Snowy Mountains: Benjamin Hedges arrested over alleged drug syndicate
Police have smashed a huge syndicate alleged to have been supplying ice and other drugs to the snowfields. Ten people have been charged following police raids on homes at Cooma and Queanbeyan, and more arrests are expected.
NSW
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An apprentice airconditioning mechanic from Queanbeyan and a single mum from Cooma are alleged to have been the big players in a vast drug syndicate stretching from Sydney’s southwest to the NSW ski fields
NSW dismantled the massive drug syndicate which is alleged to have been involved in supplying “ice’’ and other drugs throughout the Snowy Mountains region.
The syndicate’s alleged “kingpin” Benjamin Hedges, 31, of Queanbeyan and young mum Teneillie Kerry Roche, 25, of Cooma, were among seven people arrested in police raids to front Queanbeyan Local Court on Friday.
The court heard police amassed a dossier of more than 12,000 tapped phone calls and text messages between Hedges, the other alleged members of the syndicate and drug users.
Magistrate Roger Clisdell said: “How he had time to do eat and sleep, let alone carry out any employment as an apprentice is beyond me”.
In refusing Hedges bail, Mr Clisdell said the evidence suggested the syndicate operated as far afield as Queanbeyan, Cooma and Campbelltown.
Roche, who has no criminal record and a young son, was granted strict bail, but Mr Clisdell said the evidence suggested she was “well and truly in the thick of it”.
Roche’s lawyer, Luke Vozella, told the court the evidence police had amassed was “pretty well signed, sealed and delivered”.
Among the alleged players to also face court on Friday were Jason Priedigkeit, 34 and Jessica Muir, 35, who the court heard was a heroin addict and three months pregnant.
Both of whom were refused bail.
In total, 11 people have been charged with more than 60 offences.
“At the start of the snow season we made it clear that things will be very different in and around our snowfields,” Detective Superintendent Kevin McNeil, Southern Region operations manager said.
“Under Operation Snow Safe, we have officers deployed to Jindabyne and surrounding areas to ensure the safety of the wider community. Taking drug suppliers off our streets is another way we are continuing to tackle crime in our regional towns and communities.’’
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He said the arrests on Thursday would make it a lot harder for people in the area to obtain methamphetamine and other illegal substances.
Police also seized cocaine.
“The supply of drugs in regional towns has a major impact on our community, and it simply won’t be tolerated,” Supt McNeil said.
“And we will keep investigating and arresting people involved in the supply of illegal substances.’’
During raids on homes in Queanbeyan and Cooma by officers from the Southern Region Enforcement Squad seized drugs, a firearm and electronic devices.
Just after 8am on Thursday search warrants were executed at five homes in the Cooma area resulting in four men and two women being taken into custody.
A fifth man was arrested at Cooma Police Station later in the day.
Soon after, two search warrants were executed at homes at Queanbeyan where another man and two women were arrested and taken to Queanbeyan Police Station.
The charges range from supplying a prohibited drug to participating in a criminal group.
In February 2020, Strike Force Heeterra was established by the Southern RES to investigate the supply of prohibited drugs in the Snowy Mountains and Queanbeyan regions.
“The officers involved have helped out in fighting bushfires, floods and border patrols to stop the spread of coronavirus but still managed to keep this investigation going and come up with a great result.’’
More arrests are expected.
Originally published as Snowy Mountains: Benjamin Hedges arrested over alleged drug syndicate