Youngest member of alleged drug ring free on $1m bail

Kyle Lindsey Butler is the only member of an alleged international drug ring to be granted bail — but it has come at a big cost.

The youngest member of an alleged international drug ring has been granted bail — but only after offering up a massive $1 million surety.

Kyle Lindsey Butler, 37, fronted Waverley Local Court on Wednesday, a day after being the youngest of six men arrested during a string of dawn raids across Sydney.

Police allege Butler partnered with five other men to as part of a drug ring involved in the importation of 188kg of cocaine from Mexico in 2019.

On LinkedIn, Butler listed himself as being the CEO of Aviation Welding, the business where police allege the drugs were headed.

Despite being charged with attempting to possess a commercial amount of cocaine, he was granted strict conditional bail by Magistrate Ross Hudson.

Kyle Lindsey Butler was granted bail in Waverley Local Court after offering up $1 million as surety. Picture: Supplied

Kevin Victor Theobald was another of the men arrested during Tuesday’s dawn raids. Picture: John Grainger

In addition to offering up the $1 million surety, Butler must report to police daily and cannot have contact with any of his co-accused as part of his bail.

He is due to reappear before Waverley Local Court on May 25.

Just hours before Butler was granted bail, his four co-accused — Ray Dumbrell, 67, Branislav Grncarski, 66, Laurie Barkl, 60, and Lloyd Keen, 49 — all fronted Central Local Court.

The four men were represented by solicitor Greg Goold, who made no application for bail. They are due to reappear in court on May 26.

Kevin Victor Theobald was also arrested during the raids from Sydney’s north shore to the southwest, and faced Bankstown Local Court on Tuesday, where he made no application for bail.

Theobald and Keen have also been charged over a consignment of about $3.5 million worth of ephedrine from India last year.

The shipment, which police said weighed about 50kg, was hidden in ­vehicle parts and allegedly bound for the Bankstown welding shop, once associated with disgraced cop and jailed murderer Roger Rogerson.

NSW Police and the AFP raided two properties in Condell Park, arresting Kevin Theobald at one home. Picture: John Grainger.

The drugs they were allegedly shipping were allegedly going to a shop once associated with disgraced former Detective Roger Rogerson. Picture: Adam Taylor / Newspix.

None of the owners of the business have been charged with any offence.

More than 100 police from NSW Police, NSW Crime Commission, the Australian Federal Police, Australian Border Force and Australian Crime Intelligence Commission executed the search warrants on Tuesday.

They covered addresses in Condell Park, Lindfield, Luddenham, Strathfield, Villawood, Kingsford, Rosebery, Chatswood, Dolls Point, and Lake Conjola.

Police seized cash, jewellery, multiple electronic devices and about 80 ingots allegedly from a ­cocaine shipment which were stored at a warehouse in Villawood.

More than 100 police from NSW Police, NSW Crime Commission, the Australian Federal Police, Australian Border Force and Australian Crime Intelligence Commission executed search warrants on Tuesday. Picture: John Grainger.

Police seized cash, jewellery, multiple electronic devices and about 80 ingots allegedly from a ­cocaine shipment which were stored at a warehouse in Villawood. Picture: John Grainger.

The US Homeland Security investigation division was also ­involved in the operation.

NSW Drug Squad boss Detective Superintendent John Watson said those in the alleged syndicate were facing significant jail time if convicted.

“With other agencies, such as Federal Police, we worked together to build a profile of those accused and the risk they posed,’’ he said.

“All of those charged are now facing the prospect of life behind bars if found guilty.’’