Beau Paul Anderson sentenced for role in alleged drug syndicate

A man busted with cocaine and a stash of firearms manufactured with a 3D printer said he used some air guns to feed his cats. He has learned his fate for being involved in an alleged syndicate.

Strike Force Raptor investigators seized cocaine, cash and pistols in October 22. Picture: NSW Police

Alleged drug syndicate member Beau Paul Anderson produced a stash of weapons including firearms and drug paraphernalia with a 3D printer, a court has heard as he learned his fate for being involved in the alleged syndicate.

The 33 year old appeared via video link at Downing Centre District Court on Monday where he was sentenced to more than four years in jail after he pleaded guilty to a raft of offences.

The dad was one of several people charged after Strike Force Raptor officers closed in on a safehouse at Post Office St, Carlingford, in October 2022 and made several arrests during sweeping raids across Sydney.

Police seized pistols, ammunition, cash, 13kg of cocaine, and equipment and chemicals used to manufacture and supply prohibited drugs at Carlingford.

A key player of the alleged drug ring, Nathan Vanderburg, was busted with $368,000, cocaine, a gun, ammunition and drug paraphernalia.

A Carlingford safehouse was used for the alleged enterprise. Picture: NSW Police

In December, the Toongabbie man was sentenced to eight years in jail back dated from December 2022 with a non-parole period of four years and nine months.

He pleaded guilty to multiple charges including knowingly dealing with the proceeds of crime, possessing an unauthorised pistol and supplying a prohibited drug (large commercial quantity).

The defence and Crown prosecutor agreed Anderson had a less serious role to play in the operation compared with Vanderburg.

The court heard Anderson was responsible for acquiring the lease of the Carlingford unit which Vanderburg used to press cocaine into 1kg blocks with stamps Anderson supplied. However, Anderson did not prepare the drug himself.

After the Carlingford raid, police searched a Macquarie Park shed where they uncovered a butterfly knife and three double-edged dagger throwing knives belonging to Anderson’s girlfriend Shae Becker, and four hydraulic pressing machines.

Some of the items seized.

At the North Ryde home he shared with Becker, police found 510.7g of MDMA, 93.84g of cocaine, a gel Beretta blaster air pistol with a magazine, a gel blaster air rifle resembling an AK47 with a magazine, a 3D-printed 0.22 rim-fire single shot pistol, a purple 3D-printed imitation shot pistol, a modified repeating air pistol, a 3D-printed crossbow, two hydraulic pressing machines, two money counting machines, two 3D printers and multiple mobile phones, laptops, hardrives, computers and identification documents.

Judge Sharon Harris labelled his firearm manufacturing with a 3D printer “disquieting”.

“Despite the assistance of software, a degree of technical know-how is still required,’’ she said.

She did not accept his explanation that the “homemade’’ but “menacing’’-looking air guns were used to feed his cat.

In November last year, Anderson pleaded guilty to 10 charges including participating in a criminal group contribute criminal activity, two counts of manufacturing a pistol without a licence/permit and two counts of possessing an unauthorised pistol.

Last week, the court heard none of the guns were functional and Anderson’s role was administrative.

Crown prosecutor Robert Bucksath told the court Anderson knew the cocaine was for a commercial quantity of cocaine rather than a large commercial quantity of the drug.

Anderson recruited Becker, 24, to help organise the lease with a real estate company. The court heard she was unaware it was a place where the cocaine would be prepared.

Becker was sentenced to a three-year intensive correction order and 100 hours of community service in Octoberafter she pleaded guilty to possessing or using a prohibited weapon without permit, supplying a prohibited drug (greater than a large commercial quantity) and dealing with identity info to commit etc indictable offence.

Anderson’s barrister, Ben Barrack, said his client provided keys and activated a SIM card for Vanderburg but the “entirety of his involvement” was before the cocaine was pressed.

“There’s no evidence he purchased the cocaine, there’s no evidence he benefited from the profits,’’ he said.

Strike Force Raptor officers seized more than $300k in cash. Picture: NSW Police

The court heard Anderson received little financial gain from the alleged enterprise and “whatever money he did make went straight back into his addiction”.

Mr Barrack told the court Anderson had a deprived upbringing and his addiction spiralled after his grandmother, who was “the rock in his life” died in 2020.

Mr Bucksath said there was no evidence Anderson had access to profits but he did enjoy belonging to a group.

“He enjoyed being apart of something and … and unfortunately it was a criminal group that supported his drug addiction,’’ he said.

“He was (allegedly) essentially Mr Taber’s gofer,’’ he said, adding it was odd because Taber was eight years younger than Anderson.

Anderson was sentenced to four years and eight months with a three-year non parole period in prison backdated from November 2022.

He is eligible for parole on November 29, 2025.

Alleged syndicate member Callum Robert Taber will stand trial in February after pleading not guilty to possessing or using a prohibited weapon without permit, supplying a prohibited drug (greater than an indictable), knowingly direct activities of a criminal group and taking part in supply prohibited drug (greater than a large commercial quantity).