Alleged buried meth bikie associate Ashley Crawford set to fight charges

The man allegedly left his three-year-old child in the car when he went to dig up an underground stash of methamphetamine.

An alleged associate of the Coffin Cheaters bikie gang accused of digging up a meth stash in Perth bushland has indicated he’ll fight a string of charges.

Ashley David Crawford, 30, is facing five offences after allegedly digging up two barrels containing 15kg of methamphetamine in the Mandurah suburb of Stake Hill on September 12.

Police body-cam vision shows David Crawford allegedly running from officers in Stake Hill bushland. Picture: Supplied / WA Police

WA Police say he removed 1kg of the drugs when officers swooped in and he bolted; body-worn camera footage showing the man being tackled and arrested.

Police located Mr Crawford’s car, with his three-year-old son waiting inside.

Appearing in Perth Magistrates Court briefly via video link from Hakea Prison on Tuesday, Mr Crawford’s lawyer indicated he would be entering pleas of not guilty during a police committal mention hearing on December 5.

The 30-year-old appeared in Perth Magistrates Court on Tuesday and will be back on Friday for a bail application hearing. Picture: Supplied / WA Police

The man allegedly recovered the drugs from two buried barrels containing 15kg of meth. Picture: Supplied / WA Police

Due to the volume of matters to be heard on Tuesday, a bail application for Mr Crawford was pushed back to Friday. He’s been remanded in custody until then.

He’s facing charges of possession of a trafficable quantity of meth, possession of smaller amounts of dexamphetamine and cocaine, possession of stolen goods, and possession of ammunition.

The drugs found buried at Stake Hill are estimated to be worth about $15m.

Investigations into a further 12kg of meth buried in bushland in the northern Perth suburb of Dianella are ongoing.

Originally published as Alleged buried meth bikie associate Ashley Crawford set to fight charges