Antoine Farhat: Greystanes man sentenced for commercial drug supply

A western Sydney father-of-two made an emotional plea in court as he faced jail for dealing ice and cocaine to support his family.

A ‘street dealer’ who was busted with illicit substances hidden inside a vitamin container and a soft drink bottle has narrowly avoided jail after vowing to turn his back on drugs.

Antoine Farhat, 40, pleaded guilty to supplying commercial and indictable quantities of prohibited drugs after he was arrested by Strike Force Raptor during a vehicle stop in Greystanes last year.

Farhat faced Parramatta District Court on Monday for sentencing, where it was heard the father-of-two was detected by officers driving a stolen Nissan Navara on Merrylands Rd on March 27, 2020.

Antoine Farhat, 40, of Greystanes, has been convicted of commercial drug supply.

The car was detected to have unauthorised plates and a “visibly nervous” Farhat prompted officers to search his vehicle further.

During the search, officers uncovered GBL inside a plastic coke bottle and a Berocca vitamin container inside a hidden compartment of the car.

A subsequent raid on his Greystanes granny flat and a Wentworthville hotel room uncovered further drugs, including cocaine and ice.

In total, Farhat was found with more than 1.6kg of GBL and 40g of ice.

During cross-examination in court, Farhat said he had been pursuing a rehabilitation program at Odyssey House since his release on bail in December.

Police found GBL in a Coca-Cola soft drink bottle in a car driven by Farhat. Picture: NSW Police

Drugs were found during a search of Farhat’s car, granny flat and a hotel room. Picture: NSW Police

“I don’t want this life anymore. I don’t want the drug life, the criminal life,” Farhat said.

Facing up to 20 years in jail, Judge Stephen Hanley considered Farhat’s traumatic upbringing in war-torn Lebanon during the 80s and 90s, which left him suffering severe PTSD.

Farhat told the court he turned to drug dealing after struggling with substance abuse issues and needing money to support his habit and his family.

At the time of his arrest, Farhat had a prior conviction for drug supply after being sentenced in Campbelltown District Court in October 2019.

Ice seized during the police search. Picture: NSW Police

Judge Hanley noted that while his criminal history was concerning, he found Farhat showed promise in his commitment to his rehabilitation.

“This type of offending of supplying illicit drugs must be denounced. It is a considerable scourge upon the community,” Judge Hanley said.

“Despite concerns about the previous conviction and sentence, now with the assistance of a substantial rehabilitation program he has reasonable prospects of rehabilitation.”

He was sentenced to an Intensive Corrections Order for three years.