Jason Amoroso: No bail for man accused of dealing meth, GBL from Illawarra hotels
A 35-year-old man has allegedly been running a GBL and meth supply syndicate, using code words like “drinks, gears, galls, grams, papers and points” to fool police.
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An Illawarra man accused of heading a drug syndicate allegedly responsible for the sale of GBL and ice has been refused bail, after police pounced on him at a local hotel after months of investigation.
Jason Amoroso was arrested at a hotel room at North Wollongong’s Novotel on Thursday morning by officers from Strike Force Ables.
The strike force had been investigating Amoroso since April over the alleged supply of GBL and methamphetamine, with police alleging he was “directing an ongoing and organised criminal group”.
The 35-year-old was charged with three counts of supply prohibited drug on an ongoing basis, take part supply prohibited drug – commercial quantity and organises/conducts/assists drug premises and faced Wollongong Local Court where he was refused bail by Magistrate Claire Girotto on Friday afternoon.
In documents tendered to the court on Friday, police allege investigators started monitoring Amoroso’s calls in April, noting he used code words in an attempt to disguise his alleged drug deals.
However, investigators were quick to crack the code, with Amoroso allegedly using common words with his buyers, including “drinks, gears, galls, grams, papers and points”.
It’s alleged that between April 23 and August 6 investigators monitored Amoroso as he supplied 955ml of GBL while two more litres of the drug were also intercepted that were allegedly bound for Amoroso.
It was further alleged he would meet his buyers in different places he was living, including the Coniston Hotel and the Charles Hotel in Fairy Meadow.
In smashing the alleged syndicate, police also charged Amoroso’s associate Kelly Dent, who was allegedly busted picking up the two litres of GBL for him from a Sydney supplier.
In the documents, police allege that on July 16 Amoroso gave Dent enough money to pick up the GBL haul from Sydney.
However, that afternoon police stopped her vehicle at Maddens Plains, where they conducted a search and allegedly found a number of bottles containing a clear liquid hidden in the boot.
She immediately called Amoroso, allegedly saying “I’m going to jail Jas”.
“They’ve just taken every water bottle from the boot. I said they’re water. They have to test it. I’m going to jail, I’m so screwed.”
She was charged with supply prohibited drug (commercial quantity) and two counts of possess prohibited drug.
Strike Force Ables’ investigation culminated on Thursday when Amoroso was arrested at the Novotel in North Wollongong.
In court on Friday, Magistrate Girotto said there was “no reason why Amoroso’s bail isn’t justified” and refused his application for release.
He will remain on remand in custody until he appears in court again next month.
