Matthew Van Linh Burton pleaded guilty to drug trafficking after northern suburbs bust

A dealer has begged for no jail after he was caught red-handed with a large shipment of meth outside a house police were searching.

A drug dealer who was caught red-handed with a large shipment of meth outside a house police were searching said he was only acting as a courier.

Matthew Van Linh Burton, 38, awaits his fate from custody after using his short lived freedom to marry his wife.

Police attended a Salisbury Park address on November 2.

Burton knocked on the door while police were searching the house, and they found 150g of methamphetamine, a fake driver’s licence and two mobile phones on him.

They also searched his car and found $11,745 and a cryovac bag containing 250g of methamphetamine.

Matthew Burton pleaded guilty to multiple counts of drug trafficking. Picture: SA Police

About 400g of meth was seized. Picture: SA Police

Police also found $11,470 in a vehicle. Picture: SA Police

Police then searched Burton’s Salisbury North address and located buprenorphine strips, 5g of heroin and two cannabis plants being grown hydroponically.

The total value of the drugs found was between $115,000 to $185,000.

Burton pleaded guilty to two counts of commercial drug trafficking and one count of money laundering and drug trafficking.

Timothy Clarke, for Burton, told the District Court the collapse of his client’s concreting company and employment due to Covid-19 led to the resurgence of his addiction.

The court heard Burton was effectively acting as a drug courier and was trafficking to fund his own addiction and had no trappings of wealth.

Mr Clarke pushed for a home detention sentence, so Burton could return home to his children and wife – who he married the same weekend he was released on home detention bail.

Stephanie Watmore and Matthew Burton got married only days after Mr Burton was released on bail. Photo: Facebook

Stephanie Watmore and Matthew Burton got married only days after Mr Burton was released on bail. Photo: Facebook

A prosecutor told the court they couldn’t accept Burton was just acting as a courier and he should be sentenced that the drugs were his to sell, as there was no evidence otherwise.

The court heard Burton’s mobile phone was analysed and notes were found on his phone revealing significant amounts of money was being exchanged.

“There are a number of text messages from the defendant’s phone indicative of him asking if there are drugs, and indeed selling drugs in not insignificant amounts,” the prosecutor said.

The court heard police also located a money counter, scales and heat sealing machine at Burton’s house.

Burton’s charges were adjourned until next month for further submissions.

Originally published as Matthew Van Linh Burton pleaded guilty to drug trafficking after northern suburbs bust