Alleged MDMA conspiracy on the northern beaches

EDITOR'S NOTE: A man who was accused of supplying a commercial amount of MDMA on Sydney’s northern beaches has had his charges dropped in court.

Brothers arrested

• Beacon Hill brothers arrested in alleged drug ring
• Man alleged to have crashed scooter then attacked cop

EDITOR'S NOTE

Stephen Calci later had all charges dropped in the NSW District Court 

 

By Gary Hamilton-Irvine on  January 30, 2020

New details have been revealed in court about the alleged commercial supply of MDMA on Sydney’s northern beaches by two brothers.

Stephen Albert Calci, 27, and Nicolas Joseph Calci, 21, both from Beacon Hill, were arrested in November following a police investigation into an alleged drug ring.

Police allege the brothers were involved in the drug network and supplied more than 170g of MDMA during August.

After their arrests, younger brother Nicolas was granted bail in court but Stephen was refused bail.

Stephen Calci. Picture: Facebook

Stephen applied for bail a second time on Thursday at Central Local Court which was knocked back by Magistrate Lisa Viney – after messages intercepted by police were read out in court.

The messages were allegedly from the phone of a co-accused Alexander Towning – one of the other alleged members of the drug network – and referred to a Stephen in Sydney being his supplier.

“Is Steve your boy there?” one message read.

“Yea,” Towning replied. “I will let Steve know.”

The police facts alleged the co-accused Towning was seen driving up to Stephen and Nicolas’ home in Beacon Hill where he was allegedly supplied 170.4g of MDMA, the court heard.

Stephen Calci (pictured) was arrested at Sydney Airport on November 14, 2019. Picture: NSW Police

Another message intercepted by police read “just spoke to Steve and his brother about to leave” following the alleged drug deal.

Magistrate Viney said it appeared to be a strong case and refused bail.

However, Stephen’s defence argued it was in fact a “demonstrably weak” case.

“There is no direct evidence implicating my client,” he argued.

His defence said the messages police intercepted, detailed in the police facts, only referred to a “Steve from Sydney” and may not have been Mr Calci.

He also said Stephen and the co-accused were friends and there were other explanations for him visiting his home.

Stephen Calci appeared in Central Local Court on Thursday.

He also claimed a police search of the Calci brothers’ home in Beacon Hill did not uncover any drugs.

Stephen suffers from severe sleep apnoea and his defence also stated he was struggling to get treatment in jail.

In May 2019, detectives established Strike Force Toongahra to investigate the supply of illicit drugs in the Newcastle and Hunter Region.

As part of their inquiries, strike force detectives identified people suspected to be involved in the supply of MDMA and cocaine in Sydney.

Strike force detectives previously charged three men as part of their investigation – aged 24, 29 and 31 – before arresting the Calci brothers. The other three men remain before the courts.

Stephen has been charged with participate in criminal group/contribute criminal activity and supply a prohibited drug (commercial supply).

Nicolas has been charged with one count of participate criminal group contribute criminal activity, one count of supply commercial quantity of a prohibited drug and six counts of supply prohibited drugs on an ongoing basis.

Their matter has been adjourned until March 6.

Meanwhile, co-accused Towning is also facing five charges including supply prohibited drug (large commercial quantity) and participate criminal group contribute criminal activity.