Frank Migliarese charged after allegedly organising transport for drugs seized in Tailem Bend bust

A father of three has faced court accused of organising the transport of meth, cocaine and ecstasy allegedly found in a BMW in Tailem Bend.

Frank Migliarese, 45, has been charged with drug and money laundering, offences. Picture: Supplied

A northeastern suburbs father of three accused of organising the transport of a 3kg block of methamphetamine, 14g of cocaine and 4000 MDMA pills has asked a court to release him on bail because his family depend on him for income.

On Thursday afternoon, Gilles Plains father Frank Migliarese, 45, faced the Adelaide Magistrates Court charged with two counts of trafficking in a large commercial quantity of a controlled drug, one count of trafficking in a controlled drug and one count of money laundering.

The court heard police prosecutors would remain opposed to any form of bail due to the seriousness of Mr Migliarese’s alleged involvement in the drug trafficking.

“On January 18, 2024, police stopped a white BMW sedan on the Princes Hwy in Tailem Bend,” a police prosecutor told the court.

“Police searched the vehicle under the Controlled Substances Act where they located a 3kg block of methamphetamine. They also located an ounce, or 14g, of cocaine.

“On the back seat they allegedly found a suitcase alleged to have contained two separate packages totalling 4000 MDMA tablets and $35,000 in $50 denominations.

Frank Migliarese, 45, has been charged with drug and money laundering offences.

He will return to court later this month.

“A Medicare and bank card in the name of the co-accused were found in that suitcase.”

He also said police also found about 3L of liquid methamphetamine in bottles in the BMW.

Detectives from the Serious and Organised Crime Branch located Mr Migliarese at a business premises on Wednesday where they arrested him and seized his phone.

“During a review of the defendant’s mobile phone seized at the time of arrest, police identified the defendant’s involvement, which is alleged to have been co-ordinating the drugs being transported,” the prosecutor said.

His vehicle was searched, and police allege a further $87,000 was found in cash. Further drugs and equipment were located at Mr Migliarese’s business premises in Prospect, they said.

Mr Migliarese is the second of three people arrested after the car was searched in January.

Police allege a 48-year-old Sellicks Hill man was found in possession of three litres of meth oil, 14 grams of cocaine, 4000 ecstasy tablets and $35,000 cash.

A third person, a 37-year-old Prospect woman, has also been charged with trafficking in a controlled drug. She will appear in court at a later date.

David Edwardson KC, for Mr Migliarese, told Magistrate Brian Nitschke his client was not a flight risk, and had three children and a wife who were dependent on him for income.

“Your Honour, my client has no relevant history, and he was not in the car when the drugs were located,” Mr Edwardson said.

“There is nothing unique about these charges.

“He is in a position to provide, through his aunty, a $20,000 cash surety, and the bail address can be the family home. That is where he wishes to reside.

“My client’s wife is training to be a nurse and she is entirely dependent on the accused’s ability to maintain an income. They have three children aged, 13, 12 and four years of age, and he has significant ties to South Australia and is not a flight risk.”

Mr Nitschke ordered a home detention report, to consider if Mr Migliarese is a suitable candidate for bail.

He will return to court later this month.

Mr Migliarese and his co-accused were arrested after police found drugs in a vehicle search in Tailem Bend.

It’s the latest in a string of unrelated drug busts and seizures in the Murraylands town. The Advertiser is not suggesting Mr Migliarese was involved in those busts, and police do not allege that.

In October 2023, a Mawson Lakes man allegedly crossed the state border with 5kg of brick cocaine hidden in a dog food bag in his Victorian hire car.

The huge quantity of cocaine seized has prevented at least 5000 street deals from being distributed within the state and had an approximate total value of about $1.7m, police said.

10kg of methamphetamine and a small amount of cocaine were found in a car in Tailem Bend in April last year.

Originally published as Frank Migliarese charged after allegedly organising transport for drugs seized in Tailem Bend bust