A North Wollongong man arrested on drug trafficking charges on Tuesday has already spent time behind bars for the same offence, a court has heard.
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Ali Ibrahim, 25, was on parole after serving a jail sentence for drug supply charges when police arrested him around 1pm at his Virginia Street unit after allegedly uncovering thousands of dollars worth of illegal drugs and cash hidden in common areas at the complex.
Police allege they found varying amounts of methylamphetamine, ecstasy and cocaine hidden in plastic bags and inside PVC pipe that had been stashed throughout the apartment block, including under a roof eave in a courtyard area.
Almost $11,000 in Australian currency was discovered lying on the ground at the rear of the complex, police claim.
Ibrahim was charged with nine offences including supplying a large commercial quantity of drugs and dealing with proceeds of crime.
Police documents tendered to Port Kembla Local Court on Wednesday said police were called to the apartment block after witnesses discovered a green backpack containing hundreds of pills lying in a garden bed near the entry to the complex.
The witnesses told police Ibrahim approached them before officers arrived and took the backpack from them and hid it.
It is claimed he then moved the backpack off the premises and delivered it to an unknown person in Keira Street while police were talking to the witnesses.
Police searched the complex including a garage Ibrahim allegedly admitted to using, uncovering six packages containing approximately 1780 grams of ice, 342 grams of ecstasy and 46 grams of cocaine.
Ibrahim’s unit was also searched but nothing of interest was found, police said.
In court on Wednesday, Defence lawyer John Gallagher said Ibrahim would agree to any bail conditions stipulated by the court if released, however Magistrate Michael Stoddart refused the application.
Ibrahim was remanded in custody to face court again in January.