Operation Ironside: Alleged Adelaide drug traffickers' luxury property empire revealed
Alleged drug traffickers arrested in Adelaide's latest Operation Ironside raids own high-end properties, from million-dollar homes near private schools to beachside apartments.
Million-dollar homes in sought-after luxurious Adelaide suburbs are among the property portfolios of alleged drug traffickers arrested as part of the latest Operation Ironside raids.
The Advertiser can reveal the accused criminals, who were linked to the encrypted AN0M app, own expensive properties across South Australia.
The properties ranged from two-storey houses in Adelaide’s inner south – worth $2.47m – and near popular private schools, to $1.3m semi-rural residences and high-rise units.
Freezing orders by the Director of Public Prosecution also exist against a number of million-dollar properties and assets owned by some of the accused, imposed from initial AN0M raids.
One man, whose identity was suppressed, had two properties worth a combined $1.79m frozen by the courts, as well as his Mercedes Benz sedan, Toyota station wagon, Harley Davidson motorbike, jet ski and car trailer.
He also had $33,000 in cash and $436,000 seized from four of bank accounts.
One of the biggest property portfolios was worth nearly $4m in capital value, according to property records which tend to be slightly conservative.
The man, whose identity was suppressed, owned properties across the western and northern suburbs, including a two-bedroom brick villa in Adelaide’s inner west, which he bought 33 years ago for $127,000 and which was now worth $1m.
Moral Huckel, who was alleged to have devised a plan to establish a pill press operation, owns a one-bedroom high-rise apartment in Glenelg, valued at $570,000, and within walking distance of Jetty Rd.
Father-of-three Terry Bunker invested wisely in Angle Vale between 2016-2018, spending a combined $458,000 on two properties, which were now valued at $2.1m.
One home sits on a whopping 1800sq m block and likely to be where Mr Bunker resides on home detention bail after being charged with six counts of trafficking in a large commercial quantity of a controlled drug and one count of knowingly engaging in money laundering.
The property owners were among 55 people arrested on Wednesday, October 29, when police raided 23 properties and seized $25.8m in assets as part of Operation Ironside.
It followed an initial 2021 sting that saw 40 people arrested in South Australia linked to intelligence gathered from the AN0M app.
The encrypted app was developed and covertly run by the Australian Federal Police and the US Federal Bureau of Investigation to track criminal activity.
The encrypted communications allegedly included plots to kill, mass drug trafficking and gun distribution and led to the arrest of more than 500 people worldwide.
Damien Niesche, 50
He’s a renowned business owner from the southern suburbs, who was alleged to have dealt in 425g of cocaine and 93.7kg of cannabis.
For now the father of three is on home detention bail at his Happy Valley house, which sits on a quarter of an acre, just off the Southern Expressway.
Mr Niesche bought the property for $550,000 more than a decade ago, which has since doubled in price and was valued at $1.15m.
It was his home address and his Old Reynella cafe business where prosecutors alleged he used the handle “Southside XC” on an AN0M device to deal in drugs.
Mr Niesche was yet to plead to 10 counts of trafficking in a large commercial quantity, and in a commercial quantity, of a controlled drug.
Man - suppressed
This northern suburbs man, who has been refused bail for his alleged offences, has quite the property portfolio valued at a whooping $3.9m.
His properties range from homes the northern, western and inner-western suburbs to two rural allotments north of Adelaide.
The western suburbs properties consist of a three-bedroom house valued at $920,000 and one on 560sq m of land worth $970,000.
His two rural allotments were worth a combined $514,000, while his northern suburbs house was valued at $590,000.
The man bought a two-bedroom home in Adelaide’s inner west in 1992 for $127,000, which was now worth $1m.
Brad Sheehy, 40
This FIFO worker built a three-bedroom, two-bathroom family home on 263sq m of land in Salisbury.
Located near the Little Para River, the house was worth $590,000 according to property value records.
However, the median price for houses in the suburb over the past year were about $690,000.
Mr Sheehy is on bail to be able to attend his job as he is the sole provider for his family.
He was yet to enter any pleas in relation to 10 counts of drug trafficking, including large commercial drug trafficking.
Man - suppressed
This man, who recently had his home detention bail conditions varied to match those imposed after an earlier AN0M-related arrest, has a property portfolio worth nearly $3.3m.
