An aged pensioner and a second man caught in major drug bust may be linked with a ‘‘very serious group’’ of drug traffickers, a court has heard.
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Police executed a string of search warrants on Sunday and Monday in relation to a lengthy investigation into the organised supply of cannabis in the ACT.
They seized about $230,000 in cash, more than 80 cannabis plants and six pounds of the drug, and arrested two men - Huy Huu Lee, 43, and Francis Stanley Robertson, 64.
Both men faced the ACT Magistrates Court on Monday charged with drug trafficking. Robertson applied for bail.
During his bail application, the court heard that a Macgregor home had been under electronic and physical surveillance for some time.
That home is alleged to be a drug clearing house.
Police watched as a Mitsubishi Lancer belonging to Robertson drove into the garage on Sunday.
The garage door closed, and police then listened in on a conversation between Lee and Robertson using electronic surveillance, the court heard.
The conversation tailed off, police say, and five minutes later, Robertson drove back out of the garage.
His car was pulled over and searched, and police allegedly found six pounds of cannabis stuffed into three backpacks in the boot of the car.
The prosecution said Robertson had been caught ‘‘red handed’’.
Lee was followed in his car a short time later, and was allegedly found in possession of $230,000.
Police also raided a home next door to the house where the men met, finding a ‘‘sophisticated hydroponic set up’’ with more than 80 cannabis plants.
The court heard that authorities did not know where Robertson - an aged pensioner who is also the sole carer for a mentally ill woman - fit in with the alleged crime syndicate.
The prosecution opposed his release on bail, fearing he may interfere with the investigation, or reoffend.
But Robertson’s lawyer Hugh Jorgensen said his client had no significant criminal history, except for a conviction for possessing and supplying cannabis 11 years ago.
Mr Jorgensen said his client was not a risk of reoffending, and said there was no evidence Robertson knew any other individuals in the alleged crime group.
He said police had been investigating the matter for some time, but no other links between Robertson and the alleged syndicate had shown up.
The lawyer said bail conditions could manage the prosecution’s fears.
But Special Magistrate Graeme Lunney agreed with the prosecution that there was a risk Robertson would interfere with the investigation, which was ‘‘spreading its net quite widely through Canberra’’.
Mr Lunney said he shared the police’s concerns for the integrity of the investigation, and refused Robertson bail.
The pensioner is expected to reappear in court for another bail application on December 23.
Lee’s lawyer Michael Kukulies-Smith made no application for bail, but signalled that he may do so when the matter came back before the ACT Magistrates Court on Thursday.
