Gawler barber drug bust accused Nicholas Rehmann had all charges dismissed in court

A former barber chain owner arrested in a tri-state drug running ring had all charges dismissed after police asked for a lengthy adjournment.

A man arrested in a tri-state drug running ring had multiple drug trafficking charges dropped after police asked for a lengthy adjournment.

Nicholas James Rehmann, 31, had all charges dismissed in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Wednesday, including two counts of large commercial drug trafficking.

The court heard a charge determination had been made against co-accused, Steven Saheed Jadon but prosecution asked for a further five months for Mr Rehmann to obtain forensic evidence, including DNA and fingerprints.

At request of Mr Rehmann’s counsel to dismiss the charges, Chief Magistrate Judge Mary-Louise Hribal did so – telling prosecution they could relay them once they had all the materials.

Mr Rehmann and Mr Jadon were arrested alongside alleged drug syndicate “treasurer” Matthew Newall as part of Operation Dryad.

Nick Rehmann arrives at the Adelaide Magistrates Court at an earlier appearance. Picture: NCA NewsWire

Steve Jadon and co-accused Matt Newall at Mr Jadon's wedding in 2015. Picture: Facebook

Operation Dryad ran for 12-months and began after police allegedly intercepted wads of cash bound for Mr Newall’s house.

Those wads of cash, police have alleged in court documents, totalled $1.3m, were payment for selling drugs and were laundered by Mr Newall.

A troupe of eight people were arrested as part of the operation which culminated in police swooping on several homes across the northern suburbs of Adelaide in early December.

Paralowie personal trainer couple Josh and Sheryn Armstrong, 41-year-old Highbury man Andrew James Mather, 32-year-old Redwood Park man Daniel Flynn and 31-year-old Surrey Downs man Dale Mason Formosa make up the eight charged over the alleged drug syndicate.

Police have alleged Mr Flynn, Mr and Mrs Armstrong, Mr Mather and Mr Formosa tended grow houses across the northern and northeastern houses.
Mr Formosa also faces a money laundering charge.

At the time, police seized hundreds of kilograms of drugs, luxury cars, homes and cash.

Sheryn and Josh Armstrong face large commercial drug trafficking and cultivating a controlled plant charges. Picture: Facebook

Andrew Mather faces charges of cultivating more than a prescribed quantity of cannabis plants, possessing prescribed equipment and diverting electricity. Picture: Facebook

According to court documents, Mr Rehmann had a stake in the hairdressing business Lagers and Barbers – which he was co-owner of alongside Mr Newall – seized by police.

They also seized Mr Rehmann’s Gawler East home, about $45,000, a Maserati, Mercedes Benz and Ford ute.

Businessman Mr Jadon had four properties restrained while the Armstrong couple had their Paralowie home frozen by the District Court.

Mr Formosa and Mr Mather also had homes frozen while Mr Flynn had two properties restrained.

Mr Newall, who faces multiple counts of money laundering and drug trafficking, did not have any property seized, but had four vehicles restrained.

In a separate hearing on Wednesday, Jon Lister, for Mr Newall, asked for his client to be allowed to attend the gym and start new employment as a steel fixer.

Judge Hribal ordered a home detention report and adjourned the application until next week.

Mr Jadon, 31, will face court again in September, where he will be expected to enter pleas to his multiple counts of large commercial drug trafficking and money laundering.