Jarrad Bridge: Kanwal sailor to stand trial over 100kg ice bust
One of a trio of former sailors arrested in a police sting that saw $35 million worth of drugs seized in Sydney’s eastern suburbs is set to stand trial over the 107kg haul.
Southern Courier
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A former Navy sailor will stand trial over a massive 100kg haul of the drug ice allegedly found in the tray of a ute in Sydney’s eastern suburbs last year.
Jarrad Leslie Bridge has pleaded not guilty to supplying a large commercial quantity of a prohibited drug, after police dropped another charge of import commercial quantity of border controlled drug in January.
The muscular, tattooed Central Coast man appeared before Central Local Court on Wednesday in his prison greens via video link from Long Bay, having been remanded in custody for almost 10 months.
Bridge was among a trio of ex-Navy men arrested outside a suburban rented garage in Malabar on July 16, following hours of covert police surveillance.
It will be alleged in court that the 32-year-old and accomplices Michael Fraser and Graham Butt were tracked moving between a property in Sylvania to the garage rented out by the family who owned the home it was attached to.
Police allegedly found 107kg of ice wrapped in bundles in the back of a Hilux ute parked at the scene.
The drugs had an estimated street value of $35 million.
The sting followed an investigation from Strike Force Bethany, established to probe the activities of a criminal group believed to be involved in the supply of illicit drugs.
Malabar man Butt, 36, is due to be sentenced at the District Court on June 26 for aiding and abetting in the possession of a commercial quantity of a suspected imported border controlled drug.
Fraser, 37, from Umina Beach is listed for sentence for importing a commercial quantity of border controlled drug in the same court on June 5.
Bridge, from Kanwal, will be arraigned in the District Court on June 12.
