Mark El Koussa: Quakers Hill drug dealer jailed after cannabis supply
A convicted drug dealer has told a court he was unaware undercover police had tried to pull his car over after he was busted receiving almost 5kg of cannabis in a western Sydney industrial area.
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A western Sydney tradie has claimed he did not realise police wanted to pull him over at the end of a drug deal when he sped off from the scene on the wrong side of the road.
Mark El Koussa, 37, of Quakers Hill, admitted to supplying more than an indictable quantity of cannabis and driving recklessly when undercover police nabbed him in the middle of a drug exchange in an industrial area of Huntingwood in May last year.
According to police facts, El Koussa met with another man in a car on Watch House Road at about 1pm when he received almost 4.5kg of cannabis.
Two unmarked police cars attempted to block El Koussa’s car from leaving the scene when he swerved away and sped off onto Reservoir Rd, Prospect.
Police said El Koussa drove on the wrong side of the road for up to 100 metres while driving about 20km/h over the speed limit.
Police eventually caught up with him on the M4 Motorway and, during a search of his Honda Accord, found a large plastic bag with 10 resealable bags of cannabis inside.
His defence solicitor told the court that El Koussa did not realise police were in the unmarked cars when they first tried to pull him over.
“When one looks at the circumstances after the incident takes place with the exchange, a car approaches him head on and he swerves,” the defence said.
“He wasn’t sure who it was so he swerves as he takes off.
“At the first sign of police sirens and warning lights he pulls over on the M4.”
However, Magistrate Alex Mijovich slammed the electrician’s driving record, citing 16 driving convictions during sentencing at Blacktown Local Court last week.
“He’s on the wrong side of the road at 80km/h for 100 metres,” Magistrate Mijovich said.
“It’s an atrocious record.
“This has crossed the threshold for jail.
“Only time will tell as a result of your incarceration in these matters whether you take those steps (with rehabilitation). Only time will tell.”
He was sentenced to 18 months’ jail, with a non-parole period of six months.
He was also disqualified from driving for 18 months and fined $1000.