The economics of Australia’s drug trade explained
HE was the drug dealer who claimed to have a reputation for “top notch gear”. After he flipped for the prosecution, he laid out the business model for importing and distributing narcotics
NSW
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A DRUG dealer has explained the hierarchy governing Sydney’s booming narcotics market and the staggering profits at stake within it.
A new video, available at dailytelegraph.com.au, details the incredible confessions of dealer known as Mr X.
He divulged the underworld order to police who were investigating a major armed robbery in 2009, while also claiming he invested more than $200,000 with hospitality kingpin Ramzey Choker.
“Everyone thinks that you make heaps off (cocaine) but that’s bull….,” Mr X told police.
“The guys that import it (make money). The importers pay between $10,000 to $30,000 a kilo and wear the cost of getting it to Australia.
“Then you got guys like me, buying in kilos and selling on.
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“You don’t really get any higher than me unless you’re born into it. Who’s gonna say to you ‘You know what, you’re a good bloke. I’ll introduce you to my guy who is importing this sh*t and you can cut me out of my level of profit’.”
Mr Choker, who co-founded the popular cafe/restaurant The Grounds of Alexandria, has not been charged with any offences and denies the allegations, saying that they are fabrications of a rollover witness.
Mr X said a drug dealer’s success relied on quality.
“You gotta worry about the quality of the gear and make sure you keep your customers,” he told police.
“You don’t want to jump on it too much or you will get a reputation for supplying sh*t gear and lose them. I had a reputation for selling top- notch gear.”