Gert and Anastas Kristo, Jetmir Nikolla and Anthony Caroscio charged with attempted cocaine trafficking

Four men, including brothers, are accused of buying 10kg of “cocaine” from undercover cops, plus growing kilograms of marijuana in a sophisticated drug operation.

Four men who allegedly believed they were buying 10kg of cocaine received a nasty surprise instead.

Brothers Gert and Anastas Kristo, aged 39 and 37, are alleged to have been caught red-handed leaving a hotel room after the undercover police deal.

Jetmir Nikolla, 30, Anthony George Caroscio, 37, are also accused of being involved in the significant operation.

David Edwardson QC, for Gert, asked the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Thursday to relax his home detention bail conditions for employment and university study purposes.

Gert Kristo. Picture: Facebook

“He was charged on the basis that he had trafficked in a large commercial quantity of cocaine,” he said.

“We maintain that it’s simply untrue … it turned out that the cocaine never existed at all.”

The court heard that the four co-accused were investigated as part of a covert police operation in September, 2020.

“Mr Gert Kristo … is the principal alleged offender,” a prosecutor said.

The court heard Gert met with undercover officers to buy 10kg of an inert substance, believing it was cocaine.

“He made a down payment of $100,000 for that amount to the undercover operative,” the prosecutor said.

“That inert substance was then taken to a hotel room.”

The Kristo brothers and Caroscio were arrested by police leaving the hotel room, where cocaine testing kits were allegedly found.

Jetmir Nikolla. Picture: Facebook

Anastas Kristo. Picture: Facebook

The prosecutor said all men are alleged to be involved in the operation.

“At its highest they were dealing with a large cocaine sale on this occasion,” the prosecutor said.

Police then searched the accused‘s’ houses and allegedly found marijuana plants at two Fulham Garden addresses.

They also allegedly found 26 marijuana plants at a Seacliff residence and 33 plants and 10kg of marijuana in vacuum sealed packaging at a Kilkenny address.

Over $9000 in cash and drug equipment was allegedly found at Gert’s Seaton address.

Nikolla, of Woodville North, Caroscio, of Rostrevor and the Kristo brothers, both of Seaton, are charged with attempting to traffic in a commercial quantity of drugs.

“If convicted of this offence, this defendant (Gert) will clearly face an immediate custodial term,” the prosecutor said.

Chief Magistrate Mary-Louise Hribal amended the brothers and Caroscio’s bail conditions to give them more freedom between 6am and 9pm.

The men will return to court in February.