Rasim Kasumovic to be sentenced for multiple counts of drug trafficking after syndicate busted

An undercover police operation busted a syndicate which a dealer was running from western suburbs apartment while on home detention, a court heard.

A drug dealer was selling methamphetamine from his western suburbs apartment while on home detention for other drug offences, a court has heard.

Rasim Kasumovic, 49, hit rock bottom and became hooked on the drug after finding out his wife had been cheating on him while in jail.

During sentencing submissions on Thursday, the District Court heard Kasumovic was brought to police attention during an undercover operation into drug trafficking.

The court heard Kasumovic’s co-accused was obtaining methamphetamine from him and keeping some herself and selling some to undercover police officers.

Prosecutor Paul Tate said police began conducting surveillance of Kasumovic’s Colley Tce, Glenelg apartment and intercepting phone conversations.

Rasim Kasumovic will be sentenced for drug trafficking. Photo: File

The offending occurred frequently between November 2018 to April 2019 – when the group were arrested – and involved significant amounts of methamphetamine.

The court heard $10,250 was found at Kasumovic’s home at the time of his arrest.

Mr Tate said while Kasumovic wasn’t living a lavish lifestyle, there was some element of profit and he was above a street level dealer.

“Obviously the fact that the defendant was on home detention at the time for the importation offending is obviously a relevant factor,” he said.

“Whilst subject to those confines of that premises he was still able to maintain his systematic business of trafficking.”
Kasumovic, of West Croydon, pleaded guilty to multiple counts of drug trafficking.

Peter Morrison, for Kasumovic, argued his client had exceptional personal circumstances to not to sentence him as a serious, repeat offender – which would mean his non-parole would be at least four fifths of the head sentence.

The court heard Kasumovic was involved in a property development business which collapsed in 2013 and he was declared bankrupt and developed massive depressive disorder.

He was then jailed for drug importation and released on home detention to his wife’s Glenelg premises in 2018.

The court heard Mr Kasumovic found out his wife had cheated on him while he was in jail and hit “rock bottom”, before he was introduced to methamphetamine by his co-accused.

“Upon trying the drug he quickly became addicted to it,” Mr Morrison said.

The court heard Kasumovic began selling the drug to pay off his drug debt, with his low IQ, sitting between 67 and 72, affecting his degree of moral culpability.

Kasumovic will be sentenced at a later date.

Originally published as Rasim Kasumovic to be sentenced for multiple counts of drug trafficking after syndicate busted