Bradley Kostera risks extradition to Victoria after being charged with drug trafficking in Mount Gambier

An alleged couch-surfing drug trafficker left his stash in plain view before failing to turn up to court, altering police to the fact he was a wanted man in Victoria, a court has heard.

Failing to turn up to court after he was caught with meth and a prescription drug may have been the undoing of a man wanted in Victoria for years.

Bradley John Kostera, 35, was arrested on a warrant in relation to two counts of possession on July 21, little more than a week after he was charged with two counts of trafficking methylamphetamine and MDMA.

When he faced the Mount Gambier Magistrates Court via video link from custody last week he pleaded guilty to both March 31 possession offences but the police prosecutor said his arrest had triggered a request for his extradition to Victoria.

Bradley John Kostera appeared in the Mount Gambier Magistrates Court on Thursday. Picture: Crimestoppers

Reappearing on Tuesday, the police prosecutor argued for Mr Kostera’s bail to be revoked on the trafficking charges.

The court heard a black case containing 10g of methylamphetamine was discovered on a bed used by the accused, plus 1g in his possession, a locked box under the bed had 3g MDMA and $950 in cash when the Mount Gambier home was searched by police.

The police prosecutor said electronic scales and a mobile phone with “drug trafficking related material” including a photo of the “distinctive” box were seized.

“The majority of the methylamphetamine that was found was in a black container on the mattress in plain view,” he said.

“Mr Kostera also has matters outstanding in Victoria and one of them is a drug trafficking charge for which the Victoria Police have advised they would seek extradition.

“He has not fronted court in Victoria for the same charges and prosecution alleges he is committing further offences of trafficking.”

Mr Kostera, described as a 170cm, with a medium build and fair complexion is listed on the Crime Stoppers Victoria website as wanted by police for alleged offences including trafficking of a drug of dependence and failure to answer bail.

According to the website, four warrants have been issued for the arrest of the man known to frequent the Warrnambool and Mount Gambier areas.

Defence lawyer Kate Annells said he would plead not guilty to the trafficking offences and submitted the time spent in custody was “a sufficient penalty” for the procession charges.

Ms Annells argued Mr Kostera, who was couch-surfing when he was granted police bail on his trafficking arrest despite being on bail for the other charges and his criminal history should be released to a Nangwarry address.

She submitted limited action had been taken by Victoria Police in relation to the interstate allegations.

“The offence in relation to those warrants to date from 2018,” Ms Annells said.

“Mr Kostera has had a period in custody in relation to other charges in South Australia which he was subsequently released.

“Victoria Police did not seek extradition at that stage and there is no application before the court.”

Magistrate Maria Panagiotidis previously questioned why police bailed Mr Kostera as recently as July 12 given the circumstances and on Tuesday order a home detention report with him to reappear next week

“Given the seriousness of the charges, the past allegations of similar offending, the only sort of bail I would consider granting the defendant is home detention bail,” Magistrate Panagiotidis said.

“If there is a suitable home detention address I will grant bail.”