Abdul El-Masri and Nabil El-Masri: Supreme Court bail denied in alleged $5.8m ice bust

Two brothers who were allegedly busted with more than 6kg of ice held in green Woolworths shopping bags during a traffic stop have made a bid for bail. Find out what happened in court.

Two brothers who police will allege were caught with more than 6kg of ice hidden in a van during a traffic stop have been refused bail.

Abdul El-Masri, 49, and Nabil El-Masri, 42, were arrested in the early hours of March 20, this year.

Officers from Raptor Squad — the NSW police’s organised crime unit — pulled over a van on the Pacific Highway in Kempsey and allegedly found more than 6.5kg of methylamphetamine hidden inside the vehicle.

The court heard the drugs, which have a street value of almost $6 million, were vacuum-sealed and held in green Woolworths shopping bags.

Police will also allege they found cash and a small amount of cocaine.

Police arrest one of the brothers after the alleged ice bust. Picture: NSW police.

The pair were arrested and charged with supplying a large commercial quantity of prohibited drugs and participating in a criminal group. Abdul El-Masri was also charged with possessing a prohibited drug.

In court, the pair’s defence barrister, Ian Lloyd QC, said the case rested on circumstantial evidence.

A sum of cash was allegedly uncovered. Picture: NSW police.

Police allege the drugs have a street value of close to $6 million. Picture: NSW police.

“The major issue in this case is obviously not possession … the real issue is whether there was knowledge of the drugs being present in the van,” Mr Lloyd said.

“When under arrest and cautioned, Abdul El-Masri stated it was not his van and he borrowed it off a friend called Michael … that cannot be proven to be a lie.”

Mr Lloyd told the court Abdul El-Masri suffers chronic pain in his spine, leg and neck after a workplace accident and never breached the community corrections order he received for a series of domestic violence offences in 2019.

The court also heard Nabil El-Masri has a minor criminal record, consisting of driving offences, and his young daughter is struggling with being separated from her father.

The brothers were arrested in March of this year. Picture: NSW police.

Picture: NSW police.

Opposing bail, the prosecution said Abdul El-Masri’s chronic pain can be treated by corrective services and Nabil El-Masri’s daughter is not suffering from a serious medical condition.

“When all of the circumstances are taken in combination, the Crown says it‘s a strong case … this is not likely to be a complicated trial,” the prosecution said.

Justice Michael Walton said the charges are very serious and, if found guilty, the brothers could face a “substantial custodial sentence”.

Justice Walton refused to grant bail to either brother because he could not be satisfied the pair’s detention is unsuitable.

Abdul and Nabil El-Masri will return to Kempsey Local Court later this month.