Alleged Cessnock ice supplier Tyrone Anderson bailed as police scramble to find more evidence

A Hunter Valley man twice convicted of drug supply has been released on bail for his third alleged offence, with his lawyer indicating the case against him could be dropped.

A Hunter Valley man allegedly caught with an indictable quantity of methylamphetamine, or ice, hidden in his mother’s home may walk free, due to a lack of evidence.

Tyrone Anderson, 34, was one of three people charged during co-ordinated raids across Cessnock on April 22.

Tyrone Anderson was charged with alleged drug offences after Strike Force Drail raided his home at Cessnock. Picture: Facebook.

Police allegedly located 183 grams of the drug hidden in DVD cases, stored in plastic tubs in the garage of the home Anderson shares with his mother.

Anderson was initially denied bail, due to two previous supply convictions on his record.

The Cessnock man received a fine in 2011 for his first offence, and was jailed for two-and-a-half years in 2018 for the second.

But during a fresh bail bid in Cessnock Local Court on Wednesday, his lawyer Mickaela Mate indicated the latest case may be dropped completely due to a lack of forensic evidence.

Drugs and weapons were allegedly seized in a series of early morning raids at Cessnock. Picture: NSW Police.

Drugs and weapons were allegedly seized in a series of early morning raids at Cessnock. Picture: NSW Police.

“There were no fingerprints of Mr Anderson nor any DNA of Mr Anderson on the packages in which the drugs were found,” Ms Mate said.

“The drugs were allegedly found in plastic DVD cases that you’d need to open like a book, that were in plastic containers.

“There was no DNA or fingerprints on any of those items, and certainly not on the bags that contained the drugs themselves.”

Magistrate Andrew Miller said the Department of Public Prosecutions had asked for the matter to be adjourned for six weeks, so detectives could scour phone intercepts looking for further evidence in the case against Anderson.

Ms Mate said she had been negotiating with the DPP, and Anderson may be willing to plead guilty to a minor cannabis possession charge, in exchange for the supply case being dropped.

Anderson has yet to enter any plea to the sole count of supply.

Drugs and weapons were allegedly seized in a series of early morning raids at Cessnock. Picture: NSW Police.

Magistrate Miller said he was hesitant to grant bail, and Anderson would face a lengthy stint behind bars if he was convicted of the latest allegation.

“This is his third supply charge,” Mr Miller said.

“He has already served terms of imprisonment for supply.

“This is 183 grams of methylamphetamine … a short period after he has been released from a two-and-a-half year sentence for supplying drugs.”

But Mr Miller ultimately granted bail after the DPP proposed a number of conditions.

Anderson will not be allowed to leave home without his mother, is banned from owning more than one mobile phone, and can’t change his phone number without the permission of police.

He’ll return to court on August 25.

Autumn Swann was charged with alleged drug offences after Strike Force Drail raided her home at Cessnock. Picture: Facebook.

Eddie Henderson, 26, who was charged with separate alleged offences in the same April 22 raids, also appeared briefly in Cessnock Local Court on Wednesday.

Henderson has yet to enter pleas to nine drugs and weapons charges including three counts of supply.

His matter was adjourned to July 28.

Autumn Swann, 27, the third person charged in the raids, last month pleaded guilty to supply, but disputed the amount of ice police said they found in her home.

She will be sentenced in Newcastle Local Court on July 28.