Ilirjan Kolaj applied to have access to the internet for study after $1.6m of cocaine, $500k seized

A man who allegedly tried to flee with 4kg of cocaine pushed for internet privileges, but a magistrate reminded him he wouldn’t have access to the internet at all in jail.

A university student who was arrested after a “suspicious package” containing $1.6m of cocaine was intercepted will be allowed to use the internet for study.

Ilirjan Kolaj applied to have his bail varied in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Tuesday, after he was accepted into a university course.

Mr Kolaj, and his co-accused Soniard Mrishaj and David John Thomas Rickerby were released on home detention bail in March, after a drug sting in Adelaide’s west and northeast.

Mr Kolaj, 28, of Seaton, Mr Mrishaj, 37, of Findon, and Mr Rickerby, 24, of Broadview, are charged with commercial drug trafficking.

Mr Mrishaj and Mr Kolaj are also charged with money laundering.

A condition of the trio’s bail was that they not have any devices with internet access.

James Caldicott, for Mr Kolaj, told the court he had been accepted into a Bachelor of Construction Management at the University of South Australia.

Ilirjan Kolaj had his bail varied to allow for internet access for the purposes of his study. Photo: Facebook

Supplied Editorial David Rickerby is charged with commercial drug trafficking. Photo: Facebook

“You might appreciate the difficulties he would have not being able to use the internet in the course of his education,” he said.

Mr Caldicott said he accepted the charges were serious but asked that Mr Kolaj also be allowed internet access for banking services.

“Well let’s suppose he was in prison and let’s suppose he wasn’t on bail at all, what access would he have to the internet in prison?” asked Magistrate Roderick Jensen.

“The fact of the matter is that he’s on home detention bail because he’s not in prison.”

Mr Kolaj and his co-accused were arrested after a joint investigation by Australian Border Force and SA Police’s Serious and Organised Crime Branch.

In March, investigators intercepted the “suspicious package” containing 4kg of cocaine – with an estimated $1.6m street value, the court previously heard.

“They removed the drugs and put in an inert substance and it was delivered to an address … listed to David Rickerby,” a prosecutor told the court.

The court heard police then allegedly observed Mr Rickerby handing the assignment to Mr Mrishaj and Mr Kolaj who took the package to a Fulham Gardens address.

“Police entered into that address to arrest Mrishaj and Kolaj,” the prosecutor said.

“They attempted to flee with the inert substance.

Cocaine with an estimated street value of $1.6 million seized by police in the western suburbs drug sting. Picture: SA Police

Half a million dollars of cash seized by police in the western suburbs drug sting. Picture: SA Police

During a search of the property, police found $504,000 cash in various places, including in the oven, built-in wardrobe and in the floor.

After searching other properties in the western and northeastern suburbs police also seized four vehicles and two motorcycles.

In the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Tuesday, Magistrate Jensen varied Mr Kolaj’s bail to allow internet access, but only for the purposes of his education.

The group, who are yet to enter any pleas, will return to court in October.