Andrew Benz - key Ironside player allowed to remain on bail despite trafficking 50kg of meth

A key AN0M player, known as ‘The Pope’ has been allowed to remain on bail, despite admitting to trafficking 50kg of meth. Find out why.

A horse trainer has come clean on trafficking $37.5m of meth but won’t be sentenced until at least 2026, a court has heard.

Andrew John Benz, 49, was allowed to maintain his freedom to await the outcome of a High Court appeal to challenge the admissibility of the AN0M messages.

Patrick Schaefer, for the prosecution, applied to the District Court on Wednesday to revoke Benz’s bail, saying he played a significant role in the sophisticated enterprise.

The court heard Benz, who police say also went by the AN0M handle “The Pope” has pleaded guilty to two counts of large commercial drug trafficking.

50kg of methamphetamine that was seized in April 2021. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Naomi Jellicoe

The court heard 50kg of methamphetamine, concealed in horse feed, was found in the back of a semi-trailer Pope was driving in April 2021.

The court previously heard the haul had a street value of as much as $37.5m.

Mr Schaefer said 14 pounds of cannabis was also found at a Parafield Gardens property.

“On the prosecution case that premise was used effectively as a safe house for the syndicate of individuals … involved in what we characterise as a sophisticated criminal venture,” he said.

The court heard AN0M messages between Benz and his co-accused revealed them allegedly planning to establish a business trading animal feed, which was actually a pretence for transporting illegal goods to and from SA.

Benz is also facing more than 30 counts of drug trafficking and money laundering linked to Operation Ironside, with a trial date set in 2026.

Andrew Benz leaving the District Court on Thursday after a judge refused to revoke his bail. Photo: Lucy Rutherford

Andrew Benz outside Adelaide Magistrates court after an earlier appearance. Picture: NCA NewsWire/David Mariuz

The court heard special leave was granted last week to appeal to the country’s Highest Court of the admissibility of the millions of messages sent and received by users of the encrypted AN0M app.

Hundreds of people, from alleged drug dealers, bikies and organised crime figures, were arrested on June 7, 2021, under Operation Ironside, which involved police surveilling users of the AN0M app for illegal activity.
In November last year, The Advertiser revealed South Australia’s Court of Appeal had been asked to rule on the legality of millions of messages sent and received by users of the encrypted app.

In June, the Court of Appeal ruled the messages taken from AN0M to charge two men charged with firearms offences under Operation Ironside – both of whom can’t be named for legal reasons – were not illegally intercepted, backing up a Supreme Court decision.

Peter Morrison, for Benz, told the court there was no sufficient reason to revoke his client’s bail as he had work available to him and excellent compliance while on home detention bail.

Judge Liesl Kudelka said the fact that Benz would not be sentenced for the admitted drug trafficking charges until after his trial, as well as awaiting the outcome of the High Court appeal meant it was not appropriate to revoke his bail.

“It’s not for me to predict the future,” she said.

Benz’s charges were adjourned until July next year.