POLICE have arrested four people in Queanbeyan on major drug supply charges in the last week following two separate busts, with three of the four accused refused bail in court this week.
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The most recent arrests occurred around 2.10am on Tuesday morning in the Queanbeyan Leagues Club car park when police stopped and searched two Canberra men seen to be acting suspiciously.
The two men were stopped as they exited their rental car and headed into the Leagues Club. Both men were wearing bum bags. Police searches of their bum bags and their vehicle turned up $3100 in cash, five mobile phones which police allege were ringing constantly throughout the search. Ledger sheets with names and amounts, a set of digital scales, a small amount of what police allege is cocaine and a larger amount of a white crystal substance that police will allege is ice were also found.
A Kaleen man, 35, and co-accused Darin Paul Keir, 34, of Evatt, appeared in Queanbeyan Local Court on Wednesday and both were denied bail
Police allege the Kaleen man had a ledger sheet and 3.5 grams of a white, crystal substance in his bum bag at the time of his arrest, with a further 7.82 grams of white crystals found in the driver's side door.
He pleaded not guilty to five drug supply and possession charges and
will reappear in court on December 9.
His co-accused Darin Keir also entered not guilty pleas and will reappear in court the same day. Police will allege he was in possession of 0.98 grams of ice, 2.31 grams of cocaine and $3,100 in cash at the time of his arrest.
Both men appeared together in the dock at Queanbeyan Local Court on Wednesday, and Magistrate Chris Bone said he was worried about the possibility of further offences if the accused were granted bail.
"We have no analysis of the crystal substances ... in that sense the case is weak. In my opinion, in all other senses the case is strong," Magistrate Bone said.
"I have a real concern that if bail was granted, there would be a distinct probability of further crimes, and on those grounds bail will be refused."
Meanwhile, Carrington Street couple Mark James Winters, 53, and Cherie Elizabeth Buggy, 32, also appeared in bail hearings this week after police executed a search warrant of their property last Wednesday.
The search revealed what Magistrate Bone called an "Aladdin's Cave" of illegal items, including substances police allege to be methylamphetamine, Oxycontin and LSD, $5000 in cash, cannabis, a pen gun, ammunition, a taser, fireworks, diamond pythons, knives and swords.
Winters entered one plea of guilty to possess prohibited drug, four pleas of not guilty to drug supply charges and possessing a prohibited firearm. He is yet to enter pleas for 11 other firearms and drugs charges.
Magistrate Bone refused bail for Winters, based on a prior conviction for drug supply and possessing a shortened firearm, and the "sinister overtones" of the pen gun.
"I must say in this case that the defendant's record does not help him with his bail application ... bail should not be granted in this matter," he said.
"I'm looking at this primarily in relation to the overall circumstances, and in particular to the pen gun."
Meanwhile, Buggy was granted bail on 11 drug and firearms charges, after Magistrate Bone found she had a lesser connection with the firearm.
"I do not think the case against her on this particular matter is as strong, so I think this is a case for bail," he said.
Meanwhile, Queanbeyan Police Inspector Neil Grey said information from the public led to both sets of arrests, and urged the public to report any suspicious activity to Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000.
"People aren't silly- they know what's going on in their area," Inspector Grey said.
"We'd encourage Queanbeyan residents if they see anything suspicious to call Crimestoppers or give us a call at the station."
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* This article has been updated. The name of the 35-year-old Kaleen man has been removed. A jury returned a verdict of not guilty to the charges of supply prohibited drug. Other charges were also formally dismissed.