Convicted Keilor Downs dealer Jeremy Chea cops to drug charges after Pure music festival bust

A convicted Keilor Downs trafficker claimed his bevy of drugs intercepted by a cop dog at a rave festival were for “friends”.

Jeremy Chea was fished out by drug detecting cop dog at Pure music festival. Facebook.

A convicted drug trafficker who attempted to smuggle speed, coke, valium and Viagra into a Melbourne rave festival has narrowly avoided a jail term.

Jeremy Chea, 26, was sentenced in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday to an 18-month community correction after pleading guilty to multiple drug possession charges.

Chea was pinched by a police sniffer dog attempting to smuggle a bevy of drugs into Sidney Myer Music Bowl electronic music festival Pure on March 28 last year.

Chea was no match for the alert cop hound which exposed the dumbo tweaker to its human colleagues.

Police searched Chea and found speed, cocaine, valium, Viagra gel and $290 cash.

Chea, who was initially charged with trafficking, told police he “intended” to “share” the drugs with his “friends”.

The court heard Chea was previously convicted for importing a market quantity of a border controlled drug in 2016.

Chea was placed on an 18-month community correction order which expired in 2018, the court was told.

The defence submitted Chea owned a successful removalist business with his brother but had recently branched out to a career in cryptocurrency and dubious internet ‘NFT’ commodities.

“Unfortunately that (removalist) business is no longer doing well. He’s opted for a future in the NFT and crypto world your honour which isn’t doing very well either at the moment,” the defence submitted.

The court was told Chea had planned for a “very long weekend” with his friends doing speed and coke while the valium was to help him sleep and the intended use of the Viagra was “obviously quite explanatory”.

It was submitted Chea was frustrated throughout lockdown because he wasn’t able to train.

“He still has some unresolved problems with drugs and alcohol,” the defence said.

The defence, who called for Chea to be handed a good behaviour bond, submitted the rave head no longer lusts for the party life and is more cautious about the people he associates with.

“This has been a severe wake-up call for Mr Chea which will constantly play at the back of his mind,” the defence submitted.

However, Magistrate Rose Falla said during last month’s plea hearing there was no chance Chea was escaping with a good behaviour bond.

“No way known, no way known,” she said.

“That is completely outside the range for a prior for trafficking … outside the range entirely … who does that go for community denunciation …

“He’s got four different types of drugs in his possession … his intention was to share (the drugs) with his friends that is why he has a traffickable amount.”

Magistrate Falla, who ordered Chea appear in person for today’s sentencing, said she weighed up whether or not to jail the convicted drug dealer.

“Lucky for you the sniffer dogs stopped you from bring those drugs into the festival …’” Magistrate Falla said.

“I’m not sold I’ve made the right decision.”

Chea was convicted and placed on the order which includes drug testing requirements.

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