Raymond Saab, Antonio De Luca: Two men attempting to clear drug debt, caught in almost 295kg methamphetamine syndicate

In an bid to clear drug debts, two men became involved in a drug syndicate which saw the importation of almost 295kg of methamphetamine from overseas.

The digger where police allegedly found the meth.

In an attempt to clear their drug debts, two men became involved in a drug syndicate which saw the importation of almost 295kg of methamphetamine in an excavator from China.

Raymond Charbel Saab, 27, and Antonio Norman De Luca, 28, appeared at Downing Centre District Court via video link with a packed courtroom of support for a sentence hearing before Judge Penelope Wass.

Saab and De Luca previously pleaded guilty to attempting to possess a commercial quantity of an unlawfully imported border-controlled drug

De Luca also pleaded guilty to possessing identity information to commit indictable offence and taking part in supplying prohibited drug greater than or equal to large commercial quantity.

On Friday, Saab’s barrister Stephen Lloyd acknowledged his client’s role was “essential”, saying he was in “the middle of the hierarchy of the drug importation”, and appeared to have taken directions from “people higher up”.

Downing Centre. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nikki Short

The court heard Saab appeared to not have been trusted to deal with money and the facts didn’t “disclose him giving any directions or instructions to others”.

He said Saab was not aware of the weight and type of drug, however, he conceded his client “must [have been] aware there [was] a substantial quantity”.

He told the court Saab had a drug addiction and if he were to undertake counselling, “his prospects of rehabilitation” were good, given he had “strong family and community support”

Commonwealth prosecuting barrister Danielle New said the sentence hearing related to the “extensive and well-organised, if not elaborate” importation of methamphetamine.

Ms New conceded the pair incurred no expense for the importation, and there were “higher persons involved”.

However, she said Saab’s involvement was critical in carrying out the plan, including organising the shipping and movement of the excavator from the port.

Ms New submitted that Saab was trusted with the shipment of the excavator that contained “a lot of drugs that was worth a lot of money”.

While acknowledging Saab was involved “perhaps” to rid his drug debt, Ms New said it may have also been “for financial reward” which was negated by Mr Lloyd.

De Luca’s barrister Ertunç Özen said the court “ought to find” his client was “less involved” in the syndicate than Saab and the other co-accused Afif Saliba, who is to be sentenced on October 4.

He revealed to the court that a listening device put inside the excavator by the Australian Federal Police proved his client was at the bottom of the three before the court, saying De Luca was asking questions such as “what do you reckons in there”.

Mr Özen explained De Luca was not involved in the organisation of the delivery and was only to unpack the drugs.

He said his client was unlikely to return to court if he were to stay drug free, which he said was evidenced by no disciplinary action being taken against him during his almost two years spent behind bars.

In reply, Ms New said De Luca “knew there was a border controlled drug” in the excavator and had even went to Bunnings to get tools. She referenced De Luca’s “own admissions” of trying to clear of a drug debt behind his motivation.

When referencing De Luca’s separate charges, a state prosecutor detailed him renting out storage units where drugs were kept.

The prosecutor said she wasn’t suggesting he was at the “top of the chain”.

Mr Özen replied saying there was no evidence to suggest his client had put drugs into the drums which the prosecutor said he transported.

Judge Wass will deliver her judgments on August 4.