Michael Sardelis pleads not guilty to alleged importation of meth precursor pseudoephedrine

A man accused of importing thousands of pills used to produce methamphetamine by hiding them inside vitamin bottles has been ordered to stand trial.

A man charged over the importation of more than 3500 pseudoephedrine pills – a precursor for making methamphetamine – secreted inside vitamin bottles has been ordered to stand trial.

Michael Nicholas Sardelis appeared in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Thursday and entered not guilty pleas to three counts of importing a marketable quantity of a controlled precursor.

Mr Sardelis, 36, of Black Forest was arrested in April and charged after Australian Border Force officers intercepted a package marked vitamins which returned a positive result for pseudoephedrine – a border controlled drug.

Australian Border Force officers intercepted a shipment of vitamin bottles, which actually contained pseudoephedrine tablets. Picture: Australian Border Force

Michael Sardelis outside the Adelaide Magistrates Court after an earlier court appearance. NCA NewsWire / David Mariuz

At the time, officials said they stopped a further three consignments and “uncovered a criminal syndicate believed to be importing pseudoephedrine tablets to multiple metropolitan locations”.

It was alleged Mr Sardelis was involved with the importation of 3500 tablets containing pseudoephedrine.

Court documents for Mr Sardelis indicate he was charged over the alleged importation of three separate packages, the first of which was allegedly imported between February 10 and February 23 this year.

The second package was allegedly imported between March 10 and March 31, while the third package was allegedly imported between March 13 and March 31 this year.

Each of the offences is alleged to have occurred at Black Forest.

The documents reveal that in each instance, he allegedly “imported” a “border controlled precursor, namely pseudoephedrine, and the quantity being a marketable quantity in a consignment”.

The court has previously heard another man was expected to be jointly charged with Mr Sardelis, but that man’s lawyer has since flagged an application to have the charges against him thrown out.

Pseudoephedrine can be purchased with a prescription in South Australia but there are major legal obligations under SA Health’s Drugs of Dependence Unit, according to the SA Health website. Pharmacists can only supply the drug if a person provides a specified form of photo-identification or a birth certificate and sale records must be made available to the Health and Wellbeing Department chief executive and the Police Commissioner.

At the time of his arrest, ABF Inspector Steve Garden said the arrest was the result of “relentless inquiries” by officers.

“The importation of pseudoephedrine into Australia is prevalent and the product is utilised in clandestine drug laboratories around Adelaide,” Inspector Garden said.

Mr Sardelis will next appear before the District Court for arraignment in March.