Approximately 80 kg of suspected drugs seized as part of alleged trafficking operation, man charged

Officers seized a variety of suspected drugs during the search of a Lyneham home. Photo: ACT Policing.

A 24-year-old man accused of trafficking about 80 kg of suspected cocaine, meth, MDMA and cannabis, as well as a precursor chemical, has been denied bail by the ACT Magistrates Court.

Seamus Michael Patrick Ryan was charged with four counts of trafficking a controlled drug other than cannabis, one count of trafficking cannabis and three counts of possessing a prohibited weapon – namely, a double-sided dagger.

He was arrested on Wednesday (10 July) after police executed a search warrant on his Lyneham home.

It’s alleged police found about 77 kg of methylamine (a controlled precursor used to make methylamphetamine and MDMA), 1.3 kg of MDMA, 270 g of ketamine, 150 g of methylamphetamine, 75 g of cocaine and 5.7 kg of cannabis inside.

Officers also seized three prohibited weapons and two encrypted communications devices.

Mr Ryan’s defence representative argued for bail, stating her client had no criminal history and was young.

She also drew parallels to a similar case before the courts where testing of drugs was expected to take up to “18 months”.

The lawyer argued it was “paramount” the drugs be tested before her client could consider entering a plea, and so her client could end up spending an undue length of time in custody.

Special Magistrate Sean Richter pointed out that other cases involved the alleged trafficking of prescription drugs.

“That’s a different situation … the [alleged] drugs in this case are more the standard finds,” he said.

Officers seized a variety of suspected drugs during the search of a Lyneham home. Photos: ACT Policing.

Weapons were also allegedly found inside the Lyneham home.

Prosecutor Corinne Kennedy argued against bail, stating the “danger to the defendant may be high” given the nature of his offending suggested he was part of a “larger operation”.

She also expressed concerns Mr Ryan could contact any alleged associates and that he had “tenuous” links to the community.

“[Also] the community cannot be sent the message that a person accused of … such egregious breaches of law can be let out in the community,” Ms Kennedy submitted.

Special Magistrate Richter agreed and remanded Mr Ryan in custody.

He’s next scheduled to appear in court on 22 July.

It’s the second significant arrest related to alleged drug trafficking in the ACT this week.

A Canberra man was extradited to NSW as part of his alleged role in the manufacture and supply of drugs across eastern Australia.

It followed a joint investigation between ACT Policing, NSW Police State Crime Command’s Raptor Squad and Lake Illawarra District Police.

ACT Policing Detective Acting Superintendent Stephen Ladd said that both arrests were examples of the close working relationship between the agencies.

“[These operations] should be a wake-up call for anyone thinking they can conduct this type of criminal activity here – you are facing the combined resources of multiple law enforcement bodies,” he said.

Anyone who has any information relating to the importation, manufacture or distribution of illicit drugs can contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Information can be provided anonymously.