Adam Ferris: Accused Seaford drug dealer used kid’s shoes parcel ploy
Drug dealers often use novel ways to transport and hide their gear. But officers were one step ahead of this alleged Seaford trafficker.
South East
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A police sting was set up to trap an accused drug dealer who they say used couriers to conceal cannabis hidden in parcels labelled as kid’s shoes, a court has heard.
Adam Ferris was allegedly trafficking an array of substances using this undercover method before his Seaford home was raided earlier this month.
He was also accused of growing marijuana after several plants were allegedly found at his house.
The unemployed 40-year-old applied for bail at Frankston Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, facing a plethora of trafficking, drugs, weapons and stolen goods charges.
The court heard police organised for a ‘delivery’ to be made to a Mornington address in January this year.
It was alleged Mr Ferris sent a parcel via courier describing the contents as “kid’s shoes”, but when it was opened it allegedly also contained 36g of cannabis.
An investigation was launched and officers conducted a raid on Mr Ferris’ unit on May 7 this year.
Forty-four items were allegedly found including cannabis plants, various drugs of dependence, imitation firearms, gel blasters and an array of suspected stolen goods including jewellery and war medals.
Also allegedly uncovered were mobile phones which detectives say indicated trafficking in drugs including cannabis, ice, LSD, ketamine and THC oil, as well as $2298 in cash.
Police opposed bail as they considered him a high risk of reoffending as he has no income except from dealing.
His defence lawyer said the former cabinet maker, who lost his job in December last year, denied many of the charges.
He said he had never been in court before, never mind in custody, and the delay on remand while further investigations continued would likely exceed any jail sentence he may be given if found guilty.
He said Mr Ferris, who has already spent 13 days behind bars, also has approval from a court support program and a stable address to return to.
Magistrate Julian Ayres said although the drugs found were “not a minor seizure”, in his view it wasn’t likely that all the trafficking charges would go ahead.
He agreed that any potential jail term would likely not exceed time spent on remand and the risk he posed could be mitigated to an acceptable level.
Mr Ferris was bailed to reappear in court on July 8.
