Alleged Narre Warren drug dealer’s sweet excuse for suspicious brown substance found in car

An alleged drug dealer who was allegedly caught with magic mushrooms and $400 cash as he cruised around Noble Park told police that a brown substance in his bag was chocolate. But the Narre Warren man failed to make a sweet escape.

An alleged drug dealer has appeared in court after a suspicious brown substance was found in his car. Picture: Derrick den Hollander

An alleged Narre Warren drug dealer told police a brown substance in a ziplock bag was chocolate in a bid to avoid jail time, a court has heard.

But the sweet excuse didn’t fly with officers in Noble Park, who pulled over Matthew Edwards as he cruised in his unregistered black hatchback with fake plates along Chandler Rd about 3.30am on June 25.

The Dandenong Magistrates’ Court heard Mr Edwards allegedly produced a NSW driver's licence but became increasingly nervous when officers asked him to recite details on the card.

A search allegedly unveiled $400 in $20 notes concealed in Mr Edwards’ hoodie as well as a set of scales, a small bag of ice and a small bag of what was believed to be hallucinogenic mushrooms.

And when officers allegedly uncovered seven bags of a suspicious brown substance, Mr Edwards told them it was chocolate.

Police also allege a message found on Edwards’ phone suggested that he was out to deal drugs.

“Alanah would you do HB (sic) for $700?” the message read.

Mr Edwards’ lawyer told the court the cash was his client’s rent money and that testing had not proved if the strange substance was illicit or the sweet treat.

He said Mr Edwards — who was previously homeless before moving into his Narre Warren home with his partner — was taking the drugs to a friend.

“This is a low level example of trafficking,” he said.

“(Mr Edwards) has had difficulty in isolation and has not been able to see his partner (while in custody).”

Magistrate Jack Vandersteen said Mr Edwards, who has spent 15 days in custody, needed to “prioritise”.

“It begs question as to what you were doing in Noble Park at 3.30am,” he said.

Mr Edwards, who faces charges including unlicensed driving, was bailed on the condition he stay at his Narre Warren address between 8pm and 6am and uses no drugs of dependence unless prescribed.

He will reappear on August 10.

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