The alleged trade of heroin from a Gipps St, Wollongong unit has ground to a halt after police swooped on accused dealer Luke Wingate on Friday.
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Patrolling police stopped a man coming down the stairwell from Wingate's unit about 1.50pm Friday. The man allegedly dropped a silver piece of foil containing heroin as he went to depart.
Another alleged customer was found with $1500 cash on him as he then went to approach the unit.
Police found Wingate inside the unit later that day and arrested him before applying for a search warrant.
Inside the unit they allegedly found drugs hidden throughout the apartment, including a small container in the lounge/kitchen area, with 18 foil-wrapped parcels of heroin inside. Police also allegedly seized five bags containing a white rock substance and found drug paraphernalia including scales and syringes in the lounge room, and more bags of heroin-like substance and cannabis in kitchen cupboards.
A hallway safe allegedly contained a small dagger and $8060 in cash.
Another 2.37g of heroin was allegedly secreted inside a magnetic box underneath a table in the bedroom. Meantime, a chest of drawers containing Wingate's clothes allegedly hid a small bag of cannabis.
Police also found a ledger full of names and phone numbers.
In all, police seized 10.8g methamphetamine, 8.88g cannabis, 10.14g of heroin, the dagger, a metal sword and a spear gun from the unit.
Wingate was on bail at the time and had previously been served with a weapons prohibition order. He faces 10 charges including counts of of goods suspected stolen, possess prohibited drug, possess prohibited weapon, allow us e as a drug premises, supply prohibited drug, deal with proceeds of crime, use prohibited weapon and disobeying public health orders.
The court heard the case may be subject to the Filipetti rule of possession - reference to a often-cited legal appeal where guilt couldn't be established because drugs were found in a shared space.
Wingate was refused bail on Monday; his matter returns to court August 30.
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Angela Thompson
Proudly Illawarra Mercury since 2008; these days covering crime and justice issues. UOW alum. Thrilled by the chase and sobered by some of the things I see and hear when I stand still - sometimes in the same day. ang.thompson@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Proudly Illawarra Mercury since 2008; these days covering crime and justice issues. UOW alum. Thrilled by the chase and sobered by some of the things I see and hear when I stand still - sometimes in the same day. ang.thompson@austcommunitymedia.com.au
