Christopher French charged with drug supply after Hume Highway crash at Menangle

A man has made a bid for bail after being hit with drug supply charges following the alleged discovery of a large quantity of heroin inside a truck he rolled southwest of Sydney. Here’s the latest.

Investigators seized 2.2kg of heroin allegedly found on the truck upturned on the Hume Highway.

A Canberra man allegedly used ice just two hours before rolling his truck on the Hume Highway at Menangle leading to what police claim was the discovery of more than two kilograms of heroin.

Emergency services received reports a truck had rolled, with one of its spare tyres crashing into a Volkswagen Golf, about 1.30am on Tuesday.

The sedan driver, a 45-year-old woman, was not injured.

Christopher French, the 42-year-old truck driver, was taken to Liverpool Hospital under police guard for mandatory testing.

Campbelltown City Police Area Command officers allegedly found 2.1kg of heroin, 1,4-Butanediol and a mobile phone during a search of the heavy vehicle.

Police were called to a crash at 1.30am on September 25.

French was discharged from hospital and charged with possessing a prohibited drug, supplying a large commercial quantity of a prohibited drug, driving during a disqualification period, and supplying an indictable quantity prohibited drug.

He fronted Campbelltown Local Court on Thursday where his lawyer applied for bail.

“French is currently employed as a carpenter, he works full time six days a week and certainty if he were to go into custody he would most certainly lose his employment,” she said.

“He has a stable residence with a friend … he himself can agree to forget a sum of money, namely $2000.”

The lawyer also told the court French could report to police as required.

However the police prosecutor said French faced life imprisonment if found guilty.

She said he put the community at significant risk and alleged French had self-reported using ice at midnight just two hours before the truck rolled and police found the drugs.

“He’s well aware of what he‘s doing, which is being involved in the supply of drugs,” she told the court.

Magistrate Shane McAnulty agreed and refused bail. French will next appear before Campbelltown Local Court on November 29.