Blacktown drug supply: Saipele brothers charged in raids
Police have charged two brothers who allegedly supplied thousands of dollars of illicit drugs across western Sydney.
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Two brothers who were allegedly involved in the large-scale supply of drugs across western Sydney will remain behind bars.
Police raided homes in Lethbridge Park and Quakers Hill on Monday and arrested Sapati Saipele, 23, and Junior Saipele, 29.
The arrests come after detectives from Strike Force Ilett began investigating the supply of the drug ‘ice’ in the region last April.
The younger Saipele brother was arrested at Blacktown Police station at 8pm yesterday after reporting to police on bail for unrelated matters.
Shortly after, detectives raided homes in Lethbridge Park and Mt Druitt, seizing mobile phones, ice, MDMA and cocaine.
Junior Saipele was arrested at the Lethbridge Park home and taken to Mt Druitt Police Station.
Police allege he co-ordinated the supply of ice between June and October last year while his younger brother was involved in supplying almost 1kg of the drug between April and October.
It’s further alleged the younger Saipele supplied the drug to his older brother who then sold the drug onto co-accused Shane Harvey for a profit.
Mr Hervey remains behind bars after being arrested in November.
In applying for bail at Mt Druitt Local Court today, Junior Saipele’s defence hit out the police case, claiming it relied heavily on conversations between Mr Saipele and Mr Hervey about the alleged drug supply.
“903 grams of meth is possibly the amount. Can police prove 903g of supply took place? There is no other evidence the supply took place. Discussions about payment do not equate to 903g,” he said.
The court heard police tapped into phone calls between Junior Saipele and Mr Hervey discussing payment for the drugs in the range of $1000 to $4000.
Magistrate James Gibson said Mr Saipele worked “slightly downstream” in the supply network and sold the drugs to Mr Hervey who then dealt the drugs in regional towns including Port Macquarie.
In refusing bail, Mr Gibson said it was likely Mr Saipele faced a long time in jail if found guilty.
He said phone conversations obtained by police made for a strong case.
“There was hardly a code, both men were talking about the drugs in the telephone intercepts and the weights (of the drugs) are not particularly hidden either,” Mr Gibson said.
“If the telephone intercepts are what they are said to be, there is an overwhelmingly strong case.”
Mr Saipele faces three charges, including knowingly/recklessly directing a criminal group, supplying a large commercial quantity of a prohibited drug and supplying an indictable quantity of a prohibited drug.
He was refused bail to face Mt Druitt Local Court again on April 29.
Sapati Saipele was also charged with supplying a large commercial quantity of a prohibited drug and knowingly/recklessly directing a criminal group.
He was refused bail to face Blacktown Local Court at a later date.