Alleged Palmerston ‘middleman’ in meth importation plot, Linton Talbot, denied bail
The court heard while the 62-year-old had made ‘admissions’ after police swooped on a package containing 389.9g of methamphetamine, they ‘relate to being a middleman’.
Police & Courts
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A Bakewell man accused of being the “middleman” in a scheme to import methamphetamine from Thailand hidden in a water pump has been denied bail.
Linton Gregory Talbot faced the Darwin Local Court on Tuesday charged with supplying a commercial quantity of the drug after police intercepted a “suspicious package” sent to his address.
In a short-lived bail application, defence lawyer Rachel Parsons cited Mr Talbot’s age, the conditions in custody and the length of time he would likely spend on remand as reasons to let him out.
Ms Parsons said her client could be subject to electronic monitoring and while he had made “admissions”, they “relate to being a middleman”.
“Noting that Mr Talbot is 62 years of age, the conditions on remand are particularly onerous at the moment,” she said.
“He had a heart attack approximately 12 years ago and had a stent put in.”
But in refusing bail, judge Julie Franz said while Mr Talbot had only “low level drug offences on his record”, “the (present) allegations are very serious”.
“Mr Talbot’s made some admissions, limited definitely, but to being involved in importation of a large amount of meth,” she said.
“Even though I do note conditions on remand are tough — Mr Talbot’s 62 and I’m told, not a well man — reluctantly I refuse bail.”
A spokeswoman for NT Police previously said detectives would allege the package destined for Mr Talbot’s home contained 389.9g of methamphetamine hidden inside the housing of a water pump.
She said further investigations allegedly revealed an identical package from the same consignor in Thailand had previously been delivered to the same address.
Mr Talbot will return to court for a preliminary examination mention on November 13.
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