Large amount of drugs allegedly seized during investigation into 'potential syndicate'

Daniel Thomas Hancock has been handed four counts of drug trafficking-related charges and refused bail. Photo: Albert McKnight.

Police are investigating what could be a “drug dealing syndicate” after four different types of illicit substances were found in a man’s car.

Daniel Thomas Hancock, a Canberra-born man aged in his late 40s, has been handed four counts of drug trafficking-related charges over the allegations.

It is alleged the drugs – heroin, methylamphetamine, cannabis and gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) – were found in his car when it was parked outside his home on 12 April 2024.

Hancock was formally charged in the ACT Magistrates Court on Tuesday (23 April) and then applied for bail, which was opposed on the alleged likelihood of him reoffending or interfering with evidence.

His lawyer, Legal Aid’s Lesley Jayasuriya, said he had been accepted into a residential drug rehabilitation program in Goulburn but had to attend the program that Tuesday.

He said his client had reported that his drug use was a key criminogenic factor for him and said, “This is an issue that he needs to address for himself”.

Prosecutor Ilsa Hattam alleged the matter still involved a very fresh investigation into “a potential drug dealing syndicate”.

She also alleged the amount of drugs Hancock had been found with were substantially over the minimum weight required to lay a trafficking charge.

Chief Magistrate Lorraine Walker said the alleged offences were serious and the evidence against Hancock appeared strong.

She refused bail, remanded him in custody and adjourned until 13 May for a plea or mention.