Zieke Lyons, Troy Upward: Alleged Illawarra drug dealers granted bail

An Illawarra man who allegedly dealt drugs from his Woonona barber shop has been granted bail after a $1m surety was forfeited.

Zieke Lyons and Troy Upward were arrested in November. Picture: NSW Police

A Mangerton man who allegedly dealt drugs from his Woonona barber shop has been granted bail after a $1m surety was forfeited.

Last month, Troy Upward, 41, was charged with supplying a commercial quantity of drugs and two counts of supplying prohibited drugs on an ongoing basis.

His co-accused, Zieke Francis Lyons, 33, was charged with supplying a commercial quantity of drugs, two counts of supplying an indictable quantity of drugs and two counts of possessing prohibited drugs.

The court heard police allegedly tapped phone calls between Lyons and Upward with the pair allegedly using codes like “single”, “G”, “ball” and “occas” when referring to drugs.

Documents tendered in court state Lyons, an electrician, and Upward, the owner of Black Diamond Barber Shop, were cocaine users with the alleged dealing facilitating their addiction.

Zieke Lyons was arrested on November 23. Picture: Facebook

Documents state detectives monitored Lyons allegedly supplying Upwards with 280g of cocaine with a street value of $84,000 which the latter would on-supply.

The deals between September and November allegedly took place at Lyon’s Woonona home or at Upward’s business.

Documents state police searched Lyons’ home on Thursday, November 23, when they allegedly seized 24g of coke, 5g of MDMA and $1450 cash.

Only Lyons’ partner was present at the time of the search with the accused arrested at Wollongong police station about 4.45pm. His partner is not accused of any wrongdoing.

Documents state he allegedly admitted to having the seized items, but provided no comment regarding the supply allegations.

Plain-clothed police attended the Black Diamond Barber Shop about 12.30pm on the same day where they arrested Upward.

Police allegedly seized $16,000 at the business as well as several vials of anabolic steroids.

A search of Zieke Lyons’ home allegedly uncovered 24g of coke, 5g of MDMA and $1450 cash. Picture: NSW Police

Police also searched Upward’s property in Mangerton where they allegedly seized $7000 cash.

Both men were refused bail in Wollongong Local Court last month after police prosecutor Sergeant Zane Baron said it was a “shocking amount of illicit drugs and a fairly strong prosecution case”.

However, Lyons was granted bail earlier this month after the court heard he had contracted shingles.

Lyons’ bail conditions include he only use one mobile device, not contact Upward or prosecution witnesses, surrender his passport and not go within 2km of an international point of departure and report to police five times a week.

Lyons also forfeited a $20,000 surety via his father-in-law.

Upwards made his second bail attempt on Wednesday with Magistrate Claire Girotto granting his conditional liberty on “quite strenuous” conditions.

The conditions include daily reporting, a night-time curfew and a requirement to attend a drug and alcohol rehab facility.

Upward, via an acceptable persons, also deposited a $1m bail surety.

Lyons and Upward will return to court in January.

Got a news tip? Email [e-mail]