Simon Suleski, Salim Nehme: Illawarra men accused of running $1M drug syndicate

Two men allegedly used codewords like Godfather, rack and fry to distribute drugs through their ‘one-stop shop’ before police seized $1.5 million worth of drugs, a court has heard.

Suleski and Nehme were arrested n December 16 at Unanderra. Picture: NSW Police

Two Illawarra men charged over a major drug ring allegedly responsible for the sale of more than $1.5 million worth of drugs called their business the “7 eleven of the drug trade”, a court has heard.

Simon Suleski, 23, and Salim Nehme, 26, were arrested in a major operation at Unanderra in December, after police seized more than $1.5 million worth of drugs over a six-month period.

Simon Suleski. Picture: Facebook

Mr Suleski, a soon-to-be dad, was charged with four counts of supply prohibited drug – large commercial quantity, five counts of supply prohibited drug – commercial quantity, seven counts of supply prohibited drug – indictable, four counts of supply prohibited drug, and deal with property proceeds of crime, and faced Wollongong Local Court on Monday, where Magistrate Claire Girotto rejected his bail application, noting the charges were “extremely serious”.

Mr Nehme was charged with four counts of supply prohibited drug – large commercial quantity, six counts of supply prohibited drug – commercial quantity, five counts of supply prohibited drug – indictable, three counts of supply prohibited drug, and deal with property proceeds of crime.

Fresh details about the allegations were revealed in court, with police claiming the pair “worked closely as partners”, allegedly dealing cocaine, MDMA and meth for “financial benefit”.

In documents tendered to the court, police allege the pair went to great lengths to avoid police detection, using encrypted messaging services and false names to hide phone records.

During the investigation, police allege it became clear Mr Nehme was responsible for negotiations about drugs and their prices, using codename ‘Godfather’ and describing his alleged business with Mr Suleski as “the 7-eleven of the drug trade, a one-stop shop”.

Both men have been refused bail. Picture: NSW Police

Police allegedly discovered the pair used codewords for drugs, referring to cocaine as “rack”, meth as “fry” and MDMA as “pills”.

In documents tendered to the court police allege between September 30 and 16 December, the pair supplied 846 grams of meth, 1126 grams of cocaine and 4000 pills of MDMA.

On one occasion in November, police allege an unknown person began negotiations with Mr Nehme, under his Godfather pseudonym, regarding the sale of 482g of cocaine, 482g of meth and 3000 MDMA pills.

Cash allegedly seized during the arrests. Picture: NSW Police

Mr Nehme and the person allegedly agreed on a sale price of $266,800, with the drugs to be dropped off on December 16.

It’s also alleged Mr Nehme and Mr Suleski dropped the drugs off and took the agreed amount of cash from a Unanderra home, before they were arrested later that day.

Mr Suleski’s defence lawyer told Magistrate Claire Girotto his client “was not the principal” and that his alleged involvement with Mr Nehme was more about personal use than dealing.

“My client had the role of ferrying drugs and money …. He was the messenger,” he told the court.

He also revealed Mr Suleski was about to become a first-time father and that his partner was struggling financially due to his detention in custody.

However, Magistrate Girotto denied the request for bail because Mr Suleski was “an important link in the chain”.

Both Mr Suleski and Mr Nehme will remain on remand in custody until they return to court next month.