TWO South Australian men have fronted a south-west court after an alleged bungled attempt to traffick drugs into Victoria.
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Ian Donges, 26, and Jamie Howell, 39, both of Mt Gambier, appeared in Warrnambool Magistrates Court on Tuesday charged with drug and weapon offences.
The court heard the pair travelled across the border on April 11.
They were arrested at a Hamilton service station at around 2.10am when a service station attendant became suspicious of their behaviour and alerted police.
A pat-down search uncovered a small quantity of ice and 60 grams of cannabis in Mr Donge's possession.
A subsequently search of the vehicle uncovered 7.5 grams of methamphetamine, MDMA, acid tabs, a knife, a small axe and a mobile phone that revealed text messages relating to drug trafficking.
The court heard the vehicle also displayed cancelled Victorian registration plates, with the correct South Australian plates found in the boot.
Hamilton police Sergeant Rex Habel told The Standard that the hidden registration plates indicated that the pair "tried to disguise the vehicle with Victorian plates to travel across the border".
They were subsequently issued with COVID-19 fines totalling more than $3300.
The pair were arrested and charged with drug and weapon offences.
In a bail application, lawyer Ian Pugh said Mr Donges was willing to provide a $1000 surety and abide by strict bail conditions.
He said Mr Donges did not have any drug-related criminal priors and there was a real issue of case delay due to the coronavirus.
Mr Donges was released on bail with strict conditions, including he provide a $1000 surety, not associate with Mr Howell, abide by a 9pm to 6am curfew and not use drugs.
He was also ordered to attend the South Australian police COVID-19 border check-point upon his release from custody.
Mr Donges will appear in court again on June 15.
Mr Howell also applied for bail.
He was unrepresented and the magistrate said he failed to show compelling reasons why he should be released from custody.
Mr Howell was denied bail. He will appear in court at a later date.
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