Bail granted for alleged drug dealer

A MAN allegedly responsible for two sophisticated drug labs has been granted bail, more than six weeks after police seized $ 250,000 worth of ice during his arrest.

Justin Lee Chambers was charged with trafficking dangerous drugs, two counts of producing dangerous drugs and a string of other drug and weapon- related offences.

On September 4, investigators from Townsville’s Major and Organised Crime Squad raided a house in Gulliver and two commercial properties in Rasmussen and Currajong,

Along with the large quantity of methamphetamine, police seized a loaded sawn- off shotgun, tasers and laser pointers.

It will be alleged Chambers and his co- accused Alana Lee Wightman were major players in the Townsville drug trade and were operating two drug labs.

Wightman was granted bail the day after her arrest but Chamber’s lawyer Phil Rennick did not apply for bail for his client until Tuesday.

Police opposed bail, claiming Chambers posed a potential threat to community safety.

Magistrate Cathy Wadley did not accept Chambers was a threat to harm anyone in the community given a lack of violent offending in his criminal history.

She granted bail with several conditions, including a residential component that ensured Chambers not live with the co- accused Wightman.