Carlton dad Alexandre Da Silva charged with serious drug trafficking

A young dad was told he could face life in jail if he is convicted of trafficking more than 5kg of the drug ice and more than 1kg of cocaine. He was also allegedly found with $275k in cash.

Carlton father Alexandre Da Silva has been charged after police allegedly uncovered five kilograms of the drug meth in a backpack and $275,000 in cash in a car and his home.

A young father was allegedly found with $275,000 in cash, some of which was found on a baby’s change table, and more than 5kg of the drug ice.

Alexandre Da Silva, 25, was refused bail in Sutherland Local Court this week after he was charged with six serious drug offences.

A police statement of facts detailed how an associate allegedly collected Da Silva from his Carlton home in a courier truck and drove to a suburb in western Sydney on September 29.

Police allege Da Silva left the truck and returned with a black backpack which officers searched when they stopped the truck on Grey Street in Kogarah.

Police allegedly found 5kg of a crystallised substance, believed to be ice, which led them to search a car parked near the truck.

They allegedly found $125,000 in cash and more than 1kg of cocaine and another packet suspected of being meth inside a hidden compartment.

Officers allegedly found more cocaine in another compartment along with other items.

Alexandre Da Silva was refused bail in Sutherland Local Court on Tuesday.

Police then searched Da Silva’s home where they allegedly found $150,000 in cash on a baby change table along with more cocaine and green vegetable matter suspected of being cannabis leaf.

Officers also allegedly found an encrypted phone, electronic scales and other drug paraphernalia.

Da Silva was arrested about 3pm for allegedly dealing with money reasonably suspected of being the proceeds of crime to the value of more than $100,000; three counts of trafficking a commercial quantity of a controlled drug being methylamphetamine and cocaine; as well as two counts of supplying a prohibited drug being cocaine and cannabis.

In court, Da Silva’s lawyer Talal Krayem said his client was still a young man and had strong family ties with his mother present in court to support him.

Mr Krayem said Da Silva needed to be at liberty to help prepare his defence and peruse surveillance and electronic material, which was more difficult when in custody.

He also noted Da Silva’s record was limited and he had a letter of employment as well as a child who lived in Western Australia, who needed him.

Magistrate Phillip Stewart noted the case against Da Silva appeared “strong” and “overwhelming”, noting he had no other source of income apart from his alleged involvement in the drug enterprise.

He also noted the Commonwealth Crown prosecutor’s concern about Da Silva’s access to encrypted devices and possibly being able to interfere with witnesses or evidence.

Mr Stewart said Da Silva’s alleged actions were “sophisticated” but said he had no similar offences on his record nor was he on conditional liberty at the time.

He said proposed bail conditions placing him under house arrest, living with his mother in Brighton Le Sands, not having an encrypted device, not taking drugs or alcohol, not contacting witnesses, attending psychological appointments and a surety of $40,000 were not sufficient to mitigate the risk.

Mr Stewart further noted Da Silva’s child did not live in the state.

He said the charges were “serious” and Da Silva faced life in jail if convicted, adding Da Silva potentially had access to significant amounts of money and drugs meaning he could potentially flee the jurisdiction.

The case was adjourned to next month.