Matthew Hopkins: Former Bandido bikie sentenced for drug supply on the Central Coast

Former bikie Matthew Hopkins was heard in police phone intercepts saying he felt “paranoid” that people he spoke to were arrested soon after. He was arrested days later for his role in a Central Coast drug syndicate.

Matthew Hopkins was arrested along with a number of other people as detectives from Strike Force Lamprey 2 worked to dismantle a large-scale drug supply network. Picture: NSW Police

A former Bandido bikie and kebab shop owner Matthew James Hopkins was at the centre of a criminal drug syndicate dismantled by police following a six-month operation, a court has heard.

The 43-year-old from The Entrance was sentenced in Gosford District Court last week after pleading guilty to one count of supplying an indictable and commercial quantity of prohibited drugs.

A further nine drug supply offences were taken into account at his sentencing while 32 offences were withdrawn and dismissed following his guilty plea.

Drugs seized in a number of searched following Hopkins’s arrest on September 5.

It comes as new details have emerged in court of Hopkins’ role in the supply of cannabis and cocaine across The Entrance, Long Jetty and Berkeley Vale areas, including secret ‘code’ he and his associates would use when discussing drugs.

An agreed statement of facts states police established Strike Force Lamprey 2 in March last year to investigate Hopkins and a criminal syndicate involved in the supply of cannabis and cocaine.

“The accused Hopkins is a retired full member of OMCG club the Bandidos and remains well connected inside the club,” the facts state.

“Hopkins arranged for drugs to be delivered, collected the money and used his family residence of (at) The Entrance as a regular meeting point.”

Hopkins was arrested at Berkeley Vale.

The facts state Hopkins received cannabis “by the pound” from one co-accused, which he then supplied to two other street level dealers.

He also received cocaine “by the ounce” from another upline supplier before supplying it to up to five other street level dealers.

The facts state that in intercepted phone calls Hopkins would ask his street level dealers when they would like to “train” or go “training” as coded or veiled conversation which related to the supply of cocaine.

“Police allege that the accused Hopkins has (also) used the usual code word ‘drinks’ as coded or veiled conversation which relates to the supply of cannabis,” the facts state.

Nine people were arrested and charged with more than 320 offences following Hopkins’ arrest on September 5, 2019. Picture: NSW Police

On April 18 Hopkins was captured on CCTV footage at the Lakes Hotel drinking with friends, including fellow Bandido OMCG members and his wife Sarah Hopkins before getting picked up by an associate and driven to his home address.

Sarah Hopkins was never charged with anything and there is no suggestion she was anyway involved.

Hopkins and his associate stay at the home for about 13 minutes before leaving.

“Police allege that no ‘training’ is occurring between (them),” the facts state.

“The available inference being that (the associate) met with Hopkins for the purpose of supplying him with an ounce of cocaine.”

On May 7, 2019, one of his upline suppliers was stopped by Highway Patrol Police on the Central Coast Highway at Bateau Bay.

The Public Order Riot Squad was involved in a series of simultaneous raids following Hopkins’ arrest. Picture: NSW Police

The man was arrested and charged for drink-driving and possessing a small amount of cocaine but the facts state, had officers searched his car, they would have found “one pound of cannabis”.

Later Hopkins and his associate were intercepted discussing the arrest with the associate saying “it could have been ten times worse” and he could have been bail refused.

By August police are starting to tighten the net, arresting people coming or going from Hopkins’ house or kebab shop.

Some of the cannabis seized following the raids. Picture: NSW Police

On August 30 one man went to the shop to collect $50 Hopkins had borrowed when they were “on the piss” only to be stopped later on Bay Rd, Toowoon Bay, where police found him with 1g of cocaine.

After the man’s arrest Hopkins rang his wife and said: “I don’t know whether I’m over paranoid, but it seems that every time I talk to someone they keep getting f...ing arrested”. Sarah said: “Oh well, that’s it, no more.”

Large amounts of cash was also seized following the raids, which occurred after Hopkins’ arrest at Berkeley Vale. Picture: NSW Police

At 5.35am on September 5, 2019 police stopped Hopkins in a gold coloured Commodore on Berkeley Rd, Berkeley Vale.

He was taken to Wyong Police Station and charged with supplying drugs.

Last week Hopkins was sentenced to two years and eight months jail with a on-parole period of one year and three months.

With time already served he was eligible for release last Friday.