A 33-year-old man from Perth, Deng Kiir Dau, has confessed to police that he transported over $4 million worth of illegal drugs into Western Australia. Dau was arrested at Eucla last month, along with his 42-year-old co-accused, who denied any knowledge of the drugs during a court appearance.
Police allegedly found 2.2 kilograms of methylamphetamine and 1.4 kilograms of cocaine concealed underneath the driver’s seat of Dau’s car. He has been charged with possession of a trafficable quantity of methylamphetamine with intent to sell or supply, as well as two counts of possessing cocaine with intent to sell or supply.
During a taped interview with the Drugs and Firearms Squad, Dau admitted that the drugs were his and that he had planned to sell them. However, Dau’s defense lawyer plans to challenge the validity of the admission at trial, stating that his client did not receive the requested legal advice.
In addition to the drugs found in the car, a search of Dau’s house allegedly uncovered an additional 300 grams of cocaine in clip-seal bags. The drugs have been determined to be of “high purity” with traces of heroin also detected.
The prosecutor has opposed Dau’s bail application, arguing that he is a flight risk. While acknowledging the seriousness of the charges, Dau’s defense lawyer proposed strict bail conditions, including a substantial surety. The magistrate expressed concerns about Dau failing to appear in court but denied that he was a flight risk due to his long-term residency and family ties in Western Australia.
Dau has been remanded in custody while a home detention report is being prepared. He will return to court on September 4. Meanwhile, his co-accused is scheduled to appear in the Kalgoorlie Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
In an unrelated case, a 30-year-old man named Vincent Ho pleaded guilty to his involvement in an alleged cross-country drug run. Ho was charged after police discovered 77 kilograms of cocaine being towed in a trailer. He is due to appear in the District Court on September 23.