An Adelaide personal trainer accused of trafficking large quantities of drugss previously competed in the South Australian Muay Thai League, is a former F45 trainer in Brighton, and worked for well known recovery space, Plunge Recovery.
Across his social media Benjamin Keir regularly posts videos of himself working out, alongside motivational gym posts.
The 35-year-old, of Reynella, a personal trainer at The Yard Gym Somerton Park and Emma Kempster, 28, of Woodcroft, a cafe worker both faced the Christies Beach Magistrates Court via video link on Thursday afternoon.
Ms Kempster wept as the pair faced accusations of trafficking large quantities of illicit drugs after police allegedly found more than 500g of cocaine, methamphetamine and MDMA hidden in a shed, and men’s clothing.
Both are charged with three counts of trafficking a commercial quantity of a controlled drug, while Mr Keir faces one additional drug trafficking charge.
Drugs found during the police search on Tuesday, 1 September, included 1 ounce of cocaine in a red shoe, 20 grams in a men’s jacket pocket, and approximately 500 grams of cocaine, Methamphetamine and MDMA in a shed on the property.
Counsel for Mr Keir admitted that those drugs in the shoe and men’s jacket were his but “for personal use”, and the other drugs found during the search were being “stored for an unknown individual”.
Counsel also stated Mr Keir denies “being involved in the sale or distribution of the drugs”.
During a search of a Reynella property on Tuesday, 2 September, officers from the Serious and Organised Crime Branch and Crime Gangs Task Force allegedly located approximately half a kilogram of methamphetamine, half a kilogram of cocaine, half a kilogram of ecstasy, steroids and a cocaine press.
Ms Kempster was arrested during the search, with Mr Keir later presenting himself to the Christies Beach Police Station where he was subsequently arrested.
Prosecutors told court Mr Keir had been previous convictions, including theft in June 2026 and trafficking of controlled drugs in September 2013.
Mr Keir received nine months imprisonment for his 2013 conviction, but that sentence was suspended for two years.
Ms Kempster cried during her hearing, with her counsel Ella Liptak telling the court it was a “distressing time” for her client.
“This is the first time Ms Kempster has come into any sort of trouble before the court or the police,” Ms Liptak said.
“They (the charges) are contested by Ms Kempster and she made that quite clear to police upon arrival.”
Ms Kempster was granted bail by Magistrate Oliver Koehn, while Mr Keir was remanded in custody while a home detention report was being prepared.
Both will return to court in June next year.