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Southern Highlands drug dealer Joshua Rose hit with fresh charge after admitting to drug supply, weapon

A dealer has been hit with a fresh charge after he admitted selling large amounts of meth, cocaine and Bupe police found in bags decorated with little skulls.

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A drug dealer has been hit with a fresh charge of resisting arrest after he admitted to supplying large amounts of drugs throughout the Southern Highlands and having a prohibited weapon.

Joshua Rose, 37, was charged with driving while disqualified, possessing a weapon without a permit, supplying three different drugs, possessing two other types of drugs, and driving with drugs in his system – all in one afternoon.

The Tahmoor resident was arrested by Southern Highlands police on October 21 last year while driving his orange Ford Territory wagon in Bowral.

Police claim they received a call about the owner of the vehicle driving dangerously along Station St when they stopped Mr Rose in the carpark of the Bowral railway station about 3pm.

Joshua Rose has been charged with dealing a raft of drugs in the Southern Highlands. Picture: Adelaide Lang
Joshua Rose has been charged with dealing a raft of drugs in the Southern Highlands. Picture: Adelaide Lang

According to police, Rose returned a negative test for alcohol but a positive result for meth after a roadside test was conducted.

While police were checking Rose, court documents reveal they found $1950 in cash in his pockets. While they were counting the cash, police allege Rose fled the scene on foot and evaded police for approximately 20 metres before he was recaptured.

Police facts state officers suspected he was in possession of illegal drugs. According to the facts, officers searched his car and uncovered an illegal stun gun in the footwell and a black tackle box in a hidden compartment.

When police opened the black tackle box, court documents state they found a huge quantity of drugs in small plastic bags decorated with skulls. Rose admitted to supplying 26.6 grams of meth, 8.9 grams of cocaine, and 11.3 grams of Buprenorphine (an opioid used to treat addiction).

Rose also admitted to possessing a gram of cannabis and 0.37 grams of party drug MDMA, both of which were found in the box.

Joshua Rose had a stun gun in his car when he was arrested. Picture: Adelaide Lang
Joshua Rose had a stun gun in his car when he was arrested. Picture: Adelaide Lang

The police facts note one of the plastic bags was vacuum sealed and labelled ‘8 ball’ in reference to the ounce of cocaine it contained.

Police facts show they seized Rose’s phone and uncovered a number of conversations discussing the supply of drugs in which he stated prices and amounts of drugs. Police facts also reveal he used terms such as “green waste” (slang for cannabis) and “bupe injection” (the slang term for Buprenorphine).

The police facts state Rose has an extensive history of convictions for drug possession and supply, and often travelled from Tahmoor to the Southern Highlands to deal drugs.

In Moss Vale Local Court on November 16, Rose pleaded guilty to possessing a prohibited weapon, three counts of supplying large quantities of drugs and two counts of possessing drugs.

The court heard he was also charged with a new offence of resisting police in the execution of their duty.

In his last court appearance on November 2, Rose entered pleas of guilty to driving while disqualified and driving with drugs in his system.

Joshua Rose was arrested at the Bowral train station carpark on Station Street. Picture: Google Maps
Joshua Rose was arrested at the Bowral train station carpark on Station Street. Picture: Google Maps

Court documents show a licence check revealed Rose’s licence was disqualified in 2016 and he was on a good behaviour bond until August 2022 for a previous driving while disqualified conviction.

The court heard Rose has been attending a residential rehabilitation program but left because his brother has recently passed away. Magistrate Mark Douglass urged him to continue on his path to recovery during the tragedy.

“Be cautious because there could be some temptation and you’ve worked so hard to get to where you are today,” he said.

Rose will return to Picton Local Court on January 27 to determine the next step for his 10 charges.

Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/bowral/southern-highlands-drug-dealer-joshua-rose-hit-with-fresh-charge-after-admitting-to-drug-supply-weapon/news-story/06eb9f9aeddf979fefd5e98845eca70c