Italian student Julian ‘Juljan’ Pergjivuka charged with trafficking a commercial quantity of cocaine
Court hears authorities fear an Italian student allegedly part of a “much larger organisation” could flee Australia following major drug charges.
South East
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An Italian national was allegedly pinched with a stack of cocaine and cash after federal authorities seized a drug consignment which came to Australia via Mexico.
Julian ‘Juljan’ Pergjivuka, 32, fronted Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday charged with trafficking a commercial quantity of cocaine.
Pergjivuka, also charged with cultivating cannabis, dealing with the proceeds of crime and possession of cartridge ammunition, was allegedly nabbed with almost half a kilo of cocaine at Chadstone on January 18 this year.
The court heard Joint Organised Crime Taskforce members raided the Chadstone address after authorities intercepted a “substantial consignment from Mexico”.
It’s alleged Pergjivuka was caught with $49,000 stuffed in jacket pockets.
Police also allegedly discovered 466.7gm of cocaine stashed in the clothes dryer and in the roof of Pergjivuka’s then Chadstone home.
Investigators also alleged CCTV footage depicted Pergjivuka purchasing $9900 worth of Bitcoin.
It’s also alleged Pergjivuka cultivated a commercial quantity of cannabis and was caught with Australian and international currency and gun ammunition.
Police also allegedly discovered $127,650 cash and three mobile phones over the back fence of the Chadstone address “at the same time or shortly after” the execution of the search warrant.
The prosecution opposed Pergjivuka’s bail application, citing the accused Italian man “posed an unacceptable risk of flight”.
“ (Pergjivuka) is a flight risk … our concerns are the limited connections he has with Victoria … (and) the fact that his studies appear to be winding up …,” the prosecutor said.
“Whether he’s going to apply for visa extensions or whatever … it’s all speculative … those are the concerns your honour.”
The court heard police already have Pergjivuka’s Italian passport but authorities feared he would “have the ability” to “fabricate” a passport.
The prosecution also raised concerns with a proposed condition that Pergjivuka wear an electronic monitoring device while on bail.
The court heard the bracelet would be supplied and monitored by Attenti, a private company which has no contracts with Victoria Police.
Attenti business development manager Philipp Schluter said his company would receive alerts if Pergjivuka entered exclusion zones or tampered with the device.
The prosecutor put it to Mr Schluter the device was “made of material which could be easily cut”.
“Nothing in this world is uncuttable your honour,” Mr Schluter said.
Magistrate Carolyn Burnside, who initially shared fears of Pergjivuka’s flight risk, said the bracelet “should minimise risk to an acceptable one”.
“He has no ties to the jurisdiction really,” Magistrate Burnside said.
“And what he could do, because he’s part of a much larger organisation than him, he could be prevailed upon and be given the opportunity to leave the jurisdiction without ever facing court …
“(However), the risk of flight … is rendered as acceptable … (with the addition of the bracelet).”
Magistrate Burnside, who said the “the international and sophisticated nature of the alleged offending” was “not a weak case”, granted Pergjivuka bail with a raft of tight conditions including he wear the bracelet and report to police daily.
“You’re facing really serious charges …,” she said.
“I spend day in, day out dealing with people that end up addicted with very, very damaged lives because of consignments or trafficking of drugs.”
Pergjivuka was granted bail on a $10,000 surety with strict conditions he reside in Essendon with a curfew, report to police daily, wear the ankle bracelet and appear at court weekly.
Pergjivuka will face court at a later date.
