Man allegedly found with cocaine for 'stressful lifestyle' receives bail

A Melba man received unconditional bail in the ACT Magistrates Court on Wednesday (21 September) after being charged with drugs and weapons offences.

Tyson David McCrea was arrested after detectives from ACT Policing’s Drugs and Organised Crime Team executed a search warrant at his home on Tuesday morning (20 September).

It’s there police allege they found a number of items, including two individual freezer bags containing a white powder, about $25,000 cash, two pairs of knuckle dusters, a large number of vials and containers of anabolic steroids, human growth hormones and other prohibited substances, and drug paraphernalia which included digital scales and clip seal bags.

The 33-year-old was charged with two counts of drug trafficking, two counts of possessing a prohibited weapon, and one count of possession of property suspected to be the proceeds of crime as a result of the warrant.

Prosecutor Mark Wadsworth opposed bail due to the “scale of the operation” that was alleged to have occurred in Mr McCrea’s home, as it was suspected the white powders seized were cocaine and GHB.

“If [one] substance is GHB, it’s 200 times the trafficable quantity,” he said.

“While the suspected cocaine is worth an estimated $20,000 … [which] would be over a trafficable quantity.”

Mr Wadsworth said Mr McCrea had told police the cocaine was “for a house party and stressful lifestyle”, and that other “cutting agents” had been found in the substances.

He argued that meant Mr McCrea could pose a threat to the community if he was dealing those drugs.

“He’s motivated by financial profit,” Mr Wadsworth said.

“[If given bail] the drug operation can be operated from his own home, as he was doing.”

However defence barrister Travis Jackson pointed out his client had no prior matters on record and it was “not necessary” for him to leave the ACT.

“He comes to this court as a person of good character,” he said.

Mr Jackson said his client had been open with police about his own drug taking and that everything had been seized from his home.

“If the assertion is he’ll commit more drug offences, he doesn’t have the means to do it,” he said.

“His ability to obtain more drugs has been brought into question.”

Chief Magistrate Lorraine Walker said, while it appeared there was a “relatively strong prosecution case”, Mr McCrea had no prior history to suggest a “pattern of behaviour” that he would breach bail.

However she warned Mr McCrea it would be “very silly” to engage in any further alleged offending as he was now on the police radar.

Mr McCrea was granted bail and is expected back in court on 12 October to enter pleas to each charge.