Heroin dealer bailer

Alex de Vos
An alleged heroin dealer with an extensive criminal history has won bail in a Geelong court.
East Geelong’s Gregory Smith faces charges including nine counts of obtaining property by deception, eight of possessing drugs of dependence including cocaine, heroin and cannabis, possession of a firearm and drug trafficking.
Magistrate Stephen Myall granted Smith bail in Geelong Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday afternoon.
The court heard that after executing a search warrant at Smith’s Tate Street home on March 12 police found a .22 rifle, seven rounds of ammunition, 29 grams of cannabis, six of heroin, scales and a quantity of “deal bags”.
Leading Constable Marnie Slevin told the court Smith had fled his house when police arrived.
Const Slevin said police later caught Smith and informed of the search warrant.
Police found the firearm in a bedroom and drugs and ammunition in the kitchen before arresting Smith and taking him to Geelong Police Station, the court heard.
Const Slevin said a police search later revealed Smith was also carrying a stolen mobile phone containing a text message relating to drug trafficking.
Smith denied trafficking and told police the drugs were for “personal use”.
His lawyer, Michael Bugman, told the court Smith’s household was evidence he was only a drug user.
“The way the kitchen was set up was equally consistent with someone that uses,” Mr Bugman said.
“No lists were found and no large amounts of cash were found.”
Mr Bugman told the court Smith had cooperated with police and deserved bail.
“When police asked him whether he had a firearm he showed them where it was,” Mr Bugman said.
“His partner is carrying his first child and has had a problematic pregnancy – he wants to be there for the birth.”
Mr Myall granted bail with “strict” conditions.
Smith will reappear in Geelong Magistrates’ Court on April 14.