He knocked over a four-bedroom house and built two, two-storey houses on a quarter acre block in the inner south.
Conveniently located close to public transport and schools, this address was highly valued at $2.47m.
His other three-bedroom home was in the southern foothills, on 1500sq m of land, and valued at $890,000.
However, the government successfully put freezing orders on these two addresses in 2021, which prevents any sale of the assets.
Court documents show the government also put restraining orders on watercraft and related assets, a sedan and a van.
Man - suppressed
This businessman has had two properties, valued at $1.79m, placed under freezing orders by the courts in 2022.
One is a $1.32m semi-rural property in the northern suburbs, where it’s likely this man has been bailed, so he can continue to run his business.
While his other property is a three-bedroom house in Adelaide’s northern suburbs valued at $470,000.
The government was also successful in restraining a sedan, a station wagon, motorbike, car trailer and a watercraft.
The man also had $436,000 seized from four bank accounts and deposited into the Crown solicitor’s trust account, court documents showed.
SA Police seized and banked just over $33,000.
Francesco Errigo, 32
This insurance assessor was arrested alongside his brother during the AN0M raids and last week was permitted urgent home detention bail to be by the side of his heavily-pregnant wife.
He was released on strict conditions to his Munno Para West home, which he bought for $350,000. The property was now valued at $650,000.
His bail conditions included only being allowed one mobile phone and he cannot communicate with any of his co-accused – except his brother, Robert Errigo Jnr, who was also charged.
Mr Errigo was yet to enter a plea for six counts of trafficking in a large commercial quantity of a controlled drug.
Man - suppressed
This man was granted bail to a northern suburbs address, after undergoing significant spinal surgery just two weeks before he was arrested.
His defence counsel said he was only provided four panadol in a 24 hour period and his pain was around a 10 on the pain scale.
The man was alleged to have used an AN0M device to facilitate the alleged sale of 120kg of cannabis as well as the acquisition of 1kg of MDMA powder, 1600 MDMA pills and 5.5kg of meth. He was also alleged to have laundered $41,500.
The man’s matter was likely to be recalled in January and while it wasn’t clear which address he was bailed to, the man owns a three-bedroom house in the northern suburbs.
Property records show it was valued at $400,000, however freezing orders on the property from 2022 prevent its sale.
Rocco Carbone, 65
This northern suburbs farmer received home detention bail to continue growing his tomatoes, strawberries and beans at a Waterloo Corner property.
While his bail was to the farm’s address, Mr Carbone owned three northern suburbs houses with a combined value of $2.3m, according to property records.
One was a two-bedroom home in Salisbury East, valued at $610,000, another was a three-bedroom house in neighbouring Salisbury worth $800,000.
His other northern suburbs property was a six-bedroom, two-storey house on a whopping 3000sq m block in Paralowie.
The property was near the Little Para Linear Park and valued at $900,000.
He was also one of four registered owners of a $1.15m property in Stephney.
He was yet to enter pleas for one count of trafficking in a large commercial quantity, three counts of trafficking in a commercial quantity and 39 counts of basic trafficking in a controlled drug.
Heidi Tomkins, 45
In the heart of Mawson Lakes, Ms Tomkin’s two-bedroom, two bathroom unit has doubled in value since she bought it in 2020.
Property records show the unit was valued at $495,000. It’s within walking distance to Mawson Lakes Blvd and the University of SA’s Mawson Lakes campus, making it a sought after location.
It’s where she’s been released to on home detention bail while she waits to face six counts of trafficking in a controlled drug.
Moral Huckel, 61
The alleged AN0M user codenamed “Silver Fox” has been bailed to his prominent Glenelg high-rise address, which he bought in 2013.
The one-bedroom unit is valued at $570,000 and is a stone’s throw away from the beach and a short walk to Jetty Rd shops and eateries.
Mr Huckel has been charged with eight counts of trafficking in a commercial quantity of a controlled drug.
It’s been alleged he and his co-accused (suppressed) had devised a plan to establish a pill press operation to turn 12kg of MDMA powder into 74,000 tablets.
Jesse Saunders, 36
Mr Saunders was granted home detention bail while he waits to face seven counts of trafficking in a controlled drug and two counts of money laundering.
While it’s unsure which address he’s been bailed to, he does own a property in the Adelaide Hills.
