Brandon Verban granted bail in Adelaide Magistrates Court for drug trafficking and money laundering
A man allegedly caught with meth and $73,000 cash at his house was then caught with a significant amount of drugs at a fast food carpark only months after.
West & Beaches
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A man charged with drug trafficking offences was allegedly caught twice, only months apart, with significant amounts of methamphetamine.
Brandon John Verban, 28, applied for home detention bail in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Tuesday, after the second alleged drug bust at a fast food carpark.
A prosecutor opposed the application, saying Verban was already on bail when he allegedly committed the new drug offences.
Police searched Verban’s house on March 24.
“Police attended at a rental premises that he was residing at and located 34g of suspected methamphetamine and $73,600 in cash,” the prosecutor said.
The court heard Verban told police that the cash was from gambling wins.
“He did admit to police that he was an ice user and those drugs were intended for his own use,” the prosecutor said.
The prosecutor said they were determining whether that was a plausible explanation considering it was a “significant” quantity of drugs.
Police also analysed Verban’s mobile phone.
“It is alleged that the defendant has connections with outlaw motorcycle gangs, being the Comancheros,” the prosecutor said.
The court heard police found messages between Verban and Comanchero members but they weren’t in regards to drug activity.
Verban was then stopped by police on May 20 in the Westlakes McDonald’s carpark.
“(Police) search the vehicle and locate 134g of substance containing suspected methamphetamine,” the prosecutor said.
Verban, of Albert Park, is charged with drug trafficking and money laundering.
Stacey Carter, for Verban, told the court there had been a delay with Verban’s court proceedings due to prosecution errors.
“The defendant’s now been in custody close to five months on a matter where it’s continuously been adjourned,” she said.
“Every single day is a very, very long time for a prisoner and ‘whoops’ is not enough when they’re basically having their liberty deprived.”
Magistrate Michelle Sutcliffe granted Verban home detention bail.
The charges were adjourned until later this month.
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