Emily Provost, Aaron Fairbairn arrested over alleged drug syndicate

A woman who allegedly profited from the drug trade has spent the past 12 months earning her keep as a prison hairdresser has successfully applied for bail.

Emily Provost has been charged with supply drugs. Picture: Facebook

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by Daniel McGookin - August 25, 2021

A woman who allegedly profited from the drug trade has spent the past 12 months earning her keep as a prison hairdresser and leading hand in horticulture while remanded in custody, a court has heard..

Emily Provost, 47, has been charged with drug supply offences for her alleged role as an upline GBL supplier in a drug syndicate operating in the Illawarra region. The woman was one of four arrested in August in 2020, including her partner Aaron Fairbairn.

The Supreme Court heard an agreement had been reached between Provost and the crown prosecutor, which would likely lead to a charge of ongoing drug supply being withdrawn.

Three charges of drug supply would be “rolled up” into a single charge, totalling 900ml of GBL.

In August last year, Wollongong Local Court was told that Provost had allegedly supplied a man with 2.6L of GBL across a number of occasions, with the drugs having an estimated street value of $13,000 to $26,000.

Provost’s lawyer told the Supreme Court on Tuesday that since her arrest, the 47-year-old had completed a series of courses, including an addiction course, positive lifestyles program and computer education, while remanded in custody.

The crown prosecutor said, however, there would be a risk that Provost’s rehabilitation would fail if released on bail noting a history of minor drug-related offences in Queensland and NSW.

“She knew what she was doing,” he said. “She was making a profit from the drug trade.”

Justice Stephen Campbell granted bail in light of Provost’s “almost non-existent criminal record”, despite saying it appeared to be a “strong crown case”.

The 47-year-old was granted bail to stay at her friend’s Woonona home on the condition she report to police daily, use a single mobile phone, not enter any business which serves alcohol and not leave the address without the attendance of her friend.

The matter will return to Wollongong Local Court next month.

by Madeline Crittenden - August 8, 2020

An Illawarra couple accused of supplying GBL and meth to street level dealers have been refused bail after police smashed an alleged drug syndicate in sweeping raids on Thursday.

Emily Provost and Aaron Fairbairn were charged by officers from Strike Force Cohen on August 5, after a months-long investigation allegedly revealed they were major players in an organised syndicate.

The pair were refused bail on Friday at Wollongong Court despite pleading with Magistrate Claire Girotto for their release.

Provost, who has been charged with three counts of supply prohibited drug, four counts of supply prohibited drug and supply prohibited drugs on an ongoing basis, sobbed as she told Magistrate Girotto she “wasn’t responsible for anything I’m accused of”.

Provost. Picture: Facebook.

While Fairbairn, who is charged with nine counts of supply prohibited drug, take part supply prohibited drug and supply prohibited drugs on an ongoing basis, said he needed to be released to take care of his dogs.

“Who is going to look after my dogs,” he said. “Show some faith please … I won’t do this again”.

Clem Tartaro and Bradley Murray were also refused bail in court on Friday, after they were identified as alleged players in the drug operation.

In documents tendered to the court, police allege Provost was an upline supplier of GBL for Murray, while Tartaro was an alleged supplier of methamphetamine.

Over the course of the investigation, officers from Strike Force Cohen used phone intercepts and physical surveillance to monitor the group. It was alleged Murray would obtain the drugs from Provost and Tartaro before selling them on to his customer base.

On several occasions between July 16 and July 29 it’s alleged Provost supplied Murray with a total of 2.6 litres of GBL, with an estimated street value of $13,000 to $26,000.

It’s alleged that between July 16 and August 6, police recorded more than 750 communications between Provost and Murray, most of which were about GBL or ice.

Aaron Fairbairn. Picture: Facebook

“It was established through this that (Provost) kept the drug within her unit, locked in her bedroom,” police allege in court documents.

Provost’s partner Fairbairn stands accused of assisting his girlfriend in the supply of drugs with police alleging he also helped her negotiate prices. In the documents, it’s alleged police recorded Fairbairn supplying 4.25 grams of methamphetamine over a two-week period in July.

Tartaro, who has been charged 13 counts of supply prohibited drug and supply prohibited drug on an ongoing basis, is accused of supplying a total of 15.69 grams of meth on 13 occasions between June 17 and July 11. It’s alleged in the documents the sales totalled almost $16,000.

Provost, Tartaro and Fairbairn were arrested during a sweeping raids across the Illawarra on Thursday morning while Murray was arrested on Friday.

Despite police alleging Provost was an upline supplier of GBL, her defence lawyer on Friday told Magistrate Girotto that she “played a minor role” and was “forced” into participating in the operation.

However, Magistrate Girotto said the police case painted a very different picture and refused to release her to bail.

Tartaro, Fairbairn and Murray were also refused bail due to the serious nature of the charges.

The matters will return to court in September.