Brenton Sims, Robert Spencer and Umar Ubrahim to be sentenced for ‘sub dealer’ roles in southern suburbs drug syndicate
Three “sub dealers” have revealed their reasons for entangling themselves in a drug syndicate, including a lonely man whose residence was used as a stash house.
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Three “sub dealers” have faced court over their roles in a now jailed drug lord’s syndicate, after police seized several kilograms of methamphetamine.
Brenton Robin Sims, 54, Robert Spencer, 65, and Umar Ali Ubrahim, 40, all had different reasons for dealing – including addiction, loneliness and to pay back a drug debt.
Serious and organised crime branch police arrested multiple men on November 24 and 25, 2021 as part of an investigation into drug distribution across Adelaide’s southern suburbs.
During a search, police allegedly discovered $155,000 in cash, 40 grams of methamphetamine, two cars and three motorcycles.
A search at properties in Sellicks Beach, Modbury North, Windsor Gardens and Holden Hill allegedly led to discoveries of more methamphetamine, 100 grams of cocaine, five kilograms of pseudoephedrine, one kilogram of iodine, two litres of hypo-phosphorous acid and a clandestine lab.
Spencer, of Huntfield Heights, pleaded guilty to one count of drug trafficking, Sims, of Old Noarlunga, pleaded guilty to five counts and Ubrahim, of Sellicks Beach, pleaded guilty to eight counts.
During sentencing submissions, the court heard the men were “sub dealers” within the “Thompson enterprise,” run by Blake Eric Thompson.
Thompson, 36, of Aldinga Beach, was sentenced for 89 counts of drug trafficking and one count of money laundering in the District Court in November.
He was jailed for 13 years and three months, with a non-parole period of ten years and seven months.
Ceit Deane, for the prosecution, told the court Ubrahim was purchasing ounces of mixed methamphetamine regularly from Thompson to onsell to other customers.
She pushed for immediate jail for all three men.
Jordan D’Angelo, for Ubrahim, told the court his client became a methamphetamine addict after he was introduced to the drug in his mid 20s.
The court heard Ubrahim made no profit from his role in the operation and was dealing drugs to pay back his girlfriend’s $80,000 drug debt to Thompson.
Peter Hill, for Sims and Spencer, pushed for a suspended or home detention for both his clients, saying they were remorseful for the offending.
Mr Hill said Spencer, who was on the disability support pension, was a lonely man who was seemingly taken advantage of.
“Mr Spencer has been involved in this operation through his son’s associates,” he said.
“His house was clearly used as a stash house ... whilst there was no financial gain he obviously played an integral part in the process.”
The court heard Sims, a father-of-two, became a drug addict after a serious car accident but has returned negative drug tests since being on bail.
Judge Joanne Tracey will sentence the men next month.
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