Matthew Burke denied bail after mass amounts of drugs, cash allegedly found in his home

A 42-year-old man linked to one of the Territory’s biggest ever drug busts has applied for bail with his lawyer arguing he’s the primary caregiver for his mother. Read the judge’s decision here.

The Northern Territory Joint Organised Crime Task Force charged two men aged 41 and 42 and allegedly seized 3kg of cocaine valued at $1.5m, 6kg of cannabis and $255,000 in cash.

A man linked to one of Darwin’s biggest ever drug busts has been denied bail and told he faces a long time in custody, if found guilty, despite being the primary caregiver for his ill mother.

Matthew Leon Burke, 42, faced the Darwin Local Court charged with supplying a schedule 1 drug, supplying a commercial quantity of a schedule 2 drug and dealing with the proceeds of crime.

It came after 5.5kg of cannabis and $100,000 in cash was allegedly seized from his Howard Springs home on May 4.

The Northern Territory Joint Organised Crime Task Force charged two men aged 41 and 42 and allegedly seized 3kg of cocaine valued at $1.5m, 6kg of cannabis and $255,000 in cash.

In applying for bail, Burke’s lawyer Julie Franz argued he was the primary caregiver for his mother.

She put forward a bail plan that would include the seizure of Burke’s passport and electronic monitoring.

However, police have linked the items found at Burke’s home to the unearthing of 3kg of cocaine and $110,000 in cash, which was allegedly buried in a waterproof container on the Esplanade.

The seizure of those items resulted in the arrest of Cy Robert John Morris, 41, who was found with $42,000 cash at his property in Alice Springs.

Prosecution lawyer Kate Nichols argued there was a “very strong case” against Burke and suggested being released on bail could interrupt the investigation.

“This is a very strong case, he is looking at years in custody,” Ms Nichols said.

“This is a very recent and ongoing investigation where police are continuing to obtain material and that is part of why bail should be refused.

“And in respect to the house he would return to, it is understood that’s the same house where the drugs were seized, and I understand that paraphernalia was freely around the house.”

Judge Thomasin Opie refused bail on the grounds of the very serious offending.

“There is a concern that if Mr Burke were released that investigation could be compromised,” Ms Opie said.

“This is a case where the charges are extremely serious and where a large amount of cash and drugs were found.”

Burke will return to the Darwin Local Court on July 12 via video link.