Ahmed Salameh, also know as Ahmed Ibrahim, guilty of drug supply
A man who once inspired young people about the importance of health and fitness used code words like ‘food’ and ‘drink’ for ‘thirsty people’ to operate his criminal enterprise.
Macarthur
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A Riverstone man who once inspired youth about the importance of health has pleaded guilty to commercial drug supply, ironically using code words ‘food’ and ‘drink’ to operate his criminal enterprise
Ahmed Ibrahim, also known as Ahmed Salameh, told Campbelltown District Court he was living out of his car when he was arrested for the commercial supply of gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) in August 2018.
The 35-year-old man, who has recently been working for solar energy company Atlas Renewables, was identified by a police strike force as an associate of an identified drug supplier.
Agreed facts state from June 28 to August 8, 2018, police intercepted thousands of calls and texts sent by Ibrahim, with the code words ‘food’ used in place of methylamphetamine and ‘drinks’ for GBL.
Between July 13 and August 8, 2018 Ibrahim agreed to supply 3.7kg of GBL to another man, with the deal negotiated by way of coded text messages and calls.
One intercepted exchange over a three-day period read almost like Ibrahim and the man were arranging supplies for a picnic.
“How are ya going just wanted to see um confirm that you ordered one like, one of each?” Ibrahim was heard to say.
The buyer replied: “One and one. Yep.”
Ibrahim then asked the buyer when he could drop the goods over. “If the drinks are more important, everyone’s thirsty, I can drop that around probably in 40 minutes. Cause that’s there. That’s ready to go, but it’s just, I’ve got to go back and get the other one.”
The customer said he would buy “the drinks” first if that was easiest. “Ah food is the most important but drinks I’ll take whenever, um … it’s always good. But ah, the food, I’m completely out of food.”
About 12.30am on August 9, 2018, Ibrahim left a home on Gibbes St in Newtown wearing a satchel and carrying a large sports bag, agreed facts state.
Unlicensed to drive, he jumped in a white Toyota Corolla and drove to Norfolk St where police officers were waiting.
They found 700ml of GBL in the bag and a further 313.3g of the drug in his possession, which was deemed destined for supply.
An embarrassed Ibrahim told the court at his sentence hearing on Friday, March 6, that his wife was expecting a son in coming weeks and he had discovered a new sense of responsibility.
“I don’t want to miss the birth of my son,” he said. “This is the first time I have actually tried to seek help. I can’t afford to destroy my life and the lives of people around me.”
The Riverstone man also told the court he had previously held public speaking roles, highlighting the importance of health, fitness and education for young people.
Judge John Hatzistergos will deliver his judgment on April 3 at the Sydney District Court.