Brandon John Verban standing trial on drug trafficking and money laundering charges
A man who was found passed out in his car was then allegedly busted with a significant meth stash in a fast food car park, a court has heard.
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A man was allegedly busted with a large amount of meth in a fast food car park after a woman who found him passed out in his car called police, a court has heard.
Brandon John Verban, 30, is standing trial in the District Court this week after pleading not guilty to two counts of drug trafficking and one count of money laundering.
Greg Dudzinski, for the prosecution, told the court in his opening statement that police searched Mr Verban’s Campbelltown address on March 24, 2021.
Police located 35g of mixed methamphetamine found in a wardrobe and $73,620 in a vacuum sealed bag in the bedside table.
Mr Dudzinski told the court a civilian found Mr Verban slumped back in his seat near a roundabout in Semaphore Park on May 20, 2021.
After rousing him, she noticed a brown paper bag in the passenger footwell.
The court heard the witness followed Mr Verban in his silver BMW to the Bartley Tavern before calling police.
Police located Mr Verban in the Westlakes McDonald’s car park.
The court heard police searched his car and found a Gucci bag which contained a plastic resealable bag with 132g of mixed methamphetamine.
Mr Dudzinski said with the large amount of methamphetamine and other property found at Mr Verban’s home there was a strong inference the $73,000 was connected to drug dealing.
Chris Allen, for Mr Verban, told the court prosecution had to prove beyond reasonable doubt whether his client intended to traffic the drugs and the money found was tainted.
Giving evidence, Senior Constable Nicholas Woodbridge told the court a cash counting machine, numerous plastic resealable bags and scales were located in a search of Mr Verban’s house.
Detective Brevet Sergeant Daniel Richardson told the court a Samsung mobile phone was seized in the search and analysed.
Det. Richardson said messages were found on Wickr – an encrypted messaging platform – with one user messaging: “Hi mate are you able to help me out I’m after some credit until later on in the week, if can’t, that’s okay”.
“I’m not doing it any more bro, too much heat ATM,” Mr Verban allegedly replied.
The court heard Signal – another encrypted mobile application – was also analysed.
Mr Verban allegedly sent a message on that application saying: “If you have any customers you want me to take care of that buy fulls or halves I can do that and I can give you a cut out of the money”.
The trial before a jury continues.
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