Toongabbie: Iziah Utai refused bail after charged over gun, drug offences

A young father who was charged with multiple weapon and drug offences has alleged links to the Alameddine crime family, a court has heard.

Rifle hidden in kitchen compartment, $10,000 and knuckle dusters seized in Toongabbie. Source: NSW Police

An alleged associate of the Alameddine crime family has been refused bail a week after a rifle, $10,000 in cash, cocaine and fireworks were seized from his Toongabbie home.

Iziah Utai, 21, was charged with multiple offences after Raptor Squad detectives started an investigation into alleged drug supply in greater western Sydney.

Knuckle dusters and a .22 pump action rifle were also allegedly found inside a concealed compartment in the kitchen of the Toongabbie Rd home.

Mr Utai was charged with nine offences including possessing an unauthorised firearm; possess ammunition without holding permit; possess or use prohibited firearm without permit; supply prohibited drug, organises/conducts etc drug premises expose child and deal with property proceeds of crime.

At Parramatta Local Court on Thursday, the prosecution opposed bail, telling the court he would pose a risk to the community, he had serious offences on his record and had received a community corrections order for a robbery.

Some of the items cops seized from Toongabbie. Picture: NSW Police

Mr Utai’s lawyer Stephen Stanton conceded the prosecution’s concerns and said the “threshold had been crossed”, but they could be mitigated with bail conditions.

He told the court his client faced significant physical and psychological issues with chronic back pain, and would live with his mother, who attended court to support him when he appeared via video link.

However, Magistrate Cate Follent said he was an unacceptable risk to the community and refused bail.

Referring to police facts, she told the court how 5g of cocaine and text messages between him and his partner about drugs were allegedly found.

She told the court he had alleged links to the Alameddine crime syndicate.

“The case against the defendant appears to be very strong,’’ she said.

The matter will return to court on March 2.