Beric ‘Bez’ Burns jailed for supplying meth, cannabis in Illawarra

An Illawarra drug boss has been jailed for a decade after he amassed $1m in dirty cash when he supplied more than a kilo of meth before it was on-sold to customers.

Beric Burns, 56, was sentenced to 10 years and six months in prison with a non parole period of six years and 10 months in Wollongong District Court on Thursday.

An Illawarra drug boss has been jailed for a decade after he amassed $1m in dirty cash when he supplied more than a kilo of meth before it was on-sold to customers.

Beric Burns, 56, was sentenced to 10 years and six months in prison with a non parole period of six years and 10 months in Wollongong District Court on Thursday for supplying a total 1.3kg of meth during four months.

Two NSW Police strike forces – Tower and Kimbriki – uncovered Beric Burns and his partner Natascha Consigli’s illegal operation in 2021 by using phone taps and surveillance devices.

Burns, who court documents state is referred to by his associates as “Bez”, pleaded guilty to two counts of supplying a large commercial quantity of meth, two counts of supplying meth and cannabis and dealing in the proceeds of crime.

Court documents state phone intercepts caught Burns interacting with drug dealer Logan Figg – who was one of his main clients – in August and September, 2021.

Warilla woman Natascha Consigli. Picture: Dylan Arvela

Burns supplied Figg with 557g of meth spread over multiple deals that occurred at locations including a house at Windang as well as a house, vet clinic and McDonald’s at Warilla.

The quantities of each deal varied from a little as 3.54g up to 56g.

The documents state on occasion Burns would instruct Consigli to meet Figg and exchange the product for cash.

Bathurst-based drug dealer Mark Douglas Ellerman was another of Burn’s clients who would meet him at the offender’s shop front on Wentworth St, Port Kembla.

Documents state Burns supplied Ellerman a total of 840g of meth and nearly 2kg of cannabis with their business relationship busted after the latter was pulled over by police in Mt Victoria in October 2021.

Police also bugged a storage facility at National Storage Solutions at Albion Park Rail hired by Burns and Consigli.

Court documents state police recorded the pair sorting through money with Consigli telling her boyfriend “I miss playing with it” and “it makes me happy”.

Beric Burns supplied a total 1.3kg of meth during four months. Picture: Facebook

The couple were arrested at their Warilla home on December 16 with Figg arrested the following day.

Police searched the storage facility and seized $943,000 as well as nearly 3kg of cannabis, with a further $6830 located at the Port Kembla shop front and their Warilla address.

Judge Andrew Haesler said Burns contributed financially to the set up of the operation and made a profit.

“It was his operation, he managed it. He had a decision making role. He played a major role in providing product for others to distribute the drugs to the community,” he said.

“There is no indication Burns was part of a syndicate. He sought an opportunity to get and distribute drugs and had a willing provider and willing customers.”

The court heard Burns “voluntarily stopped” selling drugs after he amassed a “nest egg”, which was his goal so he could be financially set for the future.

Judge Haesler noted Burns chose to distribute drugs into the community despite his longstanding addiction, which had a major impact on his life.

The court heard Burns had a lengthy criminal record including a jail sentence until 2019 following his arrest in 2013 for major drug supply.

He participated in drug relapse prevention programs during his prison sentence and went to residential drug rehabilitation upon his release, however he reoffended with the drug supply crimes while still on parole.

The court heard Burns had a traumatic upbringing and had played rugby league until his drug addiction derailed his life.

He was sober for five years but has PTSD and possible impaired executive functioning which impacts his ability to think about consequences.

The court also heard Burns has chronic liver problems and was supporting other inmates with their drug addiction and had demonstrated progress towards his rehabilitation.

Burns will be eligible for release to parole on January 14, 2029.

Consigli was sentenced in Wollongong District Court earlier last year to two years and six months jail with a non-parole period of one year and nine months.

The drug maiden had pleaded guilty to two counts of supplying an indictable quantity of drugs and dealing with the proceeds of crime.

Figg was sentenced in June to six years jail with a non-parole period of four after pleading guilty to supplying a large commercial quantity of drugs.

Ellerman was sentenced in Bathurst District Court to eight years and six months behind bars with a non-parole period of five years and six months for supplying a commercial quantity of drugs and knowingly dealing with the proceeds of crime.

Originally published as Beric ‘Bez’ Burns jailed for supplying meth, cannabis in Illawarra