Timothy Combe appears in court charged with drug trafficking, explosive manufacture

A fitter and turner now faces commercial drug trafficking charges after he was allegedly busted with 350,000 pills, 200 vials and 16kg of powder.

Timothy Craig Combe faced the Port Adelaide Magistrates Court on Monday after drugs and weapons were found at his Prospect home on Saturday. Picture: SA Police

A Prospect man has appeared in the Port Adelaide Magistrates Court on Monday following an alleged steroid laboratory bust.

Timothy Craig Combe, 48, has been charged with trafficking in a commercial quantity of a controlled drug and possessing supplies/taking steps in the manufacture of explosives.

The court heard police searched the premises on Saturday.

“The charges before the court are very serious,” the police prosecutor said.

“A search was conducted at the accused’s premises on November 7, under the Controlled Substances Act.

“The accused was present while that search was conducted.

Timothy Craig Combe faced the Port Adelaide Magistrates Court on Monday, after drugs and weapons were found at his Prospect home on Saturday. Picture: SA Police

Police seized more than 300,000 steroid tablets, liquid anabolic steroids and a pill press from the property. Picture: SA Police

“There were items consistent with a clandestine steroid laboratory and further police attended at the address.

“A thorough search was conducted and approximately 350,000 pills suspected of being steroids were found, 33 packets of white powder suspected to be steroids – approximately 16.5 kilograms in weight, and 200-plus vials.”

The court heard labelling for steroids was also found, along with an operational pill press, two liquid vial filling machines, a capping machine and commercial digital scales.

The court also heard police found in the living room a small cardboard tube wrapped in insulation tape, that had a thick viscous brown material inside, which caused the bomb response team to attend the premises.

The item was deemed to be a homemade explosive device.

A black taser was also located.

“The accused would not answer any questions in relations to the allegations from police,” the police prosecutor said.

“Prosecution submit that he is not a good candidate for bail.”

Defence lawyer Michael Lloyd asked Magistrate Paul Foley to consider bail, without home detention.

“The accused has no recent priors, the most recent is in 2007,” Mr Lloyd said.

“He is currently working as a fitter, obviously if he’s kept in custody he’s going to lose that job.

“I ask that you consider bail without home detention. He’s working and his last offending was for drugs 13 years ago.”

Magistrate Foley said he would consider bail, but he said, given the very substantial size of the operation, a home detention report should be completed first.

The matter will return to court later this week.