Raymond Terrace man Jason Allan Crooks on drug importation charge after meth arrives at Girraween warehouse

A Hunter man who was allegedly recruited as a runner for a major drug syndicate that imported 99kg of meth into a western Sydney warehouse has made a bid for freedom.

AFP arrested Justin Allan Crooks at his Raymond Terrace home in January after 99kg of methamphetamine was seized. Picture: AFP

A Hunter man who was allegedly recruited as a “courier” for a major drug syndicate has claimed he had “no idea” about the 99kg of meth police tracked to a western Sydney warehouse where he was arrested.

Justin Allan Crooks, 39, was escorted from his Raymond Terrace home, north of Newcastle, in handcuffs on January 30 after police allegedly caught him handling several packages which had earlier arrived in Sydney containing the meth.

The drugs were removed from the boxes, which were labelled “universal transmission gears” and sent to a warehouse in Girraween – between Blacktown and Parramatta – where police sat and waited until they spotted Crooks enter the building on January 3.

It is alleged the drugs had an estimated street value of $91m and equated to just under one million street level deals.

Crooks was charged with one count of attempting to possess a commercial quantity of methamphetamine, and has remained in custody since his arrest.

Some of the boxes intercepted by the AFP contained the 99kg of meth. Picture: AFP

He faced Penrith Local Court from the Mid North Coast Correctional Centre on April 11 to apply for bail.

Lawyer Sara Black told the court her client was allegedly only a “courier” and had “no idea” what was in the packages he was directed to collect.

Meth was found in several packages that arrived in a Girraween warehouse. Picture: AFP

She said Crooks had “no real role” in the syndicate or enterprise, and that his alleged involvement was at the “lower end” of the scale in terms of criminal seriousness.

The court was told a “significant” surety was offered by Crooks’ family should he be granted bail, but the exact figure was not shared in open court.

Ms Black offered bail conditions including reporting daily to the police and remaining under house arrest, but Magistrate Stephen Corry denied Crooks bail.

He was remanded in custody and is next expected to face Penrith Local Court on May 9.