Ex-ABC presenter Ashley Hall allegedly found with $600,000 worth of drugs including MDMA, cocaine

A former ABC radio presenter faces 23 counts of drug supply and possession after he was allegedly found with $600,000 worth of illicit drugs.

Ashley Hall in Sydney in January 2021. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Bianca De Marchi

Former ABC presenter Ashley Hall has been charged with serious drug supply offences and possessing $600,000 worth of illicit drugs including MDMA, cocaine, methylamphetamine and cannabis.

The 52-year-old radio journalist was arrested by police in Sydney on Wednesday, with police allegedly seizing 500 MDMA tablets, 100g of cocaine, 3.2kg of 1,4-butanediol, 700g of methylamphetamine and more than 1kg of cannabis after executing search warrants at two hotels in the city.

Ashley Hall. Picture: ABC via NCA NewsWire

Police also allegedly seized more than $70,000 in cash.

The former fill-in presenter of ABC radio programs AM, PM and The World Today was taken to Surry Hills police station where he was charged with 23 offences and refused police bail.

Hall, who according to his ABC profile studied economics and law at Monash University before his time at the public broadcaster, was charged with two counts of supply large commercial quantity of prohibited drug, six counts of supply prohibited drug greater than commercial quantity and eight counts of supply prohibited drug greater than indictable but less than commercial quantity.

He was also charged with three counts of supply small quantity of prohibited drug, supply prohibited drugs on an ongoing basis, two counts of possess prohibited drug, and knowingly deal with the proceeds of crime.

On Thursday morning his matter was mentioned before magistrate Brett Shields at Downing Centre Local Court.

He did not appear in person or via AVL link, with a Legal Aid lawyer appearing on his behalf for less than a minute. Bail was not applied for.

In a statement, police said officers from Inner West Police Area Command established Strike Force Weismantle to investigate the commercial supply of prohibited drugs throughout Sydney in August 2022.

“Following extensive inquiries, strike force investigators arrested a 52-year-old man in Commonwealth Street, Sydney about 10am yesterday.

“A short time later, officers executed two search warrants at hotels in Wentworth Street and Bond Street, Sydney.

“The drugs seized have an estimated potential street value of $600,000. All items were seized to undergo forensic examination,” police said.

Hall will return to court in February.