A 23-year-old man who trafficked ecstasy at a Ballarat nightclub has been jailed.
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Arrested on December 13, Benjamin Vermeend appeared in the Ballarat Magistrates Court on Monday where he pleaded guilty to multiple drug-related offences including trafficking ecstasy and cannabis and dealing with proceeds of crime.
The court heard a car travelling along Eureka Street was intercepted on December 13.
Police prosecutor Leading Senior Constable Pepe Brown said the accused, a passenger of the car, and the remaining males appeared nervous when police approached.
He said a black bag was found in the boot of the car containing 213 ecstasy tablets, approximately 36 grams of cannabis, $2866.20, deal bags and a ticket to the Ballarat Cup with the accused’s name on it.
The court heard passengers in the car told police Vermeend trafficked ecstasy and cannabis at a Ballarat nightclub.
Vermeend was arrested and made a no comment interview. When searched by police, a single ecstasy tablet and $1157 was found in his underwear.
Messages relating to trafficking, including ones asking for drugs, were also located on his phone.
Vermeend’s defence lawyer David Taminika said there was a concerning “strong culture” of drugs in the festival and nightclub scene.
He said Vermeend had never been to jail and asked the magistrate to consider that fact and the man’s young age.
Magistrate Franz Holzer told Mr Taminika it was the amount of drugs that was concerning.
“To commit this type of offending, there is only one option for the court and that is jail,” he said.
In sentencing, Mr Holzer said he believed more time than the one night Vermeend had spent in custody was appropriate.
Vermeend was sentenced to one-month imprisonment to be followed by a 12-month community corrections order with 150 hours of community work.
