Wanted man in Victoria Bradley Kostera granted bail on Mount Gambier drug trafficking charges

An alleged Victorian drug trafficker has been granted bail to live in a caravan in Adelaide despite being a wanted man across the border.

A wanted man will walk free from prison tomorrow after a magistrate granted him bail on more drug trafficking charges.

Bradley John Kostera, 35 had allegedly evaded Victorian police for years when failing to turn up to a South Australian court on possession charges alerted authorities to his whereabouts.

He was arrested on a warrant on July 21, little more than a week after he was charged with two counts of trafficking methylamphetamine and MDMA.

Appearing via video link at the Mount Gambier Magistrate Court on Monday, Mr Kostera was granted home detention bail at a Millswood property.

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

Defence lawyer Kate Annells told Magistrate Maria Panagiotidis if she was hesitant to release him to live in a caravan at his sister’s house, her eldest daughter would give up their room in the house.

“Home detention bail is just one step away from not ‘only’ getting bail at all,” Magistrate Panagiotidis told Mr Kostera.

“You must comply absolutely with all of the terms and conditions of the bail or you’re at risk of the bail being revoked.”

The police prosecutor said his position had not changed and had previously told the court Mr Kostera’s arrest would trigger a request for his extradition to Victoria and argued for bail to be revoked.

Earlier this month 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.

Ms Annells previously told the court he would plead not guilty to the trafficking offences and submitted the time spent in custody was “a sufficient penalty” for the procession charges.

She argued Mr Kostera 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.

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.”