the ABC’s flagship radio program, AM. He was a presenter on the show, as well as for PM and The World Today. Picture: ABC via NCA NewsWire

The 52-year-old from Burwood was hit with 23 charges relating to alleged drug supply. Picture: NSW Police

Police seized $600,000 worth of drugs from two hotel rooms in Sydney's CBD. Picture: NSW Police

Officers then executed two search warrants at hotels in Wentworth St and Bond St, where they found a raft of drugs.

The searches uncovered 500 MDMA tablets, 100g of cocaine, 3.2kg of 1,4-butanediol, 700g of methylamphetamine, more than a 1kg of cannabis and more than $70,000 cash.

Mr Hall was a prominent figure on ABC Radio, presenting the broadcaster’s current affairs radio programs, as well as AM, PM and The World Today programs.

He was also previously the executive producer of AM, ABC radio’s flagship program.

Police seized $600,000 worth of drugs from two hotel rooms in Sydney's CBD. Picture: NSW Police

He was not granted bail and will remain behind bars until his next court appearance in February. Picture: NSW Police

The searches uncovered 500 MDMA tablets, 100g of cocaine, 3.2kg of 1,4-butanediol, 700g of methylamphetamine, more than a 1kg of cannabis, and more than $70,000 cash. Picture: NSW Police

He was taken to Surry Hills Police Station where he was charged with:

• two counts of supply prohibited drug, large commercial quantity
• six counts of supply prohibited drug, greater than commercial quantity
• eight counts of supply prohibited drug, indictable, commercial quantity
• three counts of supply prohibited drug small quantity
• supply prohibited drugs on an ongoing basis
• two counts of possess prohibited drug, and
• knowingly deal with the proceeds of crime.

The arrest is a part of Strike Force Weismantle, which was set up in August 2022 by the Inner West Police Area Command to investigate the commercial supply of prohibited drugs throughout Sydney.

Mr Hall did not apply for bail and was formally refused to appear in court in February.

Originally published as Ex-ABC presenter Ashley Hall arrested on drug supply charges