AN Evanston Park man has been arrested in relation to a major drug bust at Port Adelaide last week, where police have alleged a truck driver was planning to use his essential worker status to courier illicit substances around the country.
Serious and Organised Crime and Australian Federal Police (AFP) detectives arrested the 37-year-old after searching his property last Tuesday and finding $25,000 and evidence linking him to a significant bust at a Port Adelaide address the same day.
During that search, police attended a property on Lipson Street and seized just under 160kg of cannabis, half a kilogram of cocaine and $20,000 in cash. A 52-year-old Mount Compass man was arrested at the scene.
Detectives also raided an Urrbrae address where they arrested a 43-year-old man after uncovering evidence linking him to the Port Adelaide seizure.
All three men were charged with trafficking a large commercial quantity of a controlled drug, trafficking in a commercial quantity and money laundering.
They all faced the Elizabeth Magistrates Court on Wednesday.
AFP superintendent Gail McClure said
“The AFP works closely with South Australia police and other partner agencies to stop illicit drugs from reaching the community and causing harm,” she said.
“Criminal networks are constantly looking for ways to flout the laws for their own greed and profits and the COVID-19 border restrictions are no exception.
“Police will allege an inter-state truck driver was planning to use his status as an essential worker to transport drugs around the country.
“Criminals should not think they can exploit this global crisis. These arrests and seizures show that we are one step ahead and will continue disrupting criminal ventures and put people before the courts.”
According to police, the seized cannabis was worth around $1.3 million and amounted to about 53,000 street deals. The seized cocaine was worth approximately $175,000 and equated to 500 street deals.