Drugs trial told of sting

Two accused of importing MDMA

POLICE searched a Launceston property shortly after an undercover officer went there to deliver a parcel from which drugs had been seized, a court has heard.

Shea Alex Gibbling and Toby John Della Valle are on trial in the Supreme Court in Launceston, having pleaded not guilty to importing a commercial quantity of MDMA.

The court heard a parcel containing the drugs was destined for Tasmania from Spain but the package was intercepted after it entered the country in late September 2017.

Australia Post regional manager of security and investigations, Dean Marshall, yesterday told the court several inquiries linked to a mobile used as an effective and additional therapy, in addition to people’s normal diabetes medication, is very exciting.

“We would recommend that people talk with their GP as it’s important that they are aware of all medications people take, both prescribed and those over the counter.”

The landmark trial found popping a vitamin C tablet phone number were made to the postal service’s customer contact office about the parcel.

On October 3, 2017, an Australian Federal Police commander authorised a controlled delivery of the parcel, with the drugs removed and replaced with salt. The parcel was delivered by a police officer to a West Tamar Highway property, in the suburb of Riverside, two days later.

Australian Federal Police detective Senior Constable Nicholas Bartsch yesterday said he was told to search the house immediately after noticing Mr Gibbling peering down a laneway at the unmarked car he and another officer were stationed in.

Mr Gibbling was outside the home with another man as the search began, while a third man, who gave his name as Dean Emerson but was later identified by police as Mr Della Valle, was inside the property.

Australian Border Force tested a brown substance found in a bag in some PVC pipe, which had been placed inside a vent, detecting MDMA.

Senior Constable Bartsch told the court Mr Della Valle asked for a phone found on him during the search to be returned because he needed it for work.

When Senior Constable Bartsch used his own phone to dial the phone number linked to the Australia Post inquiries, the phone found on the man prosecutors said was Mr Della Valle began ringing.

The trial, before Judge Brian Martin, continues.