The 30-year-old was seen leaving a known drug premises about 1.50pm on Thursday, May 8, police facts said. 

Officers recognised Michael William Downey and stopped him as he walked on March Street, telling him he would be searched. 

Initially the Dalton Street resident told officers he did not have illicit drugs on him, but his body language suggested otherwise. 

Police sad he kept clutching his right sleeve “as if he were attempting to conceal an item.”

“Oh look at that,” Downey said as police found a bag of drugs. 

He was asked if the drugs were methamphetamine or methylamphetamine, but he did not know the difference. 

Officers told him methylamphetamine was a stronger form of the drug ice (methamphetamine). 

“I hope it’s the stronger one,” he said. 

But the 27 grams of ice found in his possession was not the only reason Downey was required to appear in Orange Local Court on Thursday. 

He was also spotted by police on March 20 in a “well-known drug trafficking area” in the Orange CBD. 

He had 34 charges on his criminal record so police approached him.  They asked him if he had any illegal drugs in his possession and he said he had a dirty [a syringe] in his pocket. 

Officers searched Downey and found two pairs of sunglasses with the security tags still attached. 

When asked how he obtained the glasses he told police “no comment” three times. 

The glasses were valued at $554 in total. 

Downey was charged with possession of drugs and having goods suspected of being stolen.

The magistrate, Terry Lucas, fined him $500 for each offence.