By Cam Lucadou-Wells
An accused drug trafficker allegedly selling meth on Craig’s List using a “sophisticated” app to cover his tracks has been refused bail in Dandenong Magistrates’ Court.
Craig Thiedeman of Keysborough allegedly admitted to selling under the user-name New Clouds R Us on the “clandestine” app Wickr, police informant Detective Senior Constable Anders Ayoub told the court on 6 February.
For 12 months Thiedeman had used the app to post advertisements on Craig’s List selling quantities of meth for up to $450 for 1.7 grams, the court heard.
“It’s a highly encrypted app and there’s no trace that can crack it,” Det Sen Const Ayoub said.
“There could be multiple transactions for trafficking or it could be few.”
The applicant had allegedly told police he’d sold the drug for his own habit and to pay for personal expenses such as petrol.
On 22 December he made the admissions after police intercepted him in a car with two grams of crystal methamphetamine in Keysborough.
Before a subsequent search of his house, police discreetly waited for party-goers, including a child, to leave.
They then seized two bags of suspected ice, a bottle of suspected GHB and a navy-blue hat – some of which have been claimed to be in Thiedeman’s partner’s possession.
Thiedeman said he couldn’t recall a police pursuit in Brighton in 2015, in which his fingerprint was detected on the vehicle when it was later recovered.
He faced charges of drug-driving on methamphetamine, driving while disqualified, driving an unregistered vehicle and driving a vehicle with false number plates in Lynbrook in June.
In Berwick in July, he was charged with drug-driving on meth and driving unlicensed.
His lawyer argued that Thiedeman – who until six months ago lived in Berwick – had suitable accommodation, offered a $3000 surety and strong family support.
At the time Thiedeman was on bail and serving two community corrections orders with judicial monitoring.
He had breached such drug-therapeutic orders twice and CREDIT bail in the past two years.
Magistrate Jack Vandersteen noted the applicant had “his hand held every step of the way” in that time but still allegedly operated a trafficking business for 12 months.
“(He’s) been doing it … surreptitiously – that it’s difficult for police to obtain evidence. It’s ongoing while he’s before the court twice.”
Facing re-sentencing for the two corrections orders, Theideman was “looking at a term of imprisonment that can’t be called insignificant”, the judge said.
“You’re trafficking at a level that has a huge impact on the community not only… to maintain your own (drug) use but to maintain a certain lifestyle.”
Theideman will next appear for a screening at Dandenong Drugs Court on 16 March.
