Booker Bay: Tobacco tsar Sam Collison Stretton refused bail after Raptor cops seize $833k cash
A tobacconist charged with dealing with the proceeds of crime, after police seized more than $833,000 from his house, has told a court the money was to restock ATMs at his 25 shops.
Central Coast
Don't miss out on the headlines from Central Coast. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A tobacconist told police the $833,025 cash found at his Booker Bay home was to restock ATMs at his 25 shops because he could either “employ Armaguard or do it himself”, a court has heard.
Sam Collison Stretton, 26, faced Gosford Local Court on Friday after he was arrested about 6.10pm the day before when Raptor Squad officers raided his Booker Bay home.
During the search, police located and seized $833,025 cash, which they alleged was proceeds of crime, as well as steroids and Xanax.
Stretton was charged with knowingly deal with proceeds of crime and two counts of possessing a prescribed restricted substance.
His lawyer applied for bail, telling the court his client used a Queensland company, Border Security Services, to supply him with the cash he needed for the ATMs at his 25 tobacconist shops, including 15 on the Central Coast.
He said Stretton could either “employ Armaguard or do it himself” to go around and physically restock the automatic teller machines, which is why he had so much cash at his house.
He said the hundreds of thousands of dollars seized by police was wrapped in Border Security packaging and his client had urged police repeatedly to verify his explanation with a staff member from that company.
However the prosecutor told the court police allege the money was used to import and supply illegal cigarettes, tobacco and vapes.
The prosecutor said the investigation was ongoing and police did not have to prove Stretton was supplying illegal tobacco products, which he has not been charged with, in order to prove the proceeds of crime offence.
The court heard Stretton was on bail at the time of the search after pleading not guilty to recklessly dealing with proceeds of crime and possessing a prohibited weapon in Wyong Local Court last month.
That came after he was stopped in a rented Hyundai Tucson about 9pm on August 16 with $660,640 cash in a duffel bag, two 30cm-long machetes and a set of knuckledusters.
He pleaded guilty to having a knife in public in relation to the machetes but claims the cash was also for restocking his ATMs while the knuckledusters were not a weapon but an elaborate ring.
The court heard he will face a contested hearing on October 31 next year.
Magistrate Kirralee Perry said not all of the money seized at Stretton’s house on Thursday was in Border Security wrapping and, together with the presence of two machetes at the previous vehicle stop and multiple mobile phones, it raised “high suspicion” as to the source of the money.
“I take it into account those items. In my view they significantly strengthen the prosecution case,” Ms Perry said.
“Based on the information before me the prosecution case is reasonably strong.”
She refused Stretton’s bail and he was remanded in custody until he faces court again on January 17.
Alleged motorcycle joyrider hit with more than 100 charges
An unlicensed rider allegedly provided a false name when buying a motorcycle and then led police on two high-speed pursuits just days apart before bragging about it, a court has heard.
Read more
Train drunk groped female cop’s groin before making threats
A “belligerent” drunk, who refused to get off a train while he was smoking cigarettes and quaffing alcohol, groped a female officer’s groin before being tackled to the ground.
Read more