ANOM drug accused 'family man' denied bail

A $3.3 million surety and promise to meet police daily hasn't convinced a judge to grant bail to a "family man" and successful businessman facing life in prison.

Mitchell Peter Jones, 35, is accused of conspiring to traffic a commercial quantity of a controlled drug after police allegedly found more than 40 kilograms of methamphetamine in May.

Federal police say the NSW Central Coast man and others in a drug syndicate communicated on encrypted messaging application ANOM.

The app, also stylised as AN0M, appeared a secure option for criminals but in fact was a trojan horse distributed and monitored by the AFP and the FBI.

Police say Jones was behind an account that messaged "my bday yesterday" the day after the accused man's birthday and stated "two secs I'm just at chemist" at a time when Jones was filmed in a chemist.

However, no device using ANOM was found in Jones's possession during searches on June 4, the same day three alleged co-conspirators were arrested.

That positively ruled out the Noraville man as the person behind the relevant account, his lawyers say.

NSW Supreme Court Michael Ierace disagreed, saying the fact the device wasn't found with Jones had a neutral effect on the prosecution's "strong" case.

Other evidence linking Jones to the account was strong, the judge said.

The 35-year-old had applied for bail on the grounds he needed to support his pregnant wife in the lead-up to their child's birth, expected in January.

Conditional release would also permit him to train up an employee to run his business in his absence, securing incomes for his family and employees.

Jones offered to report to police daily and wear a tracking anklet while relatives offered a surety totalling $3.3 million.

But Justice Ierace said his "public profile as a family man" was complemented with a picture of a person allegedly involved in an extensive drug syndicate.

Tough bail conditions and a large surety couldn't overcome the unacceptable risk of Jones trying to flee Australia before a trial in late 2022 or early 2023.

"I'm sorry that's not what you wanted to hear," the judge said after delivering his decision.

Jones will return to court on Wednesday when charges of taking part in the manufacture of a large commercial quantity of an illicit drug and participating in a criminal group are heard by a Kempsey magistrate.

His federal charge - conspiring to traffic a commercial quantity of a controlled drug - is listed for mention in Sydney's Central Local Court on October 27.