Joseph Paul Toga, 23, of Campsie, jailed for ‘dial-a-dealer’ cocaine sales on northern beaches
A fruit and veg packer from southwestern Sydney became a “kind of uber for drugs” to sell dial-a-dealer cocaine to customers on the northern beaches. See what happened in court.
Manly
Don't miss out on the headlines from Manly. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A fruit and veg packer from Sydney’s Flemington Markets has been jailed for being a dial-a-dealer drug seller to customers on the northern beaches.
Joseph Paul Toga, 23, of Campsie, had a list of “addresses and orders” on the WhatsApp messaging service on his mobile phone when he was arrested, Manly Local Court has heard.
Toga, who lives in a flat with his mum in southwestern Sydney, was sentenced to 18 months behind bars after pleading guilty to supplying cocaine at a “well known drug location” in Manly.
Magistrate Robyn Denes, who described the offending as a kind of “uber for drugs”, told Toga during sentencing that some people were attracted to the drug dealer lifestyle because it was “portrayed glamorously”.
“I think he’s attracted to that life,” Ms Denes said on January 25.
“He thinks it’s cool.”
The court heard Toga was seen in the middle of what police suspected was a drug transaction on Cove St, Manly, at 6.20pm on November 5 last year.
In a facts sheet tendered to court, police described Cove Ave as a “well known drug location”.
After police received a call about two men counting a large wad of cash outside an address in Manly, they saw a Toyota Camry, being driven by Toga — who had recently had his licence disqualified — pull up.
The two men, with one carrying the cash, walked to the driver’s side door of the Toyota before it suddenly accelerated away.
Police believe Toga drove off after spotting their unmarked police car.
Toga’s car was stopped in nearby Addison Rd, where it, and Toga, were searched.
Police found two small, clear, resealable bags of cocaine in its centre console and $500 cash in his pants pocket.
Toga said he was “going out” and had “bought rack (cocaine)” for himself.
When police examined his phone they saw a WhatsApp message stating “(Address) Cove Ave, Manly x 2”.
“Police observed other messages including addresses and orders believed to be the supply of cocaine,” the facts sheet stated.
Toga pleaded guilty to one count of supply prohibited drug – small quantity; deal with the proceeds of crime and drive motor vehicle during disqualification period (second offence).
The court heard that Toga had been caught driving while suspended or disqualified three times in six weeks.
It also heard that Toga had been convicted, in Waverley Local Court in January 2021, of a similar drug supply offence and was given a three-year Community Corrections Order.
Magistrate Denes said he was a “long way from home” selling the drugs to people on the northern beaches in a “dial a dealer scenario”
“(Toga) believes there’s a shiny side to the drug trade because people make a lot of money out of it.
“A kind of uber for drugs.
“I see no alternative to a full-time (jail) sentence.”
Toga was sentenced to 18 months in jail, with a non-parole period of nine months.
He has lodged an appeal to the severity of the sentence which will be mentioned in the Downing Centre District Court next month.
Struggling RSL club sold to Sydney developer for $15m
It was once a popular live music venue and community hub, but a Sydney RSL club which failed to recover from Covid impacts has now sold to a property developer. Are you in the ‘last drinks’ photos?
‘Hit the ground running’: Teal’s vow as Libs concede defeat
After an intense and sometimes aggressive campaign, the Liberal Party has formally conceded defeat in the surprise Pittwater by-election. See the latest results.