Nicholas Craig Hallion and ex- Boost Juice franchisee Mark Allan Musolino jailed over $1m cannabis operation

He ran a Boost Juice and a Glenelg cafe – but now he’s been jailed after a cop raid busted open a huge drug ring.

A former Boost Juice franchisee has been jailed after playing a key role in a large-scale million-dollar cannabis operation exposed in Adelaide’s western suburbs.

Businessman Mark Allan Musolino, 56, appeared in the District Court on Wednesday alongside his co-accused Nicholas Craig Hallion, 51 – both were found guilty at trial by a jury of trafficking in a large commercial quantity of a controlled drug.

During sentencing, Judge Emily Telfer said, after a 2020 police investigation, about 192kg of cannabis was found at a property on Military Rd in West Beach – where Hallion, of Woodville, was a tenant after signing a lease in 2019.

“The cannabis on hand was worth between $850,000 and $1,000,000 or even more if it was transported interstate for sale,” Judge Telfer said.

“While I do not conclude that either you, Mr Hallion, or you, Mr Musolino, were the organisers of the operation, you each played an important part in achieving its illegal aims.

“Large-scale criminal enterprises cannot succeed unless people like each of you are prepared to take the risks associated with hands-on involvement.

“I am satisfied that you (Hallion) were a sufficiently trusted part of the enterprise – that you had a key to the large toolbox containing packaged cannabis as well as keys to the premises.

“You (Musolino) and your wife bought, operated and sold a Boost Juice business and a cafe in Glenelg.

Musolino is a former Boost Juice franchisee. Picture: File.

“What your precise role was, beyond what you have admitted, I cannot be certain. I am satisfied that you contributed in an ongoing way to the success of a large-scale profitable enterprise, which had the potential to distribute large amounts of cannabis into the community here or interstate.”

During the trial, defence counsel for Hallion told the court he became involved in the enterprise at the request of another person who asked him to lease the premises at 51 Military Rd. For his part in the operation, the court heard Hallion expected to receive about $1000 a month.

When police first entered the Military Rd property, the court heard Musolino was inside and fled out of the back door and over the back fence – but stopped when a chasing police officer asked him to.

At trial, Musolino claimed he was there for a matter “unrelated to the cannabis enterprise” – which was ultimately rejected by the jury.

On Wednesday, Judge Telfer sentenced Hallion to four years, three months and 21 days imprisonment, with a non-parole period of two years and 21 days.

His co-accused, Musolino, was jailed for two years, 10 months and 21 days with a non-parole period of one year, six months and 21 days.