Pool guy or the pill guy?
Police allege installer was swimming in drugs
A GOLD Coast pool installer has been charged with trafficking MDMA after police allegedly found more than $160,000 in cash and more than 35,000 pills at a Gaven property this week.
Adam Lee Bartolo, 34, briefly faced the Southport Magistrates Court yesterday charged with trafficking, producing and possession of dangerous drugs following an early morning police raid at a Violet Way property on Wednesday.
It is believed Bartolo lived at the Gaven address with his parents and property records show the suburban home has been owned by Francis and Pamela Bartolo since 1994.
Police searched a shipping container at the back of the Gaven home and allegedly found several bags in plastic buckets which contained 35,600 MDMA pills.
The pills allegedly weighed more than 10kg.
MDMA is commonly known as ecstasy.
Police will also allege an industrial pill press and caffeine, which is a precursor to making MDMA, were found in the shipping container.
Police allege dye stamps they believe were used to mark the pills also belonged to Bartolo.
About $167,000 in cash was allegedly found inside Bartolo’s bedroom along with several paper notes with names and amounts written on them.
Bartolo is also accused of being in possession of 250g of cannabis, which was allegedly found in a backpack in his bedroom and a crossbow which was seized from a shipping container.
A blender, cash counter and heat sealer were also seized from the Violet Way property.
In addition to the drug offences, Bartolo was charged with possession of utensils, property suspected of being used in connection with a drug offence and possession of a weapon.
Defence lawyer Andrew Moloney yesterday appeared on Bartolo’s behalf but made no application for bail.
The 34-year-old will appear in the Southport court again on August 17.