Mahmood Ataee Noukabadi denied bail for second time after allegedly caught trying to flush meth down the toilet

A man allegedly found with 8kg of meth hidden inside clothing was trying to flush the drugs down the toilet when police busted in, a court heard.

A man found in possession of five shipping consignments containing items of clothing lined with meth tried to flush it down the toilet at the time of his arrest, a court has heard.

Mahmood Ataee Noukabadi, 50, of Hillcrest, appeared in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Thursday where he made his second bid for bail since his arrest for serious drug trafficking charges in April last year.

Commonwealth prosecutor Pantelia Marinakis opposed the application due to the seriousness of Mr Noukabadi’s alleged offending and his high risk of potentially fleeing the country.

“There was 450g of methamphetamine found on the toilet floor alone,” she said.

“(In the defendant’s) garage there was 8kg of methamphetamine found in the lining of vests … (imported from Afghanistan) also found was the equipment for extracting methamphetamine from the vests, drivers licence and a passport that was in a different person’s name.

“Evidence shows he was in possession of multiple items in other people’s names including a passport … clearly the defendant has access to some form of false identification and the means of obtaining that, as well as access to large sums of money (and) the defendant has business contacts in Afghanistan.”

Hillcrest man Mahmood Noukabadi was allegedly found in possession of clandestine equipment. Picture: SA Police

Hillcrest man Mahmood Noukabadi was allegedly found in possession of nearly 10kg of methamphetamine. Picture: SA Police

Mr Noukabadi was arrested and charged with trafficking in a large commercial quantity of methamphetamine and using false identification to commit a serious crime on April 6, 2023.

Mr Noukabadi was initially granted home detention bail by the Adelaide Magistrates Court, but was rearrested on April 19 and is now charged with two counts of importing a commercial quantity of methamphetamine – a Commonwealth charge with a maximum penalty of life in prison – one count of manufacture a controlled drug and of making a false pretence as to his own identity.

Defence lawyer Stacey Carter, for Mr Noukabadi, asked her client be released on home detention bail, to reside in Port Augusta with his family, due to the length it was taking for the matter to proceed.

Chief Magistrate, Judge Mary-Louise Hribal, declined the application for bailing due to the seriousness of the charges and Mr Noukabadi’s being a flight risk.

Mr Noukabadi will next appear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court in May.