Adrian Attard, Michael Leo: Ex’s face sentence over drug supply
Two ex-flames from Botany remained friendly after their break-up, even running a well-oiled drug delivery operation which serviced some of Sydney’s wealthiest addresses. But over time the dodgy dealings and long hours took a toll on the pair.
Central Sydney
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Two ex-flames have stayed amicable after their break up, even running a polished and polite cocaine delivery operation to some of Sydney’s most exclusive residential addresses.
Adrian Alexander Attard, 27, and ex-partner Michael John Leo, 32, adhered to a strict set of business policies, which were all laid out in an introductory text message to new clients, which began “Hey there!”, and further group messages, which outlined Australia Day surcharges and public holidays pre-orders.
But the dodgy dealings and long hours weren’t without doubt, with Leo telling Attard he felt like he had “sold (his) soul to the devil”, later admitting it was “a tiring game” and “(I) just don’t wanna do it anymore”, according to police facts.
Although their three-year relationship ended in December 2019, Attard and Leo were still
running the almost-daily drug gig together on January 31, 2020, when police began surveillance of a burner phone, used exclusively by the pair, police facts read.
The men lived in the same unit block on Pemberton St, Botany, and one person would man the phones, while the other would await instructions for deliveries.
On one busy Friday night in January, the men delivered cocaine to Surry Hills, Mosman, Drummoyne, Curl Curl, Pymble, Balgowlah, Summer Hill and Katoomba.
Over less than a month of surveillance, from January 31 to February 21, Attard and Leo supplied 258 bags or about 160 grams of cocaine, and made a total of $56,100, police facts state.
To become a client of Attard and Leo, you must have first been referred by someone else, according to police facts.
Buyers would then receive an introductory text message, which presented the ground rules.
“We close at 10.30am Sun-Thu and 12am Sat-Sun.
“Orders are a minimum of two, no singles.
“Unfortunately we don’t deliver to the CBD or red hot areas like the Cross, the Rocks, Potts Point or Woolloomooloo … We also don’t deliver to the main Manly domain.
“If you cancel when we are almost at your address, are rude, rush us or put us at risk you will be BLOCKED straight away.”
In conversations intercepted by police on February 8, the men discussed getting out of the drug game.
Leo said: “Like I’m done with this. I just wanna go back to a normal job. Like I don’t care. This is just. It’s frustrating because it takes your time up. I don’t know. We both want our lives back.”
Later Attard said: “I just want to have a couple hundred thousand saved then we can close for the weekend.”
Leo replied: “I’m happy to walk away with a hundred thousand for myself to be honest and not touch it again.”
On February 9, the men discussed purchasing 10 ounces of cocaine from a supplier with $40,000 at Attard’s parent’s house and about $12,000 they would have made after the weekend, and Leo asked Attard to try the goods before he left the supplier following a “really bad” batch.
Leo: “Can you make sure you try that shit before it leaves too?
I don’t want him to walk out that door if it’s shit. We don’t need another repeat of this, like of last time when he gave us that shit.”
On February 18, they sent out a group message from the burner phone – which began “Hello everyone” – to apologise for the bad quality of cocaine.
They had been mixing bags of “bad stuff” with “stronger stuff” and clients had reported it being green or flourlike.
“We are back to our regular stock as of tomorrow. We apologise to anyone that has an issue with our stuff over the past couple of weeks.”
Both men were arrested on February 24, Attard at his Botany residence and Leo as he tried to flee in his car.
In Attard’s bedroom safe, police found $8,100, which he said was from $30,000 pokie winnings.
In Leo’s wallet they found “two grand”, which he said was for rent.
Both men have pleaded guilty to supplying prohibited drugs on an ongoing basis and a related charge of dealing with the property proceeds of crime.
Attard and Leo are due to return to the Downing Centre District Centre on December 3 for sentence.