Sydney men Yousef Morgan, Robin Hwang and Evergisto Gurrea plead guilty to interstate cannabis dealing

A trio of Sydney drug dealers have admitted to their roles in a large-scale interstate cannabis network where they attempted to smuggle more than 70kg of cannabis into South Australia.

The three men pleaded guilty in Burwood Local Court on Wednesday.

A trio of Sydney drug dealers have admitted to their roles in a large-scale interstate cannabis network where they attempted to smuggle more than 70kg of cannabis into South Australia.

The three men – Yousef Morgan, Robin Hwang and Evergisto Gurrea – appeared in Burwood Local Court on Wednesday where they pleaded guilty to multiple charges.

Gurrea, 42, pleaded guilty to commercial drug supply, while Hwang, 27, and Morgan, 29, pleaded guilty to indictable drug supply.

Documents tendered in court state, the three offenders called the illegal operation “Transport Express” in a group chat they used on the encrypted messaging service Threema.

The documents state on June 28, 2023, police followed Gurrea, who was driving a Hyundai iLoad van, from Pheasants Nest in southwest Sydney to Morgan’s home in Lidcombe.

Gurrea pulled in at about 7.15pm and met with Hwang and Morgan, before driving off in a Ford Ranger. Police stopped Gurrea a short time later where he appeared “extremely nervous and chatty”.

Yousef Morgan (left) and Robin Hwang leaving Burwood Local Court on Wednesday. Picture: Elliott Stewart

Documents state police searched the Hyundai iLoad still at the Lidcombe address and located boxes and vacuum-sealed packages which were stored in a concealed section of the cabin.

Police seized nearly 25kg of cannabis as well as an iPhone 12 Pro.

Hwang was handcuffed, while Morgan tried to flee on foot, but was also chased down and arrested.

Documents state police arrested Gurrea and seized a key from him for a premise at Baulkham Hills. Police searched the home and found a further 48kg of cannabis.

Evergisto Gurrea leaving Burwood Local Court on Wednesday. Picture: Elliott Stewart

All three were taken to Auburn police station.

The documents state police searched the seized iPhone and found the “Transport Express” group chat where the three were dubbed “run_the_night”, “WillyWonka.2” and “str33tc0d3”.

In the messages, Gurrea signalled his intention to travel to Adelaide where he was to deliver 70 undisclosed items.

“Good morning brothers, when would you like for me to head to Adelaide,” Gurrea said.

“Also will there be any pick ups on the way there?”

The three men, who remain on bail, will face Sydney District Court later this month where they will learn when they will be sentenced.

Originally published as Sydney men Yousef Morgan, Robin Hwang and Evergisto Gurrea plead guilty to interstate cannabis dealing