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Aaron Daniele was denied bail in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Thursday, for suspected bikie safe house drug bust

An alleged bikie arrested after police found over 320kg of marijuana at a suspected Rebels safe house has been suffering PTSD while in custody, a court has heard.

Six men were charged with drug trafficking after the South Australia National Anti-Gangs Squad found more than 320kg of dried cannabis and $50,000 cash at a Northfield property. Picture: AFP
Six men were charged with drug trafficking after the South Australia National Anti-Gangs Squad found more than 320kg of dried cannabis and $50,000 cash at a Northfield property. Picture: AFP

An alleged Rebels bikie accused of being involved in a bikie safe house drug bust where 320kg of dried marijuana was found has been denied bail.

State and Federal police raided a Northfield property in February, where they seized $1.5 million worth of cannabis and $50,000 in cash.

Six men were arrested at the property and charged with trafficking in a commercial quantity of a controlled drug.

One of the men, Aaron Daniele, 32, applied for bail by video link in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Thursday, with his five co-accused being granted police bail.

Aaron Daniele and five co-accused were charged with drug trafficking after the South Australia National Anti-Gangs Squad found more than 320 kilograms of dried cannabis and $50,000 cash at a Northfield property. Picture: AFP
Aaron Daniele and five co-accused were charged with drug trafficking after the South Australia National Anti-Gangs Squad found more than 320 kilograms of dried cannabis and $50,000 cash at a Northfield property. Picture: AFP

A prosecutor opposed the bail application, saying there was strong evidence against Daniele, who was on bail for a robbery charge at the time of his arrest.

“There were six males in a residential premises with over 300kg of cannabis, a cryovac seal machine and some of the cannabis was in cryovac sealing bags,” the prosecutor said.

Police are alleging that the property was a safe house for the Rebels bikie gang to process cannabis ahead of sale and that the six men are associated with the Rebels bikie gang.

AFP Detective Superintendent Gavin Stone said the cannabis seized could have netted approximately $1.55 million in illicit profits.

“We will allege that the Rebels outlaw motorcycle gang was profiting from this illicit operation and our inquiries are ongoing into the extent of the operation and network,” he said at the time of arrests.

Aaron Daniele and five co-accused were charged with drug trafficking after the South Australia National Anti-Gangs Squad found more than 320 kilograms of dried cannabis and $50,000 cash at a Northfield property. Picture: AFP
Aaron Daniele and five co-accused were charged with drug trafficking after the South Australia National Anti-Gangs Squad found more than 320 kilograms of dried cannabis and $50,000 cash at a Northfield property. Picture: AFP

Danni Stephens, for Daniele, told the Adelaide Magistrates Court that Daniele’s five co-accused were granted police bail.

“In my submission that flies in the face of the suggestion that it’s a very serious offence – if it was they wouldn’t have been granted police bail,” she said.

“The police attend a residence with a warrant, it’s unclear why.

“At the moment as the prosecution case stands what they can provide me with is information only of my client’s presence at the location.”

Ms Stephens told the court Daniele who has “very limited drug history” would also be contesting the robbery charge.

The court heard Daniele was diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder in December.

“That diagnosis is because of previous occasions where Mr Daniele was in prison,” Ms Stephens said.

“That is something that at the moment revolves around panic attacks and flashbacks of that significant period of time in custody where he had no access to the outside – he is having problems with that at the moment.”

Magistrate David McLeod refused Daniele bail due to the seriousness of the allegations and adjourned the charge until April.

Read related topics:Bikie gangs

Original URL: https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/messenger/aaron-daniele-was-denied-bail-in-the-adelaide-magistrates-court-on-thursday-for-suspected-bikie-safe-house-drug-bust/news-story/238a829923157d5f69fd2c9495e73795