Wellington drug syndicate: Bradley Thompson pleads guilty

Secret phone taps have revealed a man’s role in a major drug syndicate and the lengths he tried to go to in order to hide one of his crimes from police.

A member of a major drug syndicate which supplied ice across western NSW used a Louis Vuitton handbag and pink bin as part of a botched attempt to keep one of his crimes hidden from police.

Bradley Peter James Thompson was arrested last year after police conduced a covert 14-month operation code named Strike Force Pinnacle, to smash the syndicate.

Wellington man Brad Thompson has pleaded guilty to drug supply and firearm possession charges. Picture: Facebook

According to court documents the 28-year-old Wellington man helped the alleged kingpin of the syndicate deliver drugs and collect cash payments between June 2019 and April 2020.

In October 2019 police said secret phone recording revealed the syndicate’s kingpin directed Thompson to supply a “full white one” — code for 3.5 grams of ice — to several women.

Despite being in jail at Wellington between October and December 2019, Thompson was heard discussing the payment of drug money into bank accounts and police said he helped the syndicate’s leader supply buprenorphine.

In January 2020 police raided the Swift Street home in Wellington which Thompson shared with his then partner Brianna Meizer.

Strike Force Pinnacle police transfer alleged drug dealers to Dubbo Police Station after they were arrested in Wellington in May 2020. Picture: NSW Police

In the laundry of the home a shortened 0.22 calibre rifle was found wrapped in several plastic bags and duct tape inside a Louis Vuitton handbag which was placed in a pink bin.

After the raid police listened in on a phone conversation Thompson had with an associate of the syndicate’s kingpin.

“Send someone to go the little pink bin in the laundry and see if the thing is still in there bra,” Thompson told the associate.

“Go there and check if it is in the little pink bin outside the laundry bit bra.”

Thompson, who has been remanded in custody, pleaded guilty to participation in a criminal group, drug supply and shortened firearm possession charges.

A date for his sentencing hearing in the District Court at Dubbo is due to be set in June.

Ms Meizer, also known as Brianna Powyer, was previously convicted for her drug dealing and sentenced to a 12-month intensive corrections order and 90 hours of community service.