Anthony Baloukas fronts court after major drug lab bust

A failed car tinting boss who posted online “Everyday is payday” rented a storage unit in suburban Melbourne where he stored equipment chemicals to make meth and MDMA.

Former car tinting boss Anthony Baloukas won't go to jail because of time served but is under a community corrections order.

A failed car tinting boss who posted online “Everyday is payday” rented a storage unit in suburban Melbourne where he stored equipment and chemicals to make meth and MDMA.

Anthony Baloukas, of Cranbourne, was jailed for 129 days in the County Court on Wednesday — reckoned as time served — having earlier pleaded guilty to charges of possession of substance or equipment used in drug trafficking and possession of a drug of dependence.

Judge Gerard Mullaly said Baloukas, 30, signed a lease using a bogus signature for a storage unit in Cheltenham where he kept various scientific equipment purchased from overseas that were capable of manufacturing ice and MDMA.

Anthony Baloukas was found in possession of sophisticated scientific equipment capable of manufacturing methamphetamine and MDMA.

Baloukas was captured on CCTV arriving at the unit with other men, transporting and storing items connected with drug trafficking on consecutive days in November 2020.

When detectives swooped on the father of one on April 6, 2021 they found about 4412kg of Methylamine — a precursor to making drugs of dependence — and various quantities of ethanol, hydrochloric acid, potassium hydroxide and devices capable of producing hydrogen gas.

A bag containing a small amount of cannabis and another with three, 70ml bottles of testosterone, were found in the storage unit.

In his car, investigators found handwritten notes on which Mr Baloukas had practised writing the signature of his alias that he used to rent the storage unit.

“It’s plain that these items were for the production of drugs of dependence like methylamphetamine and MDMA which are now a scourge in our community,” Judge Mullaly said.

Judge Mullaly said after losing a thriving car window tinting business while on remand, Baloukas has since set up a new tyre recycling outlet with his significantly ill stepfather.

However, the business was on a "knife edge”, he said, as its success depended on Baloukas presence.

The prosecution conceded that a combination of jail and CCO was suitable, given Baloukas’ lack of previous conviction, guilty plea and remorse.

Baloukas’ social media accounts when he was busted in 2021 showed he had an interest in cryptocurrency, including Dogecoin and Dash, hardcore American rap music and had shared posts online including “Everyday is payday”.

He wrote on Twitter: “The window tinting business is just the beginning, brick by brick I will build this great wall of success. Now I have another baby angel to help guide me in the right direction and to also make sure I stay focused on the task at hand”.