AN0M: Unlocked computer allegedly reveals details of thousands of ice sales
Text messages expose a Brisbane father and former bikie’s arrangement with a Ninja Warrior contestant to sell ice to Aussies over the Dark Web on a site called “Shard Sales”, police allege. READ THE EXPLOSIVE TEXTS
Police & Courts
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A 111-page sales ledger allegedly detailing thousands of sales of the drug ice via the dark web was left open on a Ninja Warrior contestant’s unlocked computer when police raided her luxury Brisbane home.
The word document labelled “Shard Sales” was protected by sophisticated encryption, but police allege they were able to access it because Sopiea Kong left her computer logged on.
A former Bandido bikie turned cryptocurrency trader is alleged to be the kingpin of the sophisticated wholesale ice ring.
It is alleged he hired Kong to sell the drugs to Aussies over the dark web, ingeniously hidden in packaging for mail-order beauty products.
Benjamin Joseph Thornton, 31, a father of one from the Brisbane suburb of Coorparoo, was charged with drug trafficking after police allege he smuggled 2kg of ice to Brisbane via the postal service from the US, hidden in computer hard-drives, in May.
Police allege he arranged for the packages to be delivered to a luxury apartment in The Drapery in Woolloongabba rented under an assumed identity by his drug-ring deputy and right-hand-man Awais Ibad Ali, 33, from Kuraby.
Thornton, who police allege used AN0M pseudonyms “battle climb” “supply by” and “was proper” in communications with his drug associates, is alleged to have directed former Ninja Warrior contestant Sopiea Kong, 33, to on-sell the drug via Thornton’s alleged ice store on the dark web called Aussie Importers and send to customers via Australia Post hidden within the packaging of ordinary beauty products.
Aussie Importers is alleged to have made 12,040 drug sales over the dark web since it started in business in September last year, court documents state.
Ali and Kong have also been charged with drug trafficking.
Details of the police allegations against Thornton were revealed in the Supreme Court in Brisbane when Thornton unsuccessfully applied for bail last month.
He has been in Arthur Gorrie prison on remand since his arrest on June 2.
The court heard police also allege he exchanged 943 messages with his alleged ice-ring “collaborator” Ali between April 9 and May 17 this year, and they indicated that they had previously smuggled ice from the US in the mail and made hefty sums selling it wholesale around Brisbane.
Messages exchanged between the pair on April 17, which were tendered in court, allegedly show Ali discussing how he had dropped off 1kg of ice he was selling at the Eastern Suburbs Football Club in East Brisbane, and the pair discussing dropping offa further 500g of the drug at the same location in a “dead drop” where cash is left at a spot to be exchanged for drugs without seeing the other person.
It is alleged they talked about having nearly $300,000 in cash in a storage unit, which was later found by police.
According to court documents, on May 17 when Ali allegedly picked up the packages containing the 2kg of ice smuggled from the US from the parcel room of The Drapery building he allegedly photographed the drugs in their plastic bags with his phone and sent the picture to Thornton who exclaimed “Oh f*** yeah”.
What Ali didn’t know was that the packages only contained an inert substance as police had earlier intercepted the packages and swapped out the ice before delivery.
AN0M messages allegedly show Ali bragging about the quality of the ice to customers calling it “the best out there” and “It’s straight import” and “Hasn’t been jumped on at all”, alleged to be an indication of high purity.
Thornton also tells Ali in messages that they could also sell cocaine, with Thornton instructing Ali on drug sales and Ali seeking approval from Thornton, police allege.
Kong, who allegedly exchanged 140 messages with Thornton via her AN0M handle “help fifty” in April and May, was arrested in her luxury 12-storey Valencia Residences apartment in Kangaroo Point which police allege she rented under the false name Sopiea Nguyen.
According to the court documents, she was allegedly logged on to the dark web store Aussie Importers when police raided her Wellington Rd apartment and had a 111-page word document titled “Shard Sales” open on her computer, allegedly containing a list of names, addresses and order amounts for her online ice sales.
Police allege shard is a slang word for the drug ice and told the court they are still combing through this extensive drug ledger.
Police allege the spare room of Kong’s apartment was “set up … to post and distribute beauty products” when they raided it on June 2 and that ice was hidden “within the beauty products packaging”.
They also allegedly found the name of Aussie Importers on product labels found in Kong’s house, as well as 136g of ice at her home, a small quantity of cocaine, a gun and fake identification documents for Kong.
Police also allegedly found $300,000 in cash, believed to be the proceeds of drug sales, stored inside a waterproof travel case, and a dismantled shotgun hidden in a black sock in a commercial storage unit at 123 Storage in Underwood, south of Brisbane, which they allege was regularly visited by Thornton and Ali.
Thornton is alleged to have sent Ali photos via AN0M on April 13 of a crystallised object that police claim is ice which has been cut with an agent to dilute it.
“Is that a crystallisation?” Ali allegedly asked.
