Insurance broker Jarrod Watson charged with trafficking cocaine at The Commons South Melbourne
A former police insurance broker accused of peddling cocaine at a South Melbourne co-working space has lost a key legal battle.
Inner South
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A Melbourne insurance broker allegedly busted with cocaine at a co-working office has been ordered to stand trial.
Jarrod Watson, 40, pleaded not guilty in the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Thursday to trafficking cocaine.
Watson landed on the police radar after investigators launched ‘Operation Brandish 2019’ to take down a drug syndicate which operated throughout Melbourne’s south.
Police allegedly linked Watson to the operation via phone calls to a high-priority drug trafficker target.
The primary target was arrested which then put police on Watson’s tail.
Watson was nabbed after police raided his Elwood home on August 15 2020.
Police found about half a gram of coke lined up on a plate next to a credit card in Watson’s name and multiple devices, a court heard during an earlier hearing.
Another man who arrived at Watson’s house at 4am and present during the raid told police he didn’t know what cocaine was.
Police arrested Watson then raided South Melbourne co-working office The Commons where they allegedly seized 271 grams hidden in a Lenovo laptop box.
The court heard Watson based his company Watson’s Risk Services at the Market St co-working space.
Police also found multiple Watson’s Risk Services documents at The Commons.
The defence submitted, at an earlier hearing, the matter had “otherwise resolved” bar an issue with the quantity of cocaine Watson was allegedly caught with.
Watson, via his lawyer, applied for his matter to be heard in the Magistrates’ Court where a lower maximum sentence would be applicable.
The court heard Watson, who grew up in Brighton East, worked in multiple jobs since completing year 12.
These roles included a stint at The Bank of Scotland in London and a 12-month stint selling insurance for the Victoria Police Co-Op.
Watson worked for multiple insurance companies while he studied to become an insurance broker.
Watson lost his role at an insurance company after he was hospitalised for a serious heart condition which he stills seeks treatment for.
The court heard Watson, who was also charged with cocaine possession, launched his company following the diagnosis.
The defence submitted Watson, who has no priors, increased his cocaine use during the pandemic.
The defence also submitted the man present at Watson’s home during the raid also has a space at the Commons.
The prosecution opposed the summary jurisdiction application due to the alleged amount of cocaine seized.
Watson will face a preliminary County Court hearing at a later date.
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