He bought the three-bedroom, two-bathroom house in a small Hills township last year for $500,000 and property records showed it was now worth $600,000.
The property has three car spaces and sits on a 500sq m allotment.
Jye Boyanton, 38
The father of three has been released on bail to his Netley address – a home which he bought for $530,000 in 2018.
The solid brick three-bedroom house has a large outdoor dining area and yard, sitting on a 600sq m block.
The property is a stone’s throw away from the Adelaide Airport and is now valued at $890,000.
Mr Boyanton was yet to lead to more than 80 charges, across three separate court files, of trafficking in a large commercial quantity of a controlled drug and money laundering.
His alleged co-offenders include his brother-in-law, Jesse Saunders, and alleged drug syndicate leaders Peter Zwar and Pasquale Lagana.
Man - suppressed
This man has been bailed to his three-bedroom northeastern suburb’s home, which he bought for $530,000.
The 1970s style home, now valued at $830,000, was not far from the River Torrens.
The man was part of the original Ironside arrests and has only been charged with one new offence – to knowingly engage in money laundering.
The government successfully put freezing orders on his home address in 2021, which prevents any sale of the assets.
Court documents also showed SA Police seized nearly $18,000 from this man in the same year.
Robert Errigo, 29
The part owner of a construction business has been bailed to his four-bedroom, three-bathroom home in Munno Para West.
Robert was yet to plead to 10 counts of large commercial drug trafficking and one count of cultivating a controlled plant.
While, he’s only allowed to leave his home detention address to celebrate the birth of his co-accused brother’s child, he should be quite comfortable in his solid brick home.
It boasts a pool and large undercover entertaining space.
Mr Errigo bought the property for $380,000 and property records showed it was now worth $790,000.
Rhys Mundy, 35
More commonly known as Dingo, Mr Mundy was waiting to find out the outcome of an appeal against his being granted bail.
He owns a four-bedroom home in Hallett Cove, which he purchased in 2019.
The expansive property sits on a 900sq m block and was less than a five-minute drive to the beach. Property records showed it was worth $740,000.
Mr Mundy was charged with one count of trafficking in a commercial quantity of a controlled drug.
Prosecutors have alleged he purchased 1kg of cocaine from a drug syndicate for $300,000 between September and October 2020.
Stavros Theoharis, 32
The family man owns a three-bedroom Paralowie home, which he bought for $235,000 in 2017 and which looked like a renovators delight.
The house, on 620sq m, was now valued at $570,000.
He’s been bailed while he waits to multiple charges, including eight counts of trafficking in a large commercial quantity of a controlled drug.
Steven Bell, 35
Mr Bell might call Forestville home, but property records show he owns a place on the Yorke Peninsula.
He bought the three-bedroom solid brick house last year for $315,000 in Minlaton and property records showed it was worth about $290,000.
Mr Bell was yet to plead to nine counts of drug trafficking and was waiting on the outcome of a home detention report to learn if he would be bailed.
Man - suppressed
This man has been charged with allegedly trafficking 68kg of cannabis and has been bailed to live at his $1.25m home.
He lives on his semi-rural property with a number of farm animals and three dogs.
The Magistrates Court heard he would be electronically monitored while on bail so he could tend to his animals.
Property records showed the three-bedroom house was bought for $732,000 in 2022.
He was yet to plead to 15 counts of trafficking in a large commercial quantity of a controlled drug, through the AN0M app.
Terry Bunker, 43
This father of three has two homes in Angle Vale worth a combined $2.1m.
One home, sitting on a whooping 1800sq m, he bought for $260,000 and was now worth $1.32m.
The other was a relatively new house he bought for $198,500 and which was now worth $860,000, according to property records.
He’s on home detention bail, after being charged with six counts of trafficking in a large commercial quantity of a controlled drug.
He’s also been charged with one count of knowingly engaging in money laundering.
Adam Hayter, 31
Mr Hayter is being electronically-monitored on home-detention bail.
He owns a three-bedroom weatherboard house in Yankalilla, situated on 800sq m of land.
The home, built in 2000, was sold for $590,000 and has a value of $480,000, according to property records.
However, the median sale price for houses in the beachside town on the Fleurieu Peninsula over the past year was $634,750.
Mr Hayter was yet to plead to drug-trafficking charges.
