Alleged senior figure in Comancheros wrote ‘we f***ed’ when $2.75m seized, court told

You know when you lose $10 and get really annoyed? Imagine losing $2.75m. A court has heard how alleged members of a bikie gang reacted after realising police had seized their money.

A man alleged to be a senior member of the Comanchero motorcycle gnag allegedly wrote “our cash lost – we f***ed” after hearing that $2.75m in cash had been seized in rural NSW, a court heard.

Last week the man, whose name is suppressed in expectation that he will face multiple criminal trials, argued there was no evidence to convict him of trafficking and money laundering charges.

The charges related to what had previously been described as a “drug corridor” operating between Adelaide and Sydney.

Last week the Adelaide Magistrates Court heard that prosecutors would be alleging kilograms of methamphetamine was being brought to Adelaide from Sydney and millions in cash would be shipped back.

Dominic Agresta, for the man, said thousands of messages sent over the encrypted AN0M app and retrieved by police were not enough to establish that his client was directing any drug trafficking or money laundering operations.

Highway patrol officers from Strike Force Raptor approached a prime mover parked at a service station in rural NSW where they found $2.75m in cash. The 2020 seizure would later be linked to Operation Ironside. Picture: NSW Police

Highway patrol officers from Strike Force Raptor approached a prime mover parked at a service station in rural NSW where they found $2.75m in cash. The 2020 seizure would later be linked to Operation Ironside. Picture: NSW Police

A prosecutor read to the court a series of AN0M messages which the court heard were allegedly attributed to the man.

In March 2020 a truck driver with links to the syndicate was allegedly transporting 15kg of methamphetamine back to South Australia.

The prosecutor said the man had discussed with another co-accused that the driver was driving at the proper speed, using log books and taking the right breaks to ensure he was not stopped by police.

In other samples the man was alleged to have instructed another, different co-accused in how to cut and adulterate the methamphetamine and was sent photos of the diluting taking place.

When the first lot of $1.32m was sent back to Sydney, the man is accused of instructing a man playing the role of “banker” within the gang on how to split up the cash.

Highway patrol officers from Strike Force Raptor approached a prime mover parked at a service station in rural NSW where they found $2.75m in cash. The 2020 seizure would later be linked to Operation Ironside. Picture: NSW Police

“I want an L on one, I want 1 to 24 on the others. I want $50k in each. The total should be $1.2m. Then we need $122k for lawyer,” he is alleged to have written.

Photos allegedly sent of the cash show the markings as described in the messages.

In April that year, 30kg of methamphetamine was allegedly brought back to Adelaide with messages from the man instructing other co-accused to “finds homes” for the stock.

When the $2.75m was packaged to be returned to Sydney the man once again instructed the banker in how to split and mark the cash.

After the cash was seized by police attached to Strike Force Raptor, the man messages other members of the syndicate.

Magistrate John Wells found a case to answer and committed the man to stand trial in the District Court.