“Yeah not bad aye. Best I done yet.” Thornton is alleged to have replied.
The court heard prosecutors allege Thornton has been trafficking in drugs while serving a suspended sentence imposed for other drug crimes.
He was refused bail due to his lengthy criminal history and the risk that he may flee.
Prosecutors argued in the Supreme Court bail hearing that he had indicated a desire to flee overseas when he went to the post office in Australia Square in Brisbane’s CBD after his storage unit was raided by police to request an urgent passport for his 16 month old daughter with partner, beauty student Natalie Cosgrove.
Police also allegedly found “research for property in New Zealand” when they searched his home.
He also has a previous conviction for using a false identity to book plane tickets, the court was told.
His friend, Melbourne man Mazin Albassit offered to put up a $100,000 surety to secure Thornton’s release.
Thornton, Kong and Ali are due back in court next month.
ANOM TEXT MESSAGE EXCHANGE
Texts tendered in court as part of the bail application. Police allege Awais Ibad Ali is “Bellsmell” and Ben Thornton is “Supplyby”.
May 17, 2021
Ali: sends to Thornton a screenshot of an Australia Post Woolloongabba message indicating a parcel was wailing for collection
Thornton: OK Cool
Thornton: That’s different tho
Ali: What u mean
Thornton: But I guess first time had it sent to res address
Thornton: The text message I reckon its sweet tho
Ali: Will need to make Qld tho
Thorton: So we will need to make the address 607 hey. What name did u tell then (SIC)
Ali: correct. Housien Darwich
Thornton:Ok I’ll do it now
Ali: Can u send me tracking number of the other one
Thornton: sends image of a Qld Drivers Licence in the name of Darwich, Hussain address Logan Rd Woolloongabba. The photo on the licence is believed to be Ali.
Ali: that postcode is incorrect - 4102
Ali: sends an image to Thornton of a screenshot of an email from the building manager regarding the parcel room
Ali: sends a photo to Thornton of two boxes, one labelled United States Parcel Service Priority Mail, on a white table.
Ali: sends to Thornton a photo of two plastic bags containing white crystals.
Thornton: Oh F*** Yeah
Thornton: Bro
Thornton: You ok
(No reply and conversation ends as Ali has been arrested at The Drapery apartment in Woolloongabba)
Before this, on April 10, 2012
Ali: Kolo messaged asking if we do coke? I didn’t reply
Ali: Koko $16,250
Ali: Bal $33,260
Thorton: Yeah bro we do. Haha how much he chasing
Ali: Just messaged him that now. can u let me know prices or u wanna wait til he replies with how much he wants first
Ali: (forwards on messages from Koko1771)
Ali: what u want me to say bruv
Thornton: Oz’s 8.5k
Ali: He also wants to know half oz price pls
Thornton: 4.5k xx
Ali: (forwards on messages from Koko1771) these messages show Ali telling koko that the guarantees “this stuff is the best out there” and “it’s straight import” and “hasnt been jumped on at all”.
Koko asks Ali if he would have to “cut it” and comments “everyone’s saying it goes for 300-350 a g, ozs 6-7”
Ali (to thornton): Sorry I should have asked u what to say
Ali: Lemme know what u want me to reply now
Thornton: Yeah most fellas turn 1 into 2
Ali: What do u cut it wit
Thornton: Lactose or glutamine or caffeine powder
Ali: and he wants to know if he can get a sample
thornton: I never cut it personally so well him to do his research ofc
Ali: OK and sample?
Thornton: yeah bro but its expensive so will only be able to pass like half g
Thornton: Did you get that list I sent u about the ones that are showing as landed
Thornton: Theirs (SIC) like 4 at Ingham Rd and Zakar motors is one of then (SIC) lol
Ali: Yeh def nothing there. Will check mon
Thornton: Yeah fingers crossed bro I got 3kegs gone straight away soon as it all lands
Thornton: Also bro don’t pass koko anything out of the envelopes we stil lneed to wait for more to arrive and press it all into bricks
April 12, 2021
Ali: Rosco (police allege this is slang for a gun) and photo of a Pelican storage case on a floor sitting next to a black sock which apperas to contain an object.
Ali: 83,500 then photo of an open Pelican case with cash inside
Ali: Ping $8875. Took out $8860 from kitty and put $15 myself.
Thornton: thanks for these jubas
Ali: Bal $74,200
April 13, 2021
Bellsmell: Rosco (Police allege this shows Thornton is cutting ice with an agent and then processing the drugs to appear as though its in its purist form from manufacture. This would allow Thornton and Ali to give customers the impression that their product is uncut and therefore charge a higher price)
Thornton: sends images of a crystallised object
Ali: Is that a crystallisation?
Thornton: yeah not bad aye. Best I done yet.
May 12, 2021
Ali: sends image toThornton of bundled Australian cash inside a pelican case.
Ali: 3500 wages. 292,150 balance.
Kong sends Thornton images (These are in the documents)
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