Nathaniel Grahame Dunk pleaded guilty to ‘sub dealer’ role in southern suburbs drug syndicate
A sub dealer who was busted selling massive amounts of meth in a now-jailed drug lord’s syndicate was found with a document titled “how to be a drug dealer”.
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A sub dealer in a southern suburbs syndicate had a document titled “how to be a drug dealer”, a court heard.
Nathaniel Grahame Dunk, 38, awaits his fate after he became entangled in the enterprise after becoming significantly addicted to methamphetamine himself.
Mitch Mott, prosecuting, told the District Court on Monday Operation Stability began in February 2021 targeting drug trafficking in the southern suburbs.
Serious and organised crime branch police pounced on the men on November 24 and 25, 2021.
During a search, police discovered $155,000 in cash, 40 grams of methamphetamine, two cars and three motorcycles.
A search at properties in Sellicks Beach, Modbury North, Windsor Gardens and Holden Hill allegedly led to discoveries of more methamphetamine, 100 grams of cocaine, five kilograms of pseudoephedrine, one kilogram of iodine, two litres of hypo-phosphorous acid and a clandestine lab.
The court heard Blake Eric Thompson was at the apex of the enterprise.
Thompson’s downfall came when he arranged for 993g of methamphetamine to be couriered and police intercepted the package.
Thompson, 36, of Aldinga Beach, was jailed for 13 years after he pleaded guilty to 89 counts of drug trafficking and one count of money laundering.
The court heard the men would collect the drugs directly from Thompson or from the safe house.
“Through telephone intercepts and surveillance police identified a series of sub dealers who were sourcing their drugs from Thompson,” Mr Mott said.
Dunk’s phone was analysed and showed he had a significant customer base and was selling amounts up to half an ounce of methamphetamine, which he charged $11,000 for.
When police searched his house they found 3.4g of methamphetamine, ticklists, $8000 and a document entitled “how to be a drug dealer”.
Dunk pleaded guilty to multiple counts of drug trafficking.
Brittany Armstrong, for Dunk, told the court her client was significantly addicted to methamphetamine at the time of the offending and was using up to an eight ball a week.
“He would go up to four or five days without sleep and he wasn’t working at that time,” she said.
Ms Armstrong conceded immediate jail was the only appropriate penalty for Dunk but said he regrets ever getting involved and acknowledges he was feeling people’s drug addictions.
Dunk will be sentenced at a later date.
Another co-accused, Daniel Luke Turbill, also appeared in court and had his sentencing submissions for multiple drug trafficking charges adjourned until August.
He has pleaded guilty to the charges.
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Originally published as Nathaniel Grahame Dunk pleaded guilty to ‘sub dealer’ role in southern suburbs drug syndicate
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