Firefighter Scott Biber and BnB owner Philip Emanuele jailed for Byron Bay cocaine supply after 1kg found in extinguisher
Two northern NSW men, one a firefighter of 20 years, were busted dealing drugs in Byron Bay as part of a “joint criminal enterprise”. Now, they’ve heard their fate.
Police & Courts
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A pair of North Coast cocaine addicts, one a firefighter, have been jailed after one of them was busted with more than 1kg of cocaine stashed in the false base of a fire extinguisher.
Suffolk Park man Scott Edward Biber and Byron Bay man Philip David Emanuele faced Lismore District Court for sentencing on Friday.
Biber – a firefighter of 20 years – was found with 1.1kg of cocaine concealed in an extinguisher in his possession at Ballina on January 9, 2021.
Emanuele facilitated the link between Biber and higher level drug suppliers in Sydney, the court has heard.
Emanuele set up a drug deal at his elderly father’s South Coogee address on January 8.
Biber was tracked driving his ute emblazoned with the brand of his firefighting business down to South Coogee, where he met two unnamed men who showed up in a black car.
Police surveillance captured Biber carrying a black suitcase, presumably containing cash, which was exchanged for a brown paper bag.
Biber then went into the home of Emanuele’s father to conceal the cocaine in the extinguisher before driving back towards the North Coast, where he was arrested.
Biber, 59, pleaded guilty to supplying a prohibited drug greater than the large commercial quantity.
Emanuele, 52, was arrested as a result of related investigations into drug supply around Byron Bay.
He pleaded guilty to taking part in supplying a prohibited drug and two counts of possessing a prohibited drug.
The court heard the cocaine was 75 per cent pure and the amount seized was four times the threshold for a commercial quantity.
Judge Jennifer English said although the two men shared similar culpability for their “joint criminal enterprise”, despite their different charges.
The court heard Biber founded and operated a successful firefighting business, First Response Fire Services, while Emannuele raised money to start a BnB in Byron Bay by flipping houses in Sydney.
Judge English found the offenders were motivated by financial gain and the successful businessmen were unlikely to risk illegal activities without reward
“They were not naive teenagers – they were mature, successful businessmen,” she said.
“They knew full well what they were doing was wrong, but took the risk anyway.”
Judge English said general deterrence was paramount in sentencing “in light of the social impact of drug use”.
She said that even though men were relatively low on the drug supply chain, they dealt a drug which fuelled violence and destroyed lives.
The court heard both offenders were ashamed of the impact their offending had on their families.
However, Ms English said only Emanuele had shown remorse for the impact his offending had on the community – the “ultimate victim”.
Biber and Emanuele were sentenced to five years jail with a three-year non-parole period.
Emanuele will be eligible for parole in October 5, 2025 and Biber will be eligible for parole in December 2024.
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