Keiryn Satchell charged with supplying large commercial quantity of cocaine

A man who ran a struggling online fitness supplements business on the northern beaches has been caught up in a police sting, allegedly buying a kilo of cocaine. See what happened in court.

Keiryn Satchell, 34, of Avalon, is charged with supplying a large commercial quantity of cocaine. File picture: iStock

A struggling northern beaches businessman has been caught in a police surveillance sting allegedly buying a 1kg “brick” of cocaine with a mate.

Keiryn Satchell, who sells bodybuilding and fitness powdered supplements online, was allegedly going to sell his share of the coke to help ease his “significant financial hardship”.

The 34-year-old Avalon man, who is married with two small children, is accused of providing half of the total $182,000 in cash that he and his co-accused allegedly paid for the prohibited drug on August 21.

Manly Local Court heard on Tuesday, during his bail application, that the alleged purchase at Alexandria was seen by a police surveillance team.

The police also allegedly recorded a conversation between the two men, where they discussed supplying the cocaine and how much money they would make.

Keiryn Satchell, of Avalon, who ran an online fitness supplements business, was granted bail by Manly Local Court on Tuesday. Picture: Supplied

Satchell and his co-accused allegedly swapped a bag containing the cash for what was described in court as a “brick” of cocaine, from a person in a car that had pulled up outside the co-accused’s apartment building.

Police later found the cocaine at a Warriewood warehouse Satchell uses to store his online products. They also allegedly found $22,000 in cash and silver bullion worth $15,000 at his rented Avalon flat, as well as a number of mobile phones and laptops.

Satchell is facing a string of charges, including one count each of supplying a prohibited drug greater than a large commercial quantity; supplying a prohibited drug greater than a commercial quantity and; possessing an encrypted communication device — a Google Pixel mobile phone – to commit serious criminal activity.

He was also charged with knowingly dealing with the proceeds of crime and dealing property that is the proceeds of crime

He is yet to enter any pleas.

Police opposed bail on Tuesday.

Manly Local Court heard that Keiryn Satchell had gone through “significant financial hardship”. Picture: Supplied

Satchell’s barrister, Jehane Ghabrial, told the court the 34-year-old rejected police allegations his supplements business was a “sham or a front” for the offending.

Ms Ghabrial said the business was legitimate.

“He has gone through significant financial hardship,” she told the court.

The barrister added that her client had never been in custody before.

“What we have is a man with no history of doing this,” she said.

“He has no underworld links or membership of an OMCG (outlaw motorcycle gang).”

Magistrate Lisa Stapleton said police surveillance showed Satchell “had a friendly lunch with his co-accused” after the alleged cocaine purchase was made.

Manly Local Court. Picture: AAP / Monique Harmer

She said police allegedly found cling wrap and gloves at Satchell’s warehouse, and that he did not provide police the passwords for the mobile phones and laptops that were seized.

“When they searched his residence, they found $22,000 in cash, a substantial amount of silver as well as the mobile phones and laptops,” Ms Stapleton said.

“It look like, from the (police) facts, he’s making a substantial amount of money from the sale of prohibited drugs.

“I think there is a strong case against him.”

The magistrate granted Satchell strict conditional bail, which included a curfew, and orders not to leave his home unless attending work or to see his lawyers or doctor.

Satchell will be back in Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court on October 22.