Lambos, barbers and fitness freaks caught in alleged drug ring

New details about a mass drug seizure which netted millions in cash and assets, including a Lamborghini, have emerged – revealing seven of the eight charged over it.

It started with what police say was an intercepted package of disguised money destined for a North Haven home in February last year.

Ten months later, SA Police’s Serious and Organised Crime Branch had compiled an investigation that saw them slap the alleged “treasurer” of a sophisticated drug running ring with 30 money laundering charges.

In documents released to The Advertiser, it is now known this near year-long investigation became known as Operation Dryad which became active as a result of the packages allegedly send to the home.

The Adelaide Supreme Court this week heard police alleged well-known fitness entrepreneur and barber owner Matthew Newall was “the treasurer” of the drug running ring.

The alleged ring was busted open when police officers from Operation Dryad, on December 13, swooped on 13 Adelaide properties and seized millions in cash and assets including luxury cars and $1m worth of drugs.

Drug bust accused Matt Newall. Picture: Facebook

Nicholas Rehmann is charged over the alleged bust. Picture: Facebook

Steve Jadon is charged over the alleged bust. Picture: Facebook

Alongside Newall his barber business partner, Gawler East man Nicholas Rehmann, was charged with elements of the operation.

Mr Rehmann, 32, was granted home detention bail a week after he was first arrested in December and charged with two counts of trafficking a commercial quantity of drugs and four of cultivating cannabis plants.

Golden Grove man Steven Jadon was also arrested as part of the alleged drug ring, which a court has heard spanned SA, QLD and NSW.

During the week, 32-year-old Redwood Park man Daniel Flynn appeared in the Elizabeth Magistrates Court over the alleged operation, charged with cultivating a controlled plant, possessing prescribed equipment, interfering with an electricity meter and money laundering.

The court documents also reveal the name of three others charged over the operation, 34-year-old Paralowie personal training couple Josh and Sheryn Armstrong and 41-year-old Highbury man Andrew James Mather.

Sheryn and Josh Armstrong have been charged over the alleged drug bust. Picture: Facebook

The identity of an eighth man, a 31-year-old from Surrey Downs is still unknown.

No pleas have been entered to any of the charges and all of the accused are out of prison on bail.

According to the documents, Australia Post tipped police off to the alleged existence of the money.

Between February and November, the documents alleged, 30 packages sent from interstate were delivered to Newall’s North Haven home “wrapped in clothing and used shopping bags as to conceal the existence of money”.

“The packages were all addressed to fictitious names and either had no return address or a fictitious sender,” the documents alleged.

During Newall’s bail review in the Supreme Court earlier this week, a prosecutor told the court Newall allegedly attended hydroponic stores and Bunnings and bought drop sheets, disposable overalls and secateurs on route to various homes across Adelaide’s north and northeast.

The court heard those houses were allegedly cannabis grown houses.

Those houses, at Brahma Lodge, Paralowie, Mawson Lakes, Redwood Park, Surrey Down and Highbury were raided as part of Operation Dryad on December 13.

Police allege, in those houses, they found at least 96 kilograms of dried cannabis and 21 cannabis plants.

Mr Flynn was arrested at the Redwood Park house where police allege there were six cannabis plants.

Similarly, Mr Mather was arrested at a Highbury home in which police allege there were six cannabis plants.

Mr and Mrs Armstrong were arrested at their Paralowie home, where police allege they, along with Newall and Mr Rehmann cultivated nine cannabis plants and had three kilograms of dried cannabis.

At the Golden Grove home, according to the court documents, police seized at least 90 kilograms of dried cannabis.