Blake Thompson jailed for 13 years after massive drug bust in Adelaide’s south
A main player in an elaborate drug syndicate was living an extravagant lifestyle with his kids in private schools but it all unravelled after police intercepted 1kg of meth.
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A commercial dealer was scolded by a judge for having no consideration for his children when he became a main player in an elaborate drug syndicate.
Blake Eric Thompson, 35, was jailed for 13 years after his enterprise came crashing down and led to the arrest of several men.
During sentencing, the District Court heard Thompson was arrested following a police investigation into the sale of methamphetamine in the southern suburbs, which involved telephone intercepts and surveillance.
Police attended Thompson’s Aldinga Beach address on November 24, 2021.
They found 17.81g of methamphetamine, over $150,000 in cash and seven mobile phones.
Judge Joanne Tracey said it was evident Thompson was a commercial drug dealer selling for profit.
“There were signs of some wealth found by police at your home, such as a sauna, caravan, two motorcycles and your children were enrolled in private school,” she said.
The court heard Thompson, who was not a drug user himself, was bringing in revenue of $6000 to $10,000 per ounce sold.
The Aldinga Beach father-of-three pleaded guilty to 88 counts of drug trafficking, one count of commercial drug trafficking and money laundering.
Thompson’s downfall came when he arranged for 993g of methamphetamine to be couriered and police intercepted the package.
Eight of Thompson’s “sub dealers” were also arrested as part of the investigation.
Out of the men, Robert Spencer, 65, has pleaded guilty to one count of drug trafficking, while Brenton Robin Sims, 54, pleaded guilty to five counts.
The rest are yet to enter pleas.
The court previously heard the men would collect the drugs directly from Thompson or from the ‘stash house’ at Huntfield Heights.
“Communication intercept by police shows that you were aware your purchasers were onselling the drugs to others,” Judge Tracey said.
The court heard Thompson was not at the apex but was an important member of the enterprise, which was ongoing for five months.
Thompson’s supporters wept as Judge Tracey jailed him for 13 years and three months jail, with a non-parole period of ten years and seven months.
“Plainly you had no regard for your children or the community to which they belong when you decided to involve yourself in the profiting from the misery that this drug brings to users, their children, their families and the community in general,” she said.
The sentence was backdated to November 24, 2021.
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