Catherine Anne Mifsud, 47, of Tallygaroopna, unsuccessfully applied for bail in Shepparton Magistrates’ Court.
She is charged with trafficking suboxone and unknown prescription drugs, possessing methamphetamines, possessing 1-4 butanediol, possessing a controlled weapon, dealing with money suspected to be the proceeds of crime, possessing suboxone, possessing Xanax and committing an indictable offence while on bail.
While no official pleas have been entered, Mifsud’s solicitor said her client planned to contest the drug trafficking charge.
Detective Senior Constable Bonita Di Giangregorio from Viper Taskforce told the court police searched the Tallygaroopna house Mifsud lived in with her partner on August 12.
Inside they found suboxone and one Valium in a rubber glove, three zip lock bags containing methamphetamines, two bottles with 1-4 butanediol, pepper spray, five mobile phones, and a large amount of cash, Det Sen Constable Giangregorio said.
Police also allege that Mifsud attempted to flush 14 pills down the toilet.
The officer told the court Mifsud told police she had suboxone and Valium prescriptions and that the cash was from the sale of her BMW car.
Det Sen Constable Giangregorio opposed bail, saying Mifsud had 359 charges in 17 years, including prior convictions for drug offences.
She also said Mifsud’s criminal record included eight counts of committing an indictable offence while on bail and two counts of failing to appear in court.
Mifsud was also on bail at the time of allegedly committing these offences.
Det Sen Constable Giangregorio said police believed Mifsud was trafficking drugs because of the way the suboxone was packaged in a glove, the fact there were five mobile phones in the house, and the large amount of cash seized.
The officer did concede, however, that she now believed the cash was legitimate as police had been able to confirm Mifsud had previously sold her car.
Det Sen Constable Giangregorio also spoke about other outstanding charges Mifsud was facing, including possessing the drug GHB, four counts of driving disqualified, three counts of drug driving, two of driving without an alcohol interlock device fitted to her vehicle, and failing to nominate the driver of a vehicle.
“My main concerns are I believe she will keep possessing and using drugs and driving, and the dangers associated with that,” Det Sen Constable Giangregorio said.
Mifsud’s solicitor Rose George said her client has scripts for suboxone in her name.
She argued that her client should be granted bail because she had employment available, she had accommodation, could receive treatment and rehabilitation through the Court Integrated Services Program and an addiction counsellor she had previously engaged with, and that there would be a delay in the case coming before the courts finally.
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