Two years’ jail for buried bushland drug stash

A man who kept drugs buried in bushland at Lee Point was sentenced in the Supreme Court yesterday to two years’ jail.

The court heard Phillip Magoulias possessed methylamphetamine, ecstasy and cocaine only eight months after being released from jail after serving time for supplying ketamine and methylamphetamines.

The estimated street value of the drugs (not including the cocaine) was about $15,240.

“The manner in which the drugs were possessed on June 10, 2004, had all the hallmarks of a well-established method of possessing illicit drugs for supply,” Justice Steve Southwood said.

“The drugs were well-hidden and (Magoulias) used different motor vehicles to obtain the drugs, which were kept at a different location to where they were weighed and packaged,” he said.

Police found electronic scales, self-sealing bags, a container with traces of methylapmhetamine and $4300 cash at the Wanguri house where Magoulias was living and $430 on Magoulias and $500 in his car at Lee Point, the court heard.

Magoulias, 36, pleaded guilty in February to possessing a traffickable quantity of MDMA, or ecstasy (2g), and possessing 0.8g of cocaine in a public place.

“These drug offences are serious,” Justice Southwood said.

“Drugs such as these often end up being consumed by young and vulnerable members of society.”

The judge said police caught Magoulias at Lee Point after watching the day before as he dug up a container and reburied it.

Justice Southwood restored the unserved 21 months of a suspended sentence, ordering that it be served concurrently with the two years.

He fixed a non-parole period of 12 months, backdated to April 10 for time in custody.

Newshawk: http://www.napnt.org
Pubdate: Thur, 09 June 2005
Source: Northern Territory News (Australia)
Author: Bob Watt
Copyright: 2005 Northern Territory News
Contact: ntnmail@ntn.newsltd.com.au
Website: http://ntnews.news.com.au/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/283