Joshua Eddy, 30, of Cobram, unsuccessfully applied for bail at Shepparton Magistrates’ Court on Monday, May 23, with the matter continuing on May 25 and 27.
He faces charges including trafficking a large commercial quantity of methylamphetamine and cocaine, possession of cocaine and methylamphetamine, being a prohibited person in possession of a prescribed item namely a scope, negligently dealing with proceeds of crime, committing an indictable offence while on bail and contravening bail conditions.
Police allege Mr Eddy was the sergeant-at-arms of the Mongols Outlaw Motorcycle Gang’s local chapter in Cobram.
Detective Senior Constable Ciaran Duryea from the Echo Taskforce told the court police had obtained telephone intercept warrants on Mr Eddy that showed him allegedly co-ordinating the Cobram-based syndicate.
“Everything came to [Mr Eddy] and everything came out from [Mr Eddy],” he said.
The court heard Mr Eddy was not motivated by personal drug use but by a desire for money and a flashy lifestyle; bragging about his 16-carat diamond-encrusted designer watch, luxury car and motorbike.
It is alleged Mr Eddy couldn’t have purchased the items on the income from his car wash business, Cartel Auto Detailing, which police believed was used to siphon a significant amount of cash.
Det Sen Constable Duryea told the court Mr Eddy was allegedly involved in co-ordinating a drug run of 10kg of methamphetamine to Perth, carried out by another Cobram local.
The court heard the man allegedly took the drugs to Perth in a vehicle modified to run on LPG and with access to the petrol tank through a cut-out in the back seat.
Det Sen Constable Duryea said fuel stations across the Nullarbor didn’t all stock LPG and Mr Eddy had to arrange for payment for the vehicle to be towed when it ran out of gas.
He said the driver met with another person in an outer suburb of Perth where they did a “blind drop” of the drugs at a reserve before collecting a cardboard box containing $900,000.
After the pair were arrested in Perth, Det Sen Constable Duryea said Mr Eddy contacted someone saying something bad had happened and he wanted them to “enjoy this last day with me”.
Delivering her decision to refuse bail, Magistrate Marita Altman said she placed the greatest weight on Mr Eddy’s own words in the telephone intercepts — with inference drawn that he’s a drug dealer prepared to use violence.
She found exceptional circumstances hadn’t been shown to warrant bail and even if they had, she said the risk Mr Eddy posed was unacceptable.
Mr Eddy’s barrister Rishi Nathwani told the court his client was no longer a member of the Mongols and argued a combination of factors including delay in the matter going to trial and the strength of the prosecution case warranted bail being granted.
He said Mr Eddy could live with relatives in Cobram — who could provide a surety up to $200,000 — take part in an intensive drug treatment program and wear an electronically monitored ankle bracelet.
Mr Nathwani said the prosecution case was not as strong as initially presented, confirming with Det Sen Constable Duryea that the charge of trafficking a large commercial quantity of cocaine would not proceed against Mr Eddy.
Mr Nathwani argued there was an issue of parity between Mr Eddy and the co-accused — his father, David Eddy, and sister Jaide Eddy — who were both out on bail.
But prosecutor Esther James disputed this, saying Mr Eddy had a leadership role and faced far more serious charges than his family members.
She said police opposed bail, alleging Mr Eddy was an unacceptable risk of endangering the safety and welfare of community members, committing further offences while on bail, associating with the co-accused and interfering with witnesses.
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