Prosecutors fear Ironside ‘Kingpin’ could run alleged drug empire from home if released on bail

An Operation Ironside drug “kingpin” allegedly at the head of an interstate syndicate laundering up to a million dollars in a single hit could run his empire from home if released on bail, prosecutors fear.

A drug “kingpin” allegedly at the helm of a cannabis trafficking syndicate capable of moving hundreds of kilos of the drugs and laundering a million dollars in a single hit could run his empire via remote control if released on bail, a court has heard.

The man, whose name is suppressed as he faces the prospect of multiple criminal trials, applied for bail on Tuesday after his first trial was unexpectedly delayed for more than a year.

He faces multiple charges relating to 10kg of methamphetamine being sent to Perth, hundreds of kilos of cannabis around Australia, the laundering of more than a million dollars and funding a northern suburbs growhouse to help source the cannabis for the syndicate.

On Tuesday, Dominic Agresta, for the man, argued his client could be in prison for more than three years before any trial would be scheduled to start.

The District Court heard that at the heart of the case against the man were messages from the encrypted AN0M app. Whether those messages can be admitted as evidence is currently being tested in a trial before the Supreme Court.

The man and three of his co-accused appeared in court on Monday in preparation for a trial scheduled to begin in May next year.

During the bail hearing on Tuesday, the court heard that the Director of Public Prosecutions had applied for the trial date to be vacated.

Photos of the 160kg of cannabis found in a warehouse at Port Adelaide. Picture: SA Police

As a consequence, the new trial is likely to be held in early 2024 though no final date was set.

The man has been linked to a haul of 160kg of cannabis and cocaine at a Port Adelaide warehouse.

Three men were initially charged over the discovery but the man was only charged last year following the analysis of AN0M messages.

Mr Agresta told the court the charges against his client relied solely on the evidence from messages between the four men, the other three of whom are on bail in the community.

A prosecutor told Judge Joana Fuller that the man was alleged to be a senior member of a large scale organised crime syndicate and that any bail was opposed.

Photos of the 160kg of cannabis found in a warehouse at Port Adelaide. Picture: SA Police.

“He was operating a very high level and we say the messages showed he was acting at an arms length from his co-accused,” the prosecutor said.

“He was only in contact with one of his co-accused who then instructed the others.

“He was a kingpin or figurehead of the syndicate and was set to make a significant profit.”

She said the man would be capable of further offending if allowed to operate via “remote control” from home.

Judge Fuller queried whether security cameras could be installed at the man’s house to allow him to be monitored in real time by the Corrections Department.

The application was adjourned until early next month to allow for a report to be prepared on the measures to keep the man under surveillance while on bail.