Comanchero linked drug syndicate allegedly trafficking cocaine and selling guns on the Gold Coast
Police claim they have busted part of a 32-person strong drug syndicate with ties to the Comanchero bikie gang. Find out what happened in court.
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Police claim they have busted part of a 32-person strong drug syndicate with ties to the Comanchero bikie gang.
A court had been told the ring allegedly sold about 20kg of the drug cocaine and supplied weapons.
Police raided numerous Gold Coast homes on Wednesday resulting in five people being charged for allegedly being a part of the drug syndicate, which police claim operated both domestically and internationally.
Marko Slomovic, 26, Meik Zoran Filipovic, 24, and Luca Edward Burness, 22, have all been conjointly charged with four counts of trafficking dangerous drugs and appeared in Southport Magistrates Court on Thursday, with Meyer being the only one to apply for bail.
He was denied release.
On Friday, 25-year-old Alexander John Hart appeared in Southport Magistrates Court charged with multiple drug trafficking offences and supply of weapons.
Magistrate Veena Goverdhan denied Hart bail.
“Considering the nature and seriousness of offences it is my view there is an unacceptable risk if released on bail to commit another offence,” she said.
Prosecutor Sammi Dutschke said police alleged Hart was a “downline supplier” and they had evidence he supplied cocaine over a period of 12 months.
She told the court police had evidence that about 32 people were involved in the syndicate.
Ms Dutschke said police alleged Hart supplied about 250g of cocaine at a time and directly reported to Slomovic about the drug supply.
She said police found text messages sent by the encrypted app Threema between Hart and others of the syndicate, including Slomovic, discussing the supply of drugs, weapons and how to avoid detection by law enforcement.
“(In messages) it is indicated by (Hart) that he has been waiting outside an apartment in Harbourtown to try and catch a person owing money,” she said.
Ms Dutschke said it was alleged the group discussed committing violent acts in order to get debts paid.
One message allegedly read: “If you go smash, you will be sweet to recover debt”.
The court was told that messages discussed the syndicate taking possession of about 20kg of cocaine.
On June 2 last year a message was sent talking about connection to the Comanchero bikie gang, Ms Dutschke told the court.
It is alleged Hart continued with drug supply until January this year.
She said when Hart’s Ashmore home was raided earlier this week police allegedly found about 8g of cocaine, three mobile phones, a grinder and evidence of tick sheets on the mobile phone.
The court was told Hart gave over his password to one of the three phones but said he did not remember the code to unlock the other two.
Ms Dutschke described the syndicate as “highly organised” with access to drugs, weapons and money.
Hart’s lawyer, Danielle Heable, of Dib & Associates, said Hart was contesting the charges.
She said while the phone was in his possession, there was no evidence suggesting he was the one that sent the Threema messages.
Ms Heable said the $5000 which had been found in Hart’s possession was from the sale of a jet ski.
She provided the court with an affidavit from his father about the jet ski’s sale.
Ms Heable told the court there was no evidence Hart actually waited for anyone outside of their apartment or committed any violence.
She said his father had described him as a “soft-hearted person” who would not be able to commit any violence.
Ms Heable said Hart, who is a licenced airconditioning installer, had no criminal history and there was no evidence he would commit offences or flee if released on bail.
She said he was supported in the community by his family and it was his licence which allowed the family business to operate.
Magistrate Goverdhan denied Hart bail and adjourned the matter to March 9.
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