Post office box used to import meth

A Broome man who admitted to attempting to possess almost 200g of methamphetamine allegedly paid another resident to use his post office box to import the drug. Samuel Nelson House, 32, is facing time in jail after pleading guilty to a string of drug charges, including attempting to possess prohibited drugs with intent to sell or supply, after he was arrested last month. House was found with a parcel containing the meth in bushland near Demco Drive on March 23. Police prosecutor Sgt Phil Milne told Broome Magistrate’s Court last Monday that co-accused Gareth Victor Shearer Ruddell was with House at the time and the parcel was sent to Mr Ruddell’s PO box. Police told the Broome Advertiser House paid Mr Ruddell, 39, to have the meth delivered to his postal address. Officers found 10 cannabis plants growing underneath tents in the spare bedroom of House’s Dalmatio Street home after his arrest. Artificial lighting was used to help cultivate the plants. House received a $1000 fine and made to pay court costs after he also pleaded guilty to cultivating a prohibited plant via video link from West Kimberley Regional Prison last Monday. Deputy Chief Magistrate Elizabeth Woods also ordered the destruction of the cannabis plants and seizure of items used to assist in cultivation. House will next appear in the Broome District Court on July 21 for a sentence mention hearing in regard to the attempted methamphetamine possession charge. Mr Ruddell will appear in Broome Magistrate’s Court on May 4, pending legal advice. He is charged with attempting to possess prohibited drugs with intent to sell or supply, cultivating a prohibited plant, possessing a prohibited drug, and possessing drug paraphernalia in or on which there was a prohibited drug or plant.