Drug mule Joseph Roy Wallner bought ice from ‘Humphrey Bear’, Hobart court told

A YOUNG man flew to Sydney and bought $250,000 worth of drugs from a person he knew only as “Humphrey Bear”, the Supreme Court has heard.

Detective Inspector Jason Elmer with 10 ounces of ice that was seized by Tasmania Police. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

A YOUNG man flew to Sydney and bought $250,000 worth of drugs from a person he knew only as “Humphrey Bear”, the Supreme Court in Hobart has heard.

Painter Joseph Roy Wallner, 22, has pleaded guilty to one count of trafficking a controlled substance and two counts of travelling under a false name.

Crown Prosecutor Elizabeth Avery told the court Wallner flew from Hobart to Sydney on July 16.

He then took a taxi to Pymble railway station and got into a grey Porsche with Humphrey Bear and gave him $28,000 for two bags of methylamphetamine, which he placed in his underwear.

When he arrived at Hobart Airport at 4.15pm the same day, Tasmania Police dog Bernie followed him and sat down beside him to indicate a positive detection to drugs.

MORE: MAN ACCUSED OF TRAFFICKING DRUGS IN UNDIES

When police asked him why the dog had reacted, Wallner replied: “I have no idea”.

After a search he produced two bags from his underwear which were later found to contain around 259 grams of methylamphetamine — estimated to have a potential street value of between $186,000 and $249,000.

He told the police the drug was for personal use and had been paid for from savings and a contribution from a friend.

But defence lawyer Andre Slicer said his client had been forced to act as a drug mule to pay for his drug debts.

“He was press-ganged into acting as a courier,” Mr Slicer said. “It’s not like he is a kingpin here.”

The case has been adjourned until November 7. Wallner remains in custody.

Humphrey B. Bear was a popular children’s television character who made his first appearance in 1965.

Originally published as Drug mule Joseph Roy Wallner bought ice from ‘Humphrey Bear’, Hobart court told