FOOTBALLER ON DRUGS CHARGE

Former Western Suburbs footballer Bruce Clark wept yesterday as he was
charged over the importation of $7 million worth of ecstasy tablets.
"Bruiser" Clark, 42, broke down in tears at Parramatta Local Court after
being charged with conspiracy to supply prohibited drugs.

He was arrested on Friday night after the discovery of ecstasy tablets
concealed in a consignment of computer parts stored at a Botany freight
forwarding company.

Front-rower Clark played 53 first-grade games for Wests from 1981 to 1987
and became a cult figure because of his size.

The court heard a joint taskforce between the NSW Crime Commission,
Australian Federal Police and NSW Crime Unit uncovered the drug haul on
December 21.

Police obtained telephone intercepts between co-accused Malcolm Field,
Clark and others, the court was told.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Steve McGrath told the court an air freight
consignment was located at a freight-forwarding company at Botany. It
contained boxes of computer parts, including processing units, keyboards ad
monitors.

He said police found 100,000 tablets weighing 34kg inside nine monitors.

Police replaced the drugs with substitute tablets and repackaged the
monitors so they appeared unopened. He said a further intercepted phone
call revealed Field wanted the consignment to be moved to a bond store at
Alexandria.

According to police facts tendered in the court yesterday, evidence
indicated Clark had a contact at the bond store. The men were arrested on
Friday night after they allegedly became aware of police surveillance
operations.

Clark and his co-accused reportedly met at a hotel in Rozelle to discuss
their plan and were arrested shortly afterwards.

Clark, a father of eight, is employed as a manager for Hobbs Brothers
Transport at Rozelle.

He lives in the city during the week and returns to his family home in the
Newcastle area on the weekends.

His defence lawyer yesterday argued that the police fact sheet made only
very general statements in relation to his client.

Registrar Donna Evans agreed, saying it only made one specific reference to
Clark.

Despite the serious criminal nature of the charges, she released Clark on
conditional bail.

He must report daily to police in either Balmain or Toronto, near
Newcastle, and surrender his passport.

He is to have no contact with his alleged co-offenders.

Security of $100,000 was tendered as part of the bail.

Clark is due to appear at Central Local Court tomorrow.