Jason Drollet allegedly caught trying to smuggle 2.7 tonnes of drugs changes guilty plea

Unemployed New Zealander Jason Drollet, who was living in Sydney when he was arrested in one of Australia’s biggest drug busts, has changed his guilty plea on the day he was set to be sentenced.

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An unemployed New Zealander, who was living in Sydney when he was arrested in one of Australia’s biggest drug busts, has changed his guilty plea on the day he was set to be sentenced.

Jason Drollet was allegedly caught trying to smuggle nearly three tonnes of drugs worth of $1.5 billion into the country from Germany in 2014.

The 39-year-old permanent resident was among a group of men with alleged bikie links accused of trying to import 1917kg of ecstasy (MDMA) and 849kg of crystal methamphetamine — Australia’s largest ice seizure at the time.

Jason Drollet changed his guilty plea on the day of sentencing after he was allegedly caught trying to smuggle nearly 2.8 tonnes of drugs into Australia. Picture: Facebook

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In March 2017, Drollet and co-accused Akuila Bisasa, Joshua Hamlin and Rene Arancibia pleaded guilty to attempting to import a commercial quantity of drugs.

The men, who share a love for rugby and Pacific Island culture, were arrested at a Smithfield factory unit in November 2014 after police intercepted the illicit shipment from Hamburg. Drollet was due to be sentenced on Monday at Downing Centre District Court.

But the Bardwell Valley man’s lawyer Abbas Soukie announced Drollet had decided to fight the charge, which carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

He was accused of trying to import 1917kg of ecstasy and 849kg of crystal methamphetamine. Picture: Australian Federal Police

It is one of the biggest drug busts in Australia. Picture: Justin Sanson

Another co-accused, 38-year-old Panania man Sloomone Komai Vukici, has pleaded not guilty and will face a trial in May for his alleged role in the ring.

Police said the massive seizure stopped 10 million pills from hitting the streets. The drugs were discovered hidden inside a 2.87 tonne mixed container load of furniture and unmarked boxes, which came into the country on November 19, 2014.

Court papers state police switched the narcotics before the delivery with “inert packaging”. They then conducted a “controlled delivery” of the drugs to an address in Blacktown before following the load to Smithfield.

Police said Bisasa has strong family ties to Fiji and sold his parent’s home in Australia, giving him access to $800,000. The 38-year-old unemployed Bexley man was in the process of moving to Fiji when he was arrested.

Drollet was due to be sentenced on Monday but changed his guilty plea.

Bisasa’s Facebook page paints a picture of a loving father of two who likes quotes and poems from Nelson Mandela, Bruce Lee and Muhammad Ali.

Vukici is married with children and is also unemployed. His wife is a disability worker.

Police allege fingerprints show he also goes by the name Richard Tai’kua for which a previous arrest warrant for stealing was issued. Vukici allegedly denied to police he used the alias or had been wanted by police.