Steven Peter Verrall charged with 14 Commonwealth counts of importing drugs and one count of dealing in the proceeds of crime.
Steven Peter Verrall who has previously been sentenced to seven years in jail for drug trafficking allegedly has a multitude of false identities, no job or government benefits, and no paperwork for a car he says he paid $10,000 for.The Bli Bli 36-year-old is charged with 14 Commonwealth counts of importing drugs and one count of dealing in the proceeds of crime, as well as three state charges including drug trafficking and possessing property derived from trafficking.Police prosecutor Andy Macpherson said police had seized documentation, CCTV footage of money transfers and had telephone intercepts.“The latest escapade into drug trafficking involved an extensive network of crime contacts. He was in regular contact by telephone and email,” he said.“A vehicle owned by the defendant and used for the distribution and collection of drugs is on surveillance footage.“He has failed to appear (in court). Police are aware he has a passport in another name.“Mobile phones used in commission of the trafficking (were) set up in false names.”Sergeant Macpherson said Mr Verrall, who had recently travelled to Thailand when he was arrested, was found with a number of envelopes with drugs that had been intercepted through the mail system by the Australian Federal Police.He said police had photographed and forensically examined and tested the parcels and then forwarded them to the mailing addresses.Sgt Macpherson said the parcels were sent to false addresses but ended up in Mr Verrall’s possession.He said police had seized $10,000 from Mr Verrall’s home and $11,000 from his mother’s home as well as false identities and SIM cards allegedly used in the importation of cocaine.“He does not have any legitimate source of income, he’s not receiving government benefits,” he said.
“There’s no paper trail for purchase of that vehicle.”Commonwealth prosecutor Aimee Aisthorpe said the 14 charges of drug importation carried a maximum penalty of 25 years imprisonment, while dealing in the proceeds of a crime had a 20-year maximum.
“If convicted he will be spending quite a lengthy term in custody,” she said.
“He would be looking ... in the range of three to six years.”
Ms Aisthorpe said police had documents, CCTV footage, post office box keys, phone intercepts and knew Mr Verrall planned to travel just before he was arrested.
She said Mr Verrall had "up to 13 post office boxes using false names and false identity documents” which showed he was able to obtain false identities easily.
Solicitor Lindsay Hall told the court Mr Verrall could post a surety in any amount, live with his parents, abide a curfew and report to police daily if granted bail.
He said his client had been on bail for a year before he was sentenced in 1997 and did not flee.“He must have known some significant period would flow but he did appear in the supreme court,” he said.Mr Hall said the prosecution had not provided him with any evidence against his client and had remained silent on charges against a Thai man also charged during the investigation.
Magistrate Cliff Taylor refused bail because he believed there was an unacceptable risk of reoffending.Co-accused Paul Manning is charged with aiding and abetting the commission of importation and aiding the importation of a marketable quantity of cocaine. Mark Domrow and Ben Woolgrove are charged with conspiring to import drugs.
“There’s no paper trail for purchase of that vehicle.”Commonwealth prosecutor Aimee Aisthorpe said the 14 charges of drug importation carried a maximum penalty of 25 years imprisonment, while dealing in the proceeds of a crime had a 20-year maximum.
“If convicted he will be spending quite a lengthy term in custody,” she said.
“He would be looking ... in the range of three to six years.”
Ms Aisthorpe said police had documents, CCTV footage, post office box keys, phone intercepts and knew Mr Verrall planned to travel just before he was arrested.
She said Mr Verrall had "up to 13 post office boxes using false names and false identity documents” which showed he was able to obtain false identities easily.
Solicitor Lindsay Hall told the court Mr Verrall could post a surety in any amount, live with his parents, abide a curfew and report to police daily if granted bail.
He said his client had been on bail for a year before he was sentenced in 1997 and did not flee.“He must have known some significant period would flow but he did appear in the supreme court,” he said.Mr Hall said the prosecution had not provided him with any evidence against his client and had remained silent on charges against a Thai man also charged during the investigation.
Magistrate Cliff Taylor refused bail because he believed there was an unacceptable risk of reoffending.Co-accused Paul Manning is charged with aiding and abetting the commission of importation and aiding the importation of a marketable quantity of cocaine. Mark Domrow and Ben Woolgrove are charged with conspiring to import drugs.
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