NSW Crime: Tradies Mohamad Hawchar and Adam Ayshan jailed after 4.2kg pasta drug sting
Police watched on as two tradies squabbled about the amount of tomato paste contained in premade pasta packets — both cops and crims were acutely aware that the sealed meals hid $2.7 million worth of imported ice.
NSW
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This is the moment tradies Mohamad Hawchar and Adam Ayshan squabbled over how much tomato paste was contained in a box of premade pasta — all while police were watched on because the sealed meals actually contained kilos of pure methamphetamine.
Both men have been jailed for the import plot but instead of being given the maximum sentence of life in prison, they’ll walk out before the cheesy tortellini they used to hide their drugs hits its expiration date.
Authorities discovered the drugs in May last year when a box of 12 long-life ‘ration packs’ landed in Sydney from California’s Orange County, a police fact sheet obtained by The Daily Telegraph says.
The police fact sheet says Australian Border Force officers opened the box and found a white crystal substance identified as methamphetamine.
The total weight of pure ice was 4.21kg.
The package was allegedly bound for an address in Arncliffe where Alexandra Karanfilovski lived with her family.
But police claim the name on the side of the package was that of her friend, Israh Chahine.
Both Karanfilovski and Chahine have pleaded not guilty to attempting to possess a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug and will face trial later this year.
During the lead up to the delivery Hawchar and Aychan were allegedly communicating with Chahine on various apps asking about the delivery of “the thing”, the police document says.
The day before the delivery Chahine allegedly asked Karanfilovski whether “the foundation” had arrived because “the boys” believed their package had been delivered.
Karanfilovski allegedly told Chahine the “foundation” had been delivered and Chahine responded “they better not think we are f...ing with them”, police allege.
The police case is that Karanfilovski signed for the package the next day on behalf of Chahine and agreed to take the package to her friend’s home.
Chahine, police claim, was wearing gardening gloves when she took possession of the box.
“I didn’t even wear gloves either, everyone’s touched it” prosecutors claim Karanfilovski told Chahine at her Arncliffe home.
“The delivery man, everything, don’t worry we act like we didn’t know.”
Police claim they were listening when Chahine allegedly delivered the package to Ayshan’s Roselands home later that day.
A transcript of the alleged conversation reveals Chahine and Ayshan arguing about how much she was to be paid.
“Might as well open it,” Chahine allegedly says to Ayshan.
“Cheese, tortellini... this is only f...ing two ounces?” the documents claim Chahine said.
Ayshan allegedly told her the package was supposed to have five ounces but was short.
“There’s only four. The rest are actual tomato paste,” he allegedly said.
Eventually, police claim, the pair part ways and Chahine is given $1000 for herself and $1000 for Karanfilovski.
They deny any wrongdoing.
Later that day police watched as Hawchar and Ayshan left the Roselands unit block toward a ute carrying the box of meals.
The pair discussed the weight of the meal sachets in the box and the “actual tomato paste” packed inside.
A photograph in the document shows Hawchar placing the box in the secure lockbox on the back of the ute before the men leave.
Minutes later police swooped, arresting the men and searching the vehicle.
Police found a type of powder which has legal uses but is also used to mix drugs.
They also found 51 valium tablets, half a gram of cocaine and 14 oxycodone tablets with Hawchar’s DNA on each of those drugs.
Hawchar and Ayshan were both charged with attempting to possess a commercial quantity of imported drugs.
The charge carries a maximum life in prison
Hawchar pleaded guilty last month after his lawyer, Abbas Soukie, negotiated for a reduced and backdated sentence.
He will now serve four years eight months in prison but will be eligible for parole in September next year.
Ayshan pleaded guilty to attempting to possess a commercial quantity of controlled drugs and was given four years and 10 months in prison.
He will be eligible for parole in November 2023.
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