Ethan Geebung, 23, of Commercial Road, unsuccessfully applied for bail in the Warrnambool Magistrates Court yesterday after being charged with drug trafficking, possession and use and dealing in the proceeds of crime. 

Senior Constable Ross Patton of Warrnambool police told the court that just before 9pm Sunday he and another officer intercepted a car in Botanic Road.

He alleged Mr Geebung, a passenger in the car,  gave a false name and appeared to be under the influence of drugs before running away from the officers.

He was chased and arrested. 

Police found $9930 cash, three grams of cannabis, two small bags of ice in a cigarette packet and two ecstasy tablets.

Senior Constable Patton said Mr Geebung’s phone contained text messages which indicated daily ice trafficking from January.

He said there were also text messages between Mr Geebung and the driver of the car relating to sourcing and purchasing a firearm in Mount Gambier during the next couple of days.

The police officer said that although Mr Geebung made a no-comment interview, the accused admitted off tape that the money found was from selling ice and the substances were ice, cannabis and ecstasy. 

A clearly distressed Mr Geebung said he moved back to the Koroit area about 18 months ago after witnessing his best friend shoot himself.

He said he was the father of four children, was “over” drug use and just wanted to be normal again. He said he was scared of people who wanted him to source a gun, was depressed and suicidal.

Magistrate John Lesser remanded Mr Geebung in court until Thursday after deciding he was an unacceptable risk of reoffending.