Prosecutors say police foiled the "sophisticated" operations of a drug dealer when they seized a Mercedes-Benz, more than $16,000 in cash and a "significant" quantity of drugs from her Belconnen home.
In police documents tendered to the ACT Magistrates Court on Friday, officers said student Hayley Louise Wood had taken photos of herself holding large amounts of cash and drugs. The 29-year-old allegedly captioned the photos: "I'm a dealer now made 4k profit today moving 6k of product. 10 grand deals [sic]".
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The documents said officers raided Ms Wood's Scullin unit on Thursday morning and observed extensive CCTV coverage at the property and deadbolt locks on its internal door.
The officers alleged they also found $16,565 worth of $50 notes at the unit, as well as a set of scales, vials, a flask and a funnel containing suspected drug residue, and two electrical discharge devices like Tasers.
"There were also three mobile phones; and a large amount of liquid and crystalline substance that police suspect to be drugs located within very well hidden concealments; and also items within a locked safe suspected to be controlled drugs," the documents said.
Police said the safe contained a jar of at least 100 millilitres of a chemical suspected to be the drug GBL.
Police said that when they located a black Mercedes-Benz GLA45 at the property, Ms Wood declined to say how she had managed to afford the vehicle. The documents said officers found records showing the vehicle had been bought for $32,000 in July.
When Ms Wood fronted court on Friday morning via audio-visual link from a remote room, she did not enter pleas to five charges. The charges included two counts of possessing prohibited weapons, two counts of possessing property suspected of being the proceeds of crime, and one count of trafficking controlled drugs.
In the documents, police said they might charge Ms Wood with more offences. The court heard Ms Wood also had an older, unrelated drink driving charge.
Solicitor Kara McKee, in arguing Ms Wood should be granted bail, said the 29-year-old had a limited criminal history and would be unlikely to commit further offences, given police had seized all of her alleged weapons and proceeds of crime.
Prosecutor Madison Fieldus countered that argument. She described Ms Wood's drug operation as sophisticated, and said the quantities of cash and drugs police found at her property were extensive.
Magistrate James Lawton ultimately refused Ms Wood bail. He noted she'd allegedly been involved in the sale of drugs for eight or nine months, and police said they found incriminating Snapchat photos of her when they conducted the raid.
Ms Wood is next due in court on September 18.
Cassandra Morgan
It has never been more important for Canberrans to be able to access reliable and accurate information about health. As The Canberra Times’ health reporter, I am committed to ensuring our readers have access to this. I, like many in the territory, have family members who work in the sector. Although providing comprehensive coverage on the coronavirus pandemic is obviously my number one priority, I aim to frequently shed light on the fantastic work our frontline professionals do, as well as the challenges they face. Email me tips and story ideas at: c.morgan@canberratimes.com.au.
It has never been more important for Canberrans to be able to access reliable and accurate information about health. As The Canberra Times’ health reporter, I am committed to ensuring our readers have access to this. I, like many in the territory, have family members who work in the sector. Although providing comprehensive coverage on the coronavirus pandemic is obviously my number one priority, I aim to frequently shed light on the fantastic work our frontline professionals do, as well as the challenges they face. Email me tips and story ideas at: c.morgan@canberratimes.com.au.
