A 32-YEAR-OLD Hamilton man has again been remanded in custody after being charged with multiple drug trafficking and possession offences as well as handling proceeds of crime and driving whilst disqualified.

Hamilton Police Criminal Investigation Unit senior constable, Jeremy Kelly, lead the early morning raid last Friday at the accused’s Digby Road address where police from Hamilton and Portland found large quantities of drugs and cash.

Daniel McDonnell was arrested and taken back to the Hamilton Police Station before being transferred to the police cells in Warrnambool.

The accused made an unsuccessful, self-represented bail application from the Warrnambool cells via Webex before a Magistrate in the Geelong Magistrates’ Court.

Quantities of methamphetamine were confiscated to the value of around $6000 plus 500ml of liquid GHB (gamma-hydroxybutyrate) - around ten times the trafficable quantity.

Police also located 57 capsules of MDMA (methylenedioxymethamphetamine) or more commonly known as ecstasy - with a street value of $30 each, plus $600 in cash.

Sen Const Kelly said the early morning raid involved around eight police officers from Hamilton CIU and Portland CIU.

He said the raid on the property occurred in the early hours of Friday at about 6am after a warrant was executed as part of an ongoing investigation into the trafficking of methamphetamine into western Victoria.

“This is a pleasing result,” Sen Const Kelly said.

“The warrant was executed from the result of a long ongoing investigation into drug trafficking into the Hamilton region.

“The arrest has resulted in seriously disrupting the drug trade in the Hamilton area.

“We believe he was bringing in a large quantity of methamphetamine into the region on a weekly basis and this will put a large dent in the supply of (these drugs) in the Hamilton area.”

McDonnell last appeared in the Hamilton Magistrates’ Court only last month after being charged with dangerous driving whilst being pursued by police.

He pleaded guilty to the charges and was represented in court on that occasion by Talia Tringali.

Police Prosecutor leading senior constable, Greg Kew, told the court on September 6, that on the event of June 3 earlier this year, McDonnell was observed by police speeding on Casterton Road in Coleraine.

Police activated lights and sirens and observed the accused accelerating and making no attempt to stop.

Police clocked the defendant’s speed at 136 kilometres per hour after seeing him speed in three speed limit zones, 50km, 60km and 80km at an alleged speed of 134km/h – at least 74km/h over the speed limit.

The court was told the defendant was charged and bailed and the vehicle was impounded.

The court heard when McDonnell was asked the reason for his speeding and failure to stop, he said “I seen the coppers and I panicked”.

Ms Tringali referred Magistrate Ann McGarvie to the accused’s community corrections report which stated he was doing quite well at the time.

On that occasion Magistrate McGarvie convicted and fined McDonnell $2000 plus $136.70 in court costs and cancelled his licence for 18 months.

Sen Const Kelly said McDonnell will face the Warrnambool Magistrates’ Court on the most recent charges, on October 30.