Daniel Gunter Preuss: Perth man jailed and declared drug trafficker for possession of 19.5g of methamphetamine

A Perth man who tried to dispose of nearly 20g of methamphetamine while in the custody of Albany police has been declared a drug trafficker and jailed for two years. Daniel Gunter Preuss was sentenced in Albany District Court on November 18 for possession of methamphetamine with intent to sell or supply after pleading guilty to the charge on August 8. The 43-year-old was caught with 19.5g of methamphetamine on February 8 2023 after staff at the Hilton Garden Inn Albany found drugs stashed in a hotel room safe. Staff alerted police to the substance, and Preuss and an accomplice were arrested near the hotel, with Preuss throwing a mobile phone in the harbour before his arrest. While being driven to Albany police station in a police car, Preuss emptied a package he had hidden in his underwear, containing 19.5g of methamphetamine with a purity of 80 per cent. District Court Judge Gerard Staude said the offending was aggravated by the fact it was committed while Preuss was on bail for a now-discontinued arson charge and his attempt to dispose of the drugs and phone. “That you attempted to dispose of the methamphetamine whilst in custody is an aggravating factor, as it involves an attempt to destroy evidence,” he said. “And similarly, throwing your phone into the harbour is aggravating for that reason.” Preuss has previously served time in jail for other drug-related offences, conspiracy to commit an offence, and a firearms offence. Preuss was jailed for two years, backdated to February 8 2023, and declared a drug trafficker with eligibility for parole.