Housemates Daniel Eelbeck and Shaun Hunt await fate for commercial drug trafficking operation

A dealer has begged for no jail after his cocaine and cannabis operation was uncovered, which he was running with the assistance of his housemate.

The extent of two housemates’ drug enterprise has been revealed in court after cocaine and a cannabis crop were found at a southern suburbs house.

Daniel John Eelbeck, 32, and Shaun Richard William Hunt, 33, have begged for no jail after their drug habits led to an illegal side hustle.

Lisa Lakatos, for the prosecution, told the District Court that some of the cocaine found in a fishing reel box was packaged into eight bags of about 27g each.

Ms Lakatos the cocaine had a potential value of $64,000 if sold as packaged but the court also heard the cocaine was a poor quality purity, which Judge Anthony Alen noted meant it could have been worth less.

Ms Lakatos said the evidence revealed that Eelbeck was advertising cannabis in 2019 and 2020, as well as a photograph of a large amount in cash in 2021.

Daniel Eelbeck pleaded guilty to commercial drug trafficking. Photo: Facebook

Keisha-Skye Magua’s charges were withdrawn in July. Picture: Facebook.

She said immediate jail was the only appropriate penalty for Eelbeck, as he was involved in an ongoing business with an inference to be drawn that he was profiting from the enterprise, as a Harley-Davidson motorcycle and boat were found at his house.

Eelbeck and Hunt, both of Noarlunga Downs, pleaded guilty to commercial drug trafficking and cultivating cannabis, while Eelbeck also pleaded guilty to other trafficking charges.

Eelbeck’s partner, Keisha-Skye Magua, 28, was also charged with drug trafficking but her charges were withdrawn by prosecution in July.

Peter Morrison, for Eelbeck, told the court Eelbeck was in a serious car crash just shy of his 18th birthday and was in a wheelchair for two months.

“Cannabis use started before the motor vehicle accident but really increased significantly after in an attempt to threat both the physical pain he was suffering and the PTSD symptoms from having seen his friend pass away as a result of the crash,” he said.

The court heard Eelbeck’s car was stolen and set alight in December 2021, as well as being the victim of a home invasion.

“We say that demonstrates the pressure he was under and the threatening conduct he was subjected to,” Mr Morrison said.

Mr Morrison pushed for a home detention sentence, saying Eelbeck had sought help for his substance abuse issues and had been volunteering as a boxing coach since his arrest.

Martin Anders, for Hunt, told the court his client was assisting Eelbeck with the maintenance and harvesting of the crop in return for subsidised rent and cannabis.

The court heard Hunt also used cannabis daily, telling a psychologist he would “go to work, come home, get stoned, effectively become inebriated and then go back to work again”.

Mr Anders asked for a suspended or home detention sentence for Hunt – which was not opposed by prosecution – saying his motivation towards staying on the path of rehabilitation was his children.

Judge Allen will sentence the men next month.