Darren Anderson and Craig Short jailed over drug trafficking bust in South-East

Two men who were caught actively trafficking meth in the state’s South-East to keep up with their own addictions have been jailed.

Two men found to be concealing methamphetamine in the interior of their car have been jailed for at least two years.

Darren Brooker Anderson, 49, and Craig Murray Short, 32, were sentenced in the Adelaide District Court earlier this month after pleading guilty to one count of trafficking a controlled drug.

The court heard the two men were travelling through Nangwarry in the state’s South-East on June 2, 2021, when police stopped them and conducted a roadside check.

On inspection police found two heat vacuum sealed bags, wedged underneath a plastic panel on the passenger side centre console.

Craig Short was jailed for trafficking drugs. Pic: Facebook

The first bag contained two resealable bags each containing an ounce of methamphetamine.

The second bag also contained 18.2 grams of methamphetamine.

Police located a total of 78 grams of methamphetamine in the vehicle with a purity level of 80 per cent.

Inside the vehicle they also located a red Adidas bag with a small bag of cannabis, an ice pipe and a number of mobile phones were also located in the vehicle.

In his interview with police, Short admitted the meth was his and that he was a user.

“You said the originally purchased a gram but denied any knowledge of the large quantity located in the vehicle,” Judge Geraldine Davison said during sentencing.

“You admitted to possession of two of the phones.”

Analysis of the data on all four phones were conducted by police, on the Samsung there were numerous text messages between the two defendants, demonstrating their involvement with drug dealing activities.

The court heard Short was a heavy user of meth at the time of the offending, consuming about $1000 worth a week.

“You were doing that for at least six months … you’ve had an issue with meth since you were 18 years old,” Judge Davison said.

“It was said you were involved in this organisation and you had a debt of $2000 you were trying to clear.”

In her sentencing Judge Davison said a jail term was the only appropriate means of penalty, as the two men were openly engaged in the drug trafficking community.

“These drugs were being taken into a regional area in the state,” she said.

“Drugs such as these cause untold misery and by your actions you were contributing to people consuming these substances.

“Not only do they harm the individuals who use them, but also the families and the communities.”

“Your role was above that of a street level dealer although I do accept you both have your own addictions.”

Both men were sentenced to four year and two weeks imprisonment, with a non parole period of two years.