Omar Terkmani: Alleged Comanchero associate to fight charges in $1 million drug case

An alleged Comanchero associate accused of supplying a million-dollars’ worth of drugs in western Sydney will defend the charges at trial.

Omar Terkmani, pictured in 2016, will fight the charges at trial in 2023. Picture: Stephen Cooper

An alleged Comanchero associate accused of trafficking $1m worth of drugs in western Sydney will fight the charges at trial, as the extent of his alleged supply was laid bare in court.

Omar Terkmani, 38, of Sefton, appeared via video link from custody on Wednesday at Burwood Local Court where he was committed to trial for a raft of drug-related charges – totalling over 2kg in illicit substances – which involved alleged large-scale supply across southwest Sydney.

Terkmani was committed to trial at Downing District Court for one count of drug-supply of an indictable quantity, three of drug-supply of a large-commercial quantity, and one of a commercial quantity.

He will also fight charges of dealing with property proceeds of crime – an amount less than $100,000 – possessing a pistol, a defaced firearm, a prohibited weapon, as well as not keeping the firearm safe.

The extent of the alleged drug haul – which police allege was worth about $1 million – was laid bare in court documents and totalled 1.2kg of methamphetamine and 1kg of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, more commonly known as party drug MDMA.

Pictures taken by NSW Police after the arrest and raid in December 2021. Picture: NSW Police

Drugs found by police on December 29 2021. Picture: NSW Police

The alleged property proceeds of crime totalled $7365, and the alleged pistol is a Bernadelli 9mm, court documents showed.

Terkmani was arrested in December 2021, alongside co-accused Ismael Ratel, as part of Strike Force Raptor, in which NSW Police carried out surveillance on an address in Punchbowl allegedly frequented by the two men, as well as the movements of a Toyota Hiace van registered in Terkmani’s name.

The Daily Telegraph previously reported how detectives had been monitoring the Punchbowl house and van belonging to Terkmani for a number of days before stopping the vehicle in Bankstown on December 29.

Police allege Ratel was driving while Terkmani was in the rear section.

The Bernardelli 9mm pistol. Picture: NSW Police

Ismael Ratel, who has yet to enter pleas, will return to court in December.

A search of the van allegedly uncovered the cash, along with 440g of MDMA and 650g of methamphetamine hidden in a compartment cut into the vehicle’s chassis.

Police raided the Punchbowl address a short time later where they allegedly found more drugs and a 9mm pistol, with a detached silencer and ammunition cartridges.

Ratel, who will next appear at court in December and who has yet to enter pleas, had previously indicated in a bail review at the NSW Supreme Court in September he would fight the charges.

Both accused have been held in custody with bail refused since their arrest in late 2021.

Terkmani will next appear at Downing District Court on February 3 for an arraignment.