POLICE have a “very strong” prosecution case against a man they allege has been supplying drugs including ice from his Albury home, magistrate Tony Murray said yesterday.
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In facts tendered to Albury court, police say a raid at the Affleck Street residence of Matthew Richard Brosolo, 28, on Wednesday uncovered a large amount of cannabis — 789 grams — along with cannabis seeds, methamphetamine and six tablets, believed to be ecstasy.
They also seized $7000 cash from the home and drug paraphernalia including a bong and glass ice pipes.
Police were conducting surveillance on the home about 3pm on Wednesday when a male left the property.
Police stopped his vehicle and a search revealed he was in possession of methamphetamine, or ice.
Police then obtained a search warrant for the home, which Brosolo shares with his partner Sarah Moreland, 28, who has also been charged with drug supply and possession.
In opposing Brosolo’s application for bail yesterday, Sgt Andrew Pike said the police case was strong, and there was a risk the accused would continue to commit offences if released.
But solicitor Tim Hemsley disputed the strength of the police case, saying the fact that a person left the house with drugs in his possession was not proof that the drugs were sourced from the house.
He said Brosolo had used drugs in the past and it could be the case that the man pulled over by police before they obtained a search warrant had been delivering drugs, rather than picking them up.
He said the drug paraphernalia in the house could point to personal use and not the supply of drugs, and that the $7000 seized from Brosolo and Moreland’s property was money the couple had been saving.
Mr Hemsley said Brosolo had strong ties to the community and was an integral part of a family stonemason business, based at North Albury.
He said the specialised work was principally for headstones in graveyards, and that taking Brosolo away from the business by refusing bail would cause distress to people with delays in getting jobs done.
But Mr Murray was not convinced, saying he accepted the police argument that Brosolo was a risk to the community with further offending.
“I do not believe those risks can be mitigated,” Mr Murray said.
Brosolo is due to appear again by video-link on Tuesday.
Moreland was bailed to appear on June 24.