ACT man Pronoy Narayan charged for supplying cocaine and driving with cocaine in his system

A 30 year-old man was allegedly caught driving in the Southern Highlands with 832 grams of cocaine, while high on the drug. Here’s what happened in court.

An ACT man was allegedly caught with a significant quantity of cocaine in his ute while driving high on the illegal drug in the Southern Highlands.

Pronoy Narayan, 30, is currently on bail for supplying a commercial quantity of a prohibited drug and driving a motor vehicle with an illicit drug present in his blood.

He did not appear at Moss Vale Local Court on Monday for his matter.

Magistrate Mark Douglass recalled the man being allegedly caught by police on the Hume Highway near Woodlands with 832 grams of cocaine.

Pronoy Narayan did not appear at Moss Vale Local Court for his matter on Monday.

The court heard he was stopped on the afternoon of May 13 2021 because police were monitoring a white Toyota HiLux travelling from Sydney to Canberra with illicit drugs, as part of a broader investigation.

The two constables who stopped him reportedly asked for a roadside breath test, which he was negative for, and noticed he was quite nervous.

“According to police, (Mr Narayan) was very nervous; his hands were shaking uncontrollably, was hesitant in tone and pale in the face,” Magistrate Douglass said.

He was then asked to participate in a drug test.

Magistrate Douglass said that based off the man’s “nervous demeanour” and what the constables were told about the white Toyota HiLux, a search of the car was undertaken.

The court heard police located white coloured fabric bags, many tools, red and white plastic bags scrunched up and vacuum sealed with a white substance suspected to be cocaine, three mobile phones and $620.

Red and white plastic bags scrunched up and vacuum sealed were allegedly found in Pronoy Narayan’s car, suspected to be cocaine.

Mr Narayan was then taken to Southern Highlands Police Station.

The three phones were confiscated and subject to forensic examination, which the court heard are part of the 29 exhibits of evidence against him.

Evidence includes text messages, photos and body worn camera footage from when the car was searched by police.

Magistrate Douglass confirmed that the brief of evidence is compliant and that the court is ready to move onto the next stage of the matter.

Mr Narayan’s bail is to continue and he is due to appear via audiovisual link on May 16 for his committal.