Scott Biber, Philip Emanuele to be jailed for Byron Bay cocaine supply

Two men — one a firefighter of 20 years — were busted planning to sell enough cocaine it could ‘damage the North Coast community’. Read where they stashed it.

Scott Biber and Philip Emanuele. ​

Two North Coast cocaine addicts are behind bars after a firefighter was busted with more than 1kg of cocaine stashed in the false base of a fire extinguisher.

Former Suffolk Park man Scott Edward Biber, a firefighter of 20 years, was found with 1.1kg of cocaine concealed in a fire extinguisher in his possession on January 9, 2021.

Former Byron Bay co-accused Philip David Emanuele facilitated the link between Biber and higher level drug suppliers in Sydney.

The two men used encrypted messaging apps to set up the drug deal.

Sitting shoulder to shoulder in the prisoners dock at Lismore District Court on Friday, the pair learned they were about to lose their freedom.

Now living in Umina Beach on the Central Coast, Biber, 59, pleaded guilty to supplying a prohibited drug, greater than the large commercial quantity.

Cocaine supply accused Philip Emanuele (left) and Scott Biber (right).

The court heard the cocaine was 75 per cent pure, and the quantity was four times the threshold for a commercial quantity.

Emanuele, 52, was arrested as a result of related investigations into drug supply around Byron Bay.

Emanuele, now living in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs, pleaded guilty to taking part in supplying a prohibited drug and two counts of possessing a prohibited drug.

Crown prosecutor David Morters SC said the use of a modified fire extinguisher to hide the drugs showed a “fair degree of planning”.

Suffolk Park man Scott Edward Biber exits Lismore District Court on September 9, 2022.

He said Emanuele was taking a “lead role” in the enterprise — organising and planning the drug pick up — and had been giving Biber instructions and directions.

Emanuele’s barrister, Philip Boulton, acknowledged his client had been a significant player in the enterprise and he helped with the drug deal in Sydney and the handover of the drugs in Byron Bay to Biber.

“He was an important intermediary,” Mr Boulton said.

“It shows my client’s conviction to the enterprise.”

However, Mr Boulton argued Emanuele’s offence was less serious because he was not the one intending to distribute the kilo of cocaine on the North Coast – only get the drugs in Sydney and drop them off in Byron Bay.

Philip David Emanuele exits Lismore District Court on Friday, September 9, 2022.

Mr Boulton said Emanuele’s character references showed what a “good fellow” he was before he “got into this mess”.

“Through his network of so-called friends (including Mr Biber) he seemed to have gotten involved in this enterprise,” Mr Boulton said.

“My client is somebody who conducted a productive, law-abiding existence all of his adult life.

“Involved in surf living, beaches, football, married, two children.”

The court heard Emanuele’s marriage did not survive his arrest.

Mr Boulton said Emanuele’s cocaine addiction had pushed him into the enterprise and explained why he “was going back to jail”.

He said Emanuele — who owned an Airbnb in Byron Bay and was a house flipper — had been diagnosed with a substance abuse disorder related to cocaine at the time of the offending.

Biber’s barrister, April Francis, said Biber was taking “large amounts” of cocaine leading up to and at the time of the offending.

Ms Francis argued Biber was not drug trafficking for financial gain, but purely to “get a piece” of the drugs to fuel his addiction.

Both defence barristers argued the drug trafficking on January 9 was an isolated incident, likely motivated by their cocaine addictions.

But Mr Morters said the decision to traffic cocaine was to make a “quick dollar”.

She said Biber did not have a “complex criminal mindset” and his “criminal demise” came about as a “good man” undergoing overwhelming family and money problems.

Scott Biber and Philip Emanuele at Lismore District Court.

Ms Francis said Biber had made “demonstrable” efforts to kick his cocaine addiction.

She said Biber had done “everything he could possibly do” to make amends for his offending, and had helped others in the community to rehabilitate from drug addictions.

Ms Francis asked for an intensive corrections order, which would enable Biber to serve his sentence in the community.

But Judge Jennifer English flatly refused, and said she fully intended to jail the two.

“We are talking about a significant amount of drugs that could damage the North Coast community,” she said.

She revoked bail for both offenders and remanded them in custody.

“Drug trafficking will not be tolerated,” Judge English said.

Judge English adjourned the sentencing to March 10.

Biber’s family blew him kisses as correctional officers escorted him out of the courtroom.

A court officer handed Biber’s sobbing mother a box of tissues as her son was taken into custody.