A Kiama man has asked to be released from custody so he can give his elderly ill mother back massages after he was allegedly found with a large amount of drugs in his Audi car.
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Anh The Nguyen, 34, was refused bail in Wollongong Local Court after he was arrested on Thursday night.
Documents tendered to court said Lake Illawarra Target Action Group officers were conducting patrols of the Warrawong area when they saw an Audi leaving a well-known drug supply unit block on Jane Avenue about 7.20pm on Thursday.
After conducting routine checks, police stopped the car and spoke to Nguyen where they saw him allegedly moving items under the seat before he told them "I'm sorry, I have some drugs".
During a search of the Audi, police seized 18.8 grams of methylamphetamine and heroin along with $3680 cash.
Police allege Nguyen admitted to selling an ounce of heroin before he was stopped by police.
He was arrested and taken to Illawarra Police Station.
Investigators executed a search warrant at Nguyen's Glenbrook Drive, Kiama about 3.45am on Friday.
During the search, officers seized a firearm, ammunition, four cannabis plants from inside council garbage bins, an electronic stun device, 17.4 grams of methylamphetamine, prescription medication, drug packing equipment, a fake driver's licence, USB and two mobile phones among other items.
Police documents said officers allegedly found the pistol contained steel ball bearings, in a case in the bin along with the drugs and other items.
Police will allege those items belonged to Nguyen.
He denied the allegation he asked his mother to dispose of the items in the bin when police allowed him to call her earlier in the night.
Nguyen allegedly admitted to putting all items in the bin.
He allegedly told officers he was learning to grow cannabis but decided against it.
He allegedly said he had thrown away the firearm, that he purchased online, as it had broken after he fired it three times.
Nguyen was charged with three counts supplying an indictable amount of prohibited drug, four counts of possessing prohibited drugs, dealing with the proceeds of crime, possessing an unauthorised firearm, not keeping a firearm safely, possessing or using a prohibited weapon and possessing prohibited plant.
In court on Friday, defence lawyer Stewart Holt said Nguyen needed to be at liberty to care for his mother, who he gives back massages to, and to deal with his mental health issues.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Richard Novatin opposed bail saying Nguyen was allegedly "engaged in a consistent level of illegal activity" and had "no concern for his ageing mother as he was highly likely to come under the notice of police".
Magistrate Gabriel Fleming refused to grant Nguyen release due to the seriousness of the charges, that a custodial sentence was likely if convicted and a strong prosecution case.
"It was a significant amount of drugs...and drugs cause serious harm in the community," she said.
The case was adjourned to March 12.
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