Father-son revealed as the pair charged over Coromandel East underground drug bunker
The two men charged over an underground drug bunker on a southern Adelaide Hills property have been revealed as a father-son duo.
Police & Courts
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Two men charged over an underground drug bunker found in Adelaide’s south can be revealed after they faced court for the first time.
James Stuart Taylor, 53, and his son Ezekiel James Owen Jones, 20, were arrested as police raided their semi-rural 27 acre Coromandel East property and discovered an elaborate underground grow house.
They each appeared via video link to the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Tuesday, where Mr Jones was granted supervised bail to reside with his grandparents.
Mr Taylor, who has a history of drug-related offences, sought home detention bail to reside with his ex-partner, who is Mr Jones’ mother.
Auxiliary Magistrate Teresa Anderson ordered a home detention bail inquiry report to determine the suitability of that address, and said she would “need to know whose bedroom the 30g of cocaine and the large amount of money that was with the cocaine was located” when he returns to court to continue his bid for bail next week.
James Caldicott, representing both of the accused men, said that he was unable to tell from the police allegations which of the men was alleged to be responsible for the cocaine and $60,000 cash.
The court heard one of the men slept in the house and the other in the caravan, but that they had swapped bedrooms at some stage.
“As to what stage they were residing in which place for the purpose of possession of such items, that is a matter they will need to clarify,” he said.
The court heard Mr Jones had told police his “father was responsible for the cannabis crop”, and “claimed ownership” of the gel blasters.
Mr Caldicott said Mr Taylor, a labourer by trade, had a large bird aviary on the property which he maintained.
The court heard Mr Jones had “no relevant criminal history” and prosecutors did not oppose his release on supervised bail, with conditions including drug testing.
Police will allege the bunker was concealed with camouflage mesh over a trap door, which led to a large area allegedly filled with hydroponic equipment.
Officers seized 18 hydroponically grown cannabis plants, half a kilogram of dried cannabis, the two gel blasters from a caravan, 35g of white powder suspected to be cocaine and cash from the property.
The men are jointly charged with a number of offences including cultivating a commercial quantity of a controlled plant, trafficking in a controlled drug, knowingly engage in money laundering and possessing a firearm without a licence. Neither man has entered any pleas.
At the time of the men’s arrest, police described their discovery as an “elaborate underground bunker”.
Detective Superintendent Billy Thompson, Officer in Charge of Serious and Organised Crime Branch said the discovery of the concealed underground bunker “illustrates the lengths that those involved in organised crime will go to in attempting to conceal their illegal activities”.
“Illicit drugs do untold harm to our communities and I encourage anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, you can remain anonymous.”
Mr Taylor returns to court next, while Mr Jones will next front court in May.
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