Covert police surveillance of a cocaine deal between two men at the Melba shops last month led to the arrest on Friday of a Gilmore man and his subsequent appearance in the ACT Magistrates Court on Saturday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Josh Wood, 29, was arrested at his home in Gilmore after a search warrant found 100 grams of cocaine, around $10,000 in cash and two mobile phones, one of which contained an encrypted conversation with a person suspected to be part of the same criminal syndicate.
Wood's arrest was also part of an operation on Friday in which multiple search warrants were also executed by police in Hume, Phillip and Queanbeyan.
Traffickable quantities of drugs were seized during those warrants, and a prohibited firearm.
In the tendered statement of facts, police observed the home Wood shared with his partner contained a large number of luxury and designer items including jewellery, shoes and handbags which were suspected to be the proceeds of crime.
They also found what was suspected to be a cocaine press and two rolled up banknotes with white powder residue on the end.
Wood was remanded in custody to appear again on June 7.
Also appearing on separate drug trafficking charges in court on Saturday was a man whom police had been seeking since early April when he rode his motorcycle up out of the underground carpark of Infinity Towers in Gungahlin, swerved around the police car waiting with flashing lights to intercept him, and accelerated away.
After numerous attempts to locate Bradley Takkenberg, he was finally spotted by police on Friday afternoon walking on Kate Crace Street, Gungahlin.
When arrested, he was found to be carrying clipseal bags and a cigarette packet allegedly containing more than 22 grams - a traffickable quantity - of methylamphetamine.
Court documents state that the defendant said "these aren't my pants" and "I picked up the cigarette packet my mistake".
Takkenburg was remanded to appear on June 7.
Update on December 28: The prosecution on July 22 this year withdrew the charge of trafficking in a controlled drug other than cannabis, namely methylamphetamine.
Takkenburg had pleaded not guilty to that charge.
On July 22, he was convicted and sentenced for unlicensed riding and failing to stop for police after pleading guilty to those charges.
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content:
- Bookmark canberratimes.com.au
- Download our app
- Make sure you are signed up for our breaking and regular headlines newsletters
- Follow us on Twitter
- Follow us on Instagram