Five face court with ‘very serious allegations’ after massive haul of drugs and weapons seized in Adelaide’s west
Five people have faced court after a large haul of drugs including meth, heroin and cocaine as well as firearms, nunchucks and cash was seized on Saturday.
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Five people will remain behind bars on remand facing “very serious allegations” after a traffic stop led police to seize drugs and a cache of weapons in Woodville North on Saturday, a court has heard.
Appearing at Port Adelaide Magistrates Court in front of Magistrate Jay Pandya on Monday, three of the five made no application for bail following their various firearms, drug and weapon offences charges.
One of the accused, Linda Saqipi, said it was “so unfair” after she was remanded in custody until Friday.
“Crikey,” Ms Saqipi, 52, said.
“They are very serious allegations Ms Saqipi,” Ms Pandya said.
“I’m not sure if you’re aware of them but trafficking in drugs, money laundering …”
“No, no, no,” Ms Saqipi said. “I don’t even know who they are – I just wanted a lift to my brother’s.
“Your Honour, I didn’t do anything wrong. All I did was just want to get a lift to my brother’s – that’s all.”
Police stopped an Audi car in the carpark of a service station on Torrens Rd, Woodville North, about 11pm on Saturday.
It is alleged police found a sawn-off .22 calibre rifle under the driver’s seat as well as methamphetamine and cocaine while searching the car.
The driver, Damien Robert Carter, a 45-year-old Fulham man, was allegedly found in possession of a loaded .22 calibre magazine while the front seat passenger, Zaine Alexandra Wykes, a 27-year-old Brahma Lodge woman, was allegedly found in possession of MDMA and heroin.
The rear passenger, Ms Saqipi, had no fixed address.
Police also allege they found $73,000 in cash, a “trafficable quantity” of fantasy, a taser, a knife and drug paraphernalia.
The three occupants of the car were arrested and charged with various firearms, drug and weapon offences and the vehicle was impounded for forensic examination.
A search of the driver’s Fulham address resulted in two more arrests and the seizure of a further three firearms, a set of nunchucks and more drug paraphernalia.
A 49-year-old man and a 40-year-old woman, both of no fixed address, were arrested at Fulham.
They were both charged with three counts of possessing a firearm without a licence and possessing a prohibited weapon.
Ms Saqipi and the 40-year-old woman were both adjourned to appear at the Port Adelaide Magistrates Court later this week.
Mr Carter and Ms Wykes were adjourned to appear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court in October for charge determination.
No pleas have been entered for any of the charges.
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Originally published as Five face court with ‘very serious allegations’ after massive haul of drugs and weapons seized in Adelaide’s west
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