Seven people charged after police raid homes in Parramatta, Fairfield West, Leppington, Lake Heights, Sylvania
A cleanskin YouTube maths tutor is among several charged after police raided multiple homes as part of a major drug supply crackdown in Sydney’s suburbs. See what they uncovered.
Macarthur
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A YouTube maths tutor was allegedly “significantly engaged” in illegal drug supply before his arrest after police raided several homes and seized drugs with a street value of more than $7 million, a court has heard.
In September 2022, officers from Bankstown Region Enforcement Squad established Strike Force Nemarang to investigate the supply of prohibited drugs across Sydney’s metro regions.
Strike force investigators first executed search warrants at homes in Parramatta, Fairfield West, and Leppington on June 29.
During the search, investigators found 6.4kg of methamphetamine, 4.1kg of heroin, 1.5kg of cocaine, 866g of MDMA, more than $200,000 in cash, $18,000 in foreign currency, electronic devices, and an emergency siren.
A short time later, officers stopped a vehicle in Willowdale, where they searched the car and located 1kg of methamphetamine, and $15,000 in cash.
Nathan Notaras, 30, was arrested at a Sylvania address and charged with supplying a commercial quantity of prohibited drugs and recklessly dealing with crime proceeds.
His solicitor Ms Mansour applied for his bail at Sutherland Local Court.
“He has never been before the court for any other matter,” Ms Mansour told Magistrate Holly Kemp.
“He runs a successful tutoring business, and he has a successful YouTube channel.”
The court heard Notaras was enrolled to begin a Bachelor of Exercise Science at Australian Catholic University at the end of the month.
“(It is alleged) he has a relatively low level role in the offending, he was acting at the direction of (co-accused) Krystle Piggott if and when she required him,” Ms Mansour said.
“It appears the offences were only committed at the direction of the co-accused and there is no indication that he has any other criminal ties.”
A police prosecutor opposed bail, stating investigations indicated Notaras made a limited income from his tutoring business.
“The vast majority (of his income) has been from the proceeds of crime,” the prosecutor told the court.
“He was an active participant in selling large quantities of prohibited drugs, which would have had a terrible and dangerous impact on the community if he had succeeded in the supply.”
The prosecutor said police would allege Notaras had participated in a “sophisticated drug operation” and that “great lengths” were taken to conceal this joint criminal enterprise.
“This is a strong prosecution case, there is a large amount of telephone intercept material, and covert and electronic surveillance.”
Ms Kemp said cause could not be shown why Notaras’ detention was not justified and that conditions could not have mitigated the unacceptable risk he posed to the community in terms of fleeing the jurisdiction or committing further offences.
“These are very serious allegations of drug supply and dealing with the proceeds of crime,” Ms Kemp said.
“This is a very strong prosecution case including the electronic and physical surveillance that support the assertion he is significantly engaged in the supply of drugs – I reject any assertion that he had a low level role, that is certainly not made out.”
Notaras’ bail was refused and his case adjourned to the Downing Centre Local Court on September 12.
His co-accused Krystle Piggott, 28, appeared briefly on screen at Sutherland Local Court, where her solicitor Mr Hallami said she would apply for bail at the Downing Centre Local Court on July 13.
Piggott was charged with two counts of supplying a commercial quantity of drugs, recklessly dealing with crime proceeds, and eight counts of failing to comply with a digital evidence access order direction.
Her bail was formally refused and she will appear in court next week, with her matter also to be mentioned with Notaras’ on September 12.
Investigators also arrested four men at Leppington and Willowdale and they were taken to Narellan Police Station.
Two men, aged 25 and 20, were both charged with five counts of supplying a large commercial quantity of a prohibited drug.
A 19-year-old man was charged with supply prohibited drug supplying a large commercial quantity of a prohibited drug and dealing with the proceeds of crime.
The three men appeared before Picton Local Court on Friday where they were formally refused bail to appear before Campbelltown Local Court on August 30.
A 21-year-old man was issued a court attendance notice, charged with knowingly deal with the proceeds of crime, deal with proceeds of crime and two counts of possessing prohibited drug. He is due to appear before Parramatta Local Court on August 18.
Following further inquiries, investigators executed search warrants at properties in Lake Heights, Sylvania, Woolooware and Sylvania Waters about 6.40am on Thursday.
During the search warrants, officers seized 160g of methamphetamine, 470g MDMA, almost $100,000 in cash, electronic devices and documentation.
A 56-year-old man was arrested at the Lake Heights property and taken to Oak Flats Police Station, where he was charged with two counts of supplying an indictable quantity of a prohibited drug, knowingly take part in the supply of prohibited drug – indictable quantity, and recklessly deal with proceeds of crime.
He appeared at Wollongong Local Court on Thursday, where he was granted conditional bail to appear before the same court on July 26.
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