Alleged drug empire ‘treasurer’ Matthew Newall pleaded not guilty to 30 charges

An Adelaide gym and barbershop owner and alleged drug empire “treasurer” will stand trial accused of laundering more than $1m in a multi-state drug ring.

The alleged “treasurer” of a multistate drug running ring will stand trial on charges relating to laundering more than $1m.

Matthew James Newall, 35, pleaded not guilty in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Wednesday to 30 charges, including multiple counts of money laundering and one count of commercial drug trafficking.

Mr Newall was arrested alongside multiple others as part of Operation Dryad.

Operation Dryad ran for 12-months and began after police allegedly intercepted wads of cash bound for Mr Newall’s house.

The court previously heard Mr Newall, who is accused of laundering more than $1.3m through mail delivered to his North Haven waterfront home, would allegedly receive the money and then distribute it to the houses after stopping at hydroponics and hardware stores.

Gawler barber Matthew Newall pleaded not guilty to commercial drug trafficking and money laundering, Picture: NCA NewsWire/ Dean Martin

A troupe of eight people were arrested as part of the operation which culminated in police swooping on several homes across the northern suburbs of Adelaide in early December last year.

One of the men arrested, Nicholas James Rehmann, 32, had all charges dismissed in April after police asked for a lengthy adjournment.

Nicholas Rehmann had all charges dropped in April. Picture: NCA NewsWire

Andrew Mather was sentenced to a good behaviour bond of cultivating more than a prescribed quantity of cannabis plants. Picture: Facebook

Businessman Steven Saheed Jadon, Paralowie personal trainer couple Josh and Sheryn Armstrong, 41-year-old Highbury man Andrew James Mather, 32-year-old Redwood Park man Daniel Flynn and 32-year-old Surrey Downs man Dale Mason Formosa make up the eight charged over the alleged drug syndicate.

Sheryn and Josh Armstrong are due to enter pleas to their charges later this month. Picture: Facebook

Steven Jadon is charged over the alleged drug bust. Picture: Facebook

Mr Jadon, 31, was also due to enter pleas to his multiple large commercial drug trafficking and money laundering charges on Wednesday but his counsel asked for an adjournment to receive the financial evidence.

The charges were adjourned until March.

Police have alleged Mr Flynn, Mr and Mrs Armstrong, Mather and Mr Formosa, who has pleaded not guilty to his charges, tended grow houses across the northern and northeastern suburbs.

Mather was sentenced to a $1000, two year good behaviour bond in October for cultivating cannabis, with no convictions recorded.

At the time, police seized hundreds of kilograms of drugs, luxury cars, homes and cash.

According to court documents, Mr Newall and Mr Rehmann were co-owners in the hairdressing business Lagers and Barbers, which was seized by police.

They also seized Mr Rehmann’s Gawler East home, about $45,000, a Maserati, Mercedes Benz and Ford ute.

Mr Jadon had four properties restrained while the Armstrong couple had their Paralowie home frozen by the District Court.

Mr Formosa and Mr Mather also had homes frozen while Mr Flynn had two properties restrained.

Mr Newall did not have any property seized, but had four vehicles restrained.

On Wednesday, his charges were committed to the District Court in March.