A man found with ice, morphine and firearms told police he had “no idea” who they belonged to.
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Matthew John Upston, 31 of Waverley, pleaded guilty to trafficking in the Launceston Supreme Court on Monday, four years after he was charged.
Police searched his home in August, 2013, finding 24.6 grams of ice and 14.2 grams of morphine.
The court heard the potential street value of the ice was upwards of $24,600, while the morphine could have been sold for up to $14,200 in total.
Officers also located a replica revolver, a knife, nunchucks, ammunition, 12 CCTV cameras suspected to have been stolen and a rubbish bin filled with $50 and $100 notes – totaling $2500 cash.
Some of the items were found inside a backpack hanging on the back of the door to the main bedroom of the house.
When interviewed by police, Upston said the bag was his but it had been a “long time” since he used it.
He said he had no idea how the drugs ended up in his bag.
The court heard Upston initially pleaded not guilty to the charge of trafficking because he “did not own” the drugs and guns.
But his lawyer, Mark Doyle, said he was now pleading guilty “on the basis he was guarding and concealing” the illegal items “with the knowledge they were for sale”.
Mr Doyle said his client was addicted to ice, but since receiving a suspended sentence in 2016, he had abstained from drugs.
He said Upston lived a “quiet suburban life” before drugs “very quickly took a hold of him”.
He described Upston as a man who had “demonstrated that he has rehabilitated” and “has been able to turn his life around”.
Acting Justice Pierre Slicer indicated he was considering imposing a partially suspended jail term, but refrained from sentencing Upston on Monday.
He instead remanded him in custody until November 10, when Upston will appear via video link from Hobart.