Jimmey Barkho: Drug trafficker pleads guilty to trafficking drugs

A Port Melbourne drug trafficker who was caught with a 200g “rock” of meth in his designer bag has asked a court for leniency.

A Port Melbourne man who was caught with a 200g “rock” of methamphetamine in his designer bag has asked a court for leniency because of his addiction issues.

Jimmey Barkho, 30, faced the County Court on Wednesday, after pleading guilty to charges of trafficking a drug of dependence and negligently dealing with the proceeds of crime.

The court heard he initially denied knowing the drugs were in the bag, but later changed his story to say he was “holding” it for someone else.

Police also discovered $8920 in cash in the Louis Vuitton bag.

Barkho was arrested outside a Sydenham home on June 13, 2018, after police conducted raids across Melbourne’s northwest in a coordinated effort targeting methamphetamine trafficking.

Acting Assistant Commissioner Peter Brigham said more than 100 police were involved in the raids which aimed to bring down a “sophisticated organised crime group”.

“This group of people we have arrested are a well-versed group who are familiar with police procedures,” he said at the time.

“They are good at concealing the way they operate. They have been difficult targets.”

Jimmey Barkho, 30, is taken to the Magistrates Court after his arrest on June 13, 2018. Picture: Alex Coppel

In court, Barkho’s lawyer John Dickinson QC said his client had begun using ice at the age of 20 to cope with trauma, but since his arrest he had made “genuine” efforts to address his addiction.

“There has been a significant delay between the offending and now, some three and a half years,” he said.

“Our submission is that he should be placed on a community corrections order without a term of further imprisonment.”

The court heard Barkho has a “considerable” history of offending, including past convictions for trafficking drugs of dependence.

“Meth is a scourge on society in this state,” prosecutor Peter Pickering said.

“He was found with a substantial amount of meth, we accept he may not have known the quantity but there’s no suggestion it was not for trafficking.”

He claimed Barkho’s story about holding the drug for someone else “has no substance”, arguing the Port Melbourne man should be jailed.

“To his credit, he’s apparently turned a corner in regards to his drug habit,” Mr Pickering said.

Sentencing was adjourned off until February 15 by Judge Syme for an assessment on his suitability for a corrections order.

Barkho will return on that date for sentencing.