Drug accused loses bail bid

Mother offered to put up house

A HIGHTON man accused of importing more than a kilogram of MDMA and amphetamine using the dark web has been refused bail.

Jay Vince, 23, allegedly imported 835g of amphetamine and 219g of MDMA from the Netherlands in nine batches, the Geelong Magistrates’ Court heard yesterday.

Mr Vince will remain in custody despite his mother offering up her Corio home as surety during the bail hearing.

Australian Federal Police First Constable Harry Gonopoulos alleged the drugs were imported through Melbourne and Sydney between August and September this year.

“Each consignment had been facilitated by Jay Vince. During an interview he stated no one else was involved with the importation,” Constable Gonopoulos said.

“The consignments were ordered in his name. There’s also evidence on his computer that he made the orders.”

The officer said 359g of drugs, including cannabis and MDMA, was found in a raid at Mr Vince’s home. Two computers were also seized.

He said AFP officers found a white envelope with stamps from the Netherlands, drug paraphernalia and 235g of cannabis during the raid.

Mr Vince has been charged with 16 offences, including importing marketable quantities of ice and MDMA, and trafficking marketable quantities of MDMA and cannabis.

Constable Gonopoulos said the accused posed an unacceptable flight risk and would have access to “large sums” of money if he were released on bail.

“There wasn’t that much cash located at the premises (during the raid) and the way the dark net works is that money gets transferred between accounts using (the digital currency) Bitcoin,” he said.

Constable Gonopoulos said the $225,000 surety did not allay concerns Mr Vince would flee the country while on bail.

The court heard the raid at his home was part of Operation Thrupe targeting drug imports from the Netherlands.

Lawyer for Mr Vince, Andrew Zingler, said it was his client’s first time in custody following his arrest earlier this month.

“He is a man who is slight and vulnerable in a custody setting,” Mr Zingler said.

He argued Mr Vince should be let out on bail due to significant backlog in court proceedings.

“This matter can’t be heard until the middle of next year,” Mr Zingler said.

Federal Prosecutor Naomi Kohn said the case against Mr Vince was strong and the maximum penalty for the charges was 25 years in jail.

Magistrate John Lesser said Mr Vince had not shown “exceptional circumstances” to be granted bail.