Faces behind Central Coast drug bust revealed
An unemployed mother-of-four, a former Bandido bikie and two carers were among those charged with more than 320 offences after police dismantled a large-scale Central Coast βiceβ ring.
Central Coast
Don't miss out on the headlines from Central Coast. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Winney Bay walk must include bridge or Infrastructure NSW will kill project
- ‘Kidnapped’ Chinese student Ye Jingwang found on Central Coast
An unemployed mother-of-four, an ex-Bandido bikie and two carers are among those charged with more than 320 offences after police dismantled a large-scale ‘ice; ring last week.
Nine people were arrested on Thursday during an operation across the Central Coast, conducted by detectives from Tuggerah Lakes Police District.
While police indicated more charges are to be laid in the coming weeks, four of the nine appeared at Wyong Local Court on Friday.
Susan Wakeling, of Berkeley Vale, Matthew Hopkins and Russell Woodley, both from The Entrance, and Jaclyn Evans, of Killarney Vale, all applied for bail, but were denied with Magistrate Elizabeth Ellis indicating the prosecution case was “strong” in all instances.
The court heard police made the arrests following a six-month long operation involving phone taps, where coded language was used to describe drug supply, as well as video surveillance where people were seen transporting items with Coles shopping bags.
Mother-of-four Susan Wakeling faced 133 charges including supply of prohibited drugs, supply on an ongoing basis and participating in a criminal group.
The court heard she was already on bail for a supply charge dating back to June, in which she pleaded not guilty.
The 37-year-old sat without emotion in the dock, as the court heard she had no criminal history before this year.
Magistrate Ellis detailed some of the facts tendered to court which heard Wakeling was observed parking outside the house of Matthew Hopkins on Ashton Ave, where Mr Hopkins took her a Coles shopping bag.
Phone intercepts allege she and Mr Hopkins used coded language and words such as “HB, balls, cold, white, green, hot and sticks” when talking about drug deals.
The court also heard when Mrs Wakeling wasn’t home when a buyer came by, she would leave items in a flower pot or the barbecue.
A search warrant conducted at her family home on September 5 uncovered books on how to grow cannabis, tubs and glass jars containing cannabis, cannabis plant stalks, scissors and scales.
They seized 1097.91g of cannabis and $8050 in $50 notes inside a child’s shoe on top of the barbecue.
Magistrate Ellis said Wakeling had “hit the ground running”, going from a clean record to the extensive number of charges which warranted a “strong prosecution case”.
She said her involvement, unacceptable risk of committing further offences and endangerment to the community were reasons to refuse bail.
There was loud sobbing from family members in the gallery as Matthew Hopkins was refused bail.
The 42-year-old has been charged with 57 counts of supplying a prohibited drug and one count of participating in a criminal group.
The prosecution described the ex-Bandido bikie as “the next chain up the ladder” who allegedly supplied cocaine.
During his release application, the defence said Mr Hopkins had no association with the Bandido group for a number of years and indicated he needed to be home to help care for his children and help his wife run a shop they own. He also works as a truck driver.
The defence noted denying bail would result in “significant hardship” to his family.
Magistrate Ellis said Mr Hopkins’ history had long gaps between offences, and these were his first supply charges.
She said “the evidence is overwhelming at this point” and his release would be endangering the community due to the “extreme lengths this very intricate supply chain has been operating”.
She said the charges he was facing brought a lengthy period of imprisonment.
Russell Woodley broke down in tears as he was refused bail. The court heard the 45-year-old is facing 34 charges of supplying a prohibited drug and five charges of possessing a prohibited drug.
The prosecution said the charges were spread over a three-month period, carrying a maximum of 20 years imprisonment, and phone logs indicated associations with outlaw motorcycle gangs.
Mr Woodley’s defence argued he was his 70-year-old father’s prime carer and his father “would be in quite a predicament should bail be refused”.
Magistrate Ellis said Mr Woodley’s police fact sheet was extensive due to the number of charges.
She noted phone records in the facts indicated Mr Woodley was heard saying, “they haven’t charged me with anything yet but they found a ball of speed. They found that and a 50 of pot. Don’t worry I had it all in my pocket and threw it into the bush. When I had the chance I walked back down and picked it all up.”
When bail was denied, Mr Woodley seemed surprised and said, “are you throwing me in jail? Who is going to look after my dad?”
Jaclyn Evans, of Killarney Vale, was also denied bail after being charged with six counts of supplying a prohibited drug and four counts of possess prohibited drug.
The 37-year-old, who cares for her partially blind mother, was noted by the prosecution as being a “flee risk” and a danger to the community due to her supply offences and alleged involvement with outlaw bikie gangs on a national and international level.
Magistrate Ellis said police facts indicated phone taps of Ms Evans saying “I’ve got a B for you”, with “B” relating to a ball of ice.
Wakeling, Hopkins, Woodley and Evans will appear at Wyong Local Court again on October 8.
In Gosford Local Court a 56-year-old man from Springfield was refused bail, facing one count of direct criminal group, one count of supply commercial quantity prohibited drug, eight counts of supply prohibited drug and two counts of possess prohibited weapon.
A man from Point Clare, also associated with the large-scale arrests, was granted bail.
In March 2019, detectives from Tuggerah Lakes Drug and Anti-Theft Unit established Strike Force Lamprey to investigate the supply of prohibited drugs on the Central Coast. The investigation focused on the ongoing supply of methylamphetamine (ice), cocaine and cannabis.
Last Thursday, officers from Tuggerah Lakes Police District, with assistance from officers from Brisbane Water Police District, Strike Force Raptor and the Public Order Riot Squad, executed nine search warrants at properties in The Entrance, Berkeley Vale, Long Jetty, Springfield and Bateau Bay. During these search warrants, police located and seized ice, cannabis, drug paraphernalia, weapons, ammunition and cash.