South Australia Police have found drugs, weapons and illegal fireworks at a storage yard in Adelaide's south where they believe suspected murder victim Jeff Mundy was held against his will in the weeks leading up to his death.
Mr Mundy was last seen getting off a bus at Sellicks Beach on December 19, 2020.
Police declared his death a major crime last year and believe his body was disposed of on the Fleurieu Peninsula, though his remains have not yet been found.
Dozens of police officers today searched the industrial property on Morrow Road at Lonsdale as part of Taskforce Southern, which was formed 12 months ago to investigate several unsolved drug-related murders in Adelaide's south.
Detective Inspector Brett Featherby said police found a firearm, a hydroponic cannabis crop and three shipping containers of illegal fireworks.
"We believe Jeff was held there against his will in a container in the weeks prior to his death and murder," he said.
"Subsequent to that escape, he has been murdered, one to two weeks later.
"We know this premises is frequented by low-level drug users and low-level drug dealers and we believe that a number of people have been involved in not only Jeff's murder but also the disposal of his body.
Inspector Featherby said police believed there might have been different people involved in the disposal of Mr Mundy's body to those involved in his murder.
"There may be separate or multiple suspects involved in those roles," he said.
"Major Crime are also investigating the involvement of drug syndicates in the Lonsdale area, Aldinga and Sellicks Hill, and their role in Jeff's murder and his disappearance.
On December 19, 2020, Mr Mundy left home at 10am to fill a prescription at a pharmacy at Colonnades shopping centre in Adelaide's south before returning home.
The single father, who lived with his parents, left home again at 3pm and was sighted near the Seaford Exchange at 4pm.
At 6:30pm, Mr Mundy got off a bus at Stop 143 in Alexander Street at Sellicks Beach and was never seen again.
Police are offering a $200, 000 reward for information which results in the convictions of those responsible for his murder or for information that leads to the recovery of Mr Mundy's body.
"I ask that if anyone is concerned about their safety and has information in relation to Jeff's murder that they contact Crime Stoppers tonight between 5pm and 9pm and speak to Taskforce Southern investigators," Inspector Featherby said.
Taskforce Southern is also investigating the deaths of 29-year-old Robert Atkins, who was reported missing in January 2021, and 41-year-old Trevor King, whose body was found at West Lakes in January 2020.
Since the task force was formed, police have searched 62 premises, arrested 19 men and eight women, and laid 95 charges including blackmail, serious assault, false imprisonment, drug trafficking, money laundering and theft.
