Ajmeer Kakall begs for bail to return to pregnant wife while facing major drug trafficking charge
A Croydon Hills man accused of importing almost 100kg of meth hidden in farming equipment has pleaded to be released back to his pregnant wife.
Melbourne City
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A Croydon Hills man has begged a court for his freedom after allegedly being caught trafficking just short of 100 kg of meth imported within farming equipment.
Ajmeer Kakall, 34, appeared in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on January 8, facing one charge of importing a border controlled drug in a commercial quantity.
The court heard Mr Kakall had allegedly organised the importation of 98.8 kg of methamphetamines via a shipping container between November and December of 2023.
Detective Senior Constable Matthew Poore told the court on Monday that a police run anti-narcotics team in Dubai had tipped off Australia Border Force and Victoria Police in November last year, regarding a container believed to be carrying meth.
The container arrived at the Port of Melbourne from The United Arab Emirates on November 30 and contained four wheat thrashers stashed with the illicit drug.
The machinery was picked up from the port on December 15 and taken to a separate storage yard until December 19, when they were transferred by courier to an Oakleigh South address.
The court heard officers surveilled the machinery being delivered to Oakleigh South before it was allegedly loaded up by Mr Kakall’s co-accused Ali Khanbabayi.
Over the day of December 19, Mr Khanbabayi allegedly oversaw the four wheat thrashers as they were transported by tow truck to a Dewhurst container yard.
DSC Poore told the court alleged phone and text interactions between the two men included messages demonstrating how to take apart wheat thrashers and unpack the meth without disturbing its packaging.
Investigating officers followed Mr Khanbabayi to fast-food restaurant El Jannah in Mitcham, where he met with Mr Kakall.
Police allege Mr Kakall reimbursed his co-accused for the tow truck costs with $2500 cash and that officers saw Mr Kakall giving Mr Khanbabayi tools that he would later use to disassemble the wheat thrashers.
On December 20, Mr Khanbabayi returned to the Dewhurst yard with another man and took apart the wheat thrashers.
Police raided the property and arrested Mr Khanbabayi, who later told police he was meant to earn $15,000 for two days work.
“I was greedy and I was stupid,” Mr Khanbabayi told police.
Mr Kakall was arrested the following day, during a raid on his Croydon Hills home.
Police seized two mobile phones and tens of thousands of dollars in cash from his car and the master bedroom’s wardrobe.
Mr Kakall has remained in police custody since the raid.
DSC Poore and the DPP argued Mr Kakall was an unacceptable risk to be released on bail due to his potentially having a passport from Afghanistan, with the risk of him absconding.
Mr Kakall’s counsel Peter Dunn KC, argued against this claim, saying all his ties are in Australia, including his two children and pregnant wife.
“Mr Kakall has significant ties to Victoria and Australia,” Mr Dunn said.
“He runs two businesses, has a mortgage and his family.”
Mr Kakall’s two siblings have put forward their homes as assurance to the court that their brother will not breach bail, should he be released.
Magistrate Belinda Wallington adjourned her decision to Wednesday, January 10.
Co-accused Mr Khanbabayi will also appear in Melbourne Magistrates Court on January 18 for his own bail application.
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