AN0M arrest: Brian Blackman charged with drug importation | Operation Ironside

Explosive allegations of how a Sydney man was embroiled in a conspiracy to import 1.5 tonnes of coke via a ship from South America have been aired in court.

Explosive allegations of how a man was embroiled in two major drug importation operations, including a conspiracy to import up to 1500 kilograms of South American cocaine to Australian shores, have been aired in court.

Brian Anthony Blackman, 51, has been charged with four offences including commercial importation of a border-controlled drug following the Australian Federal Police’s much-publicised Operation Ironside.

Blackman allegedly used an AN0M device.

The court heard allegations the Maroubra man allegedly texted his offsiders about two large-scale drug operations on an AN0M encrypted device, found at his home on his arrest earlier this year, during a bail application at Central Local Court on Wednesday.

The Commonwealth prosecutor told the court about the alleged inner workings of the cocaine conspiracy, in which a South American mother ship was to deliver up to 1500kg of cocaine to a Filipino boat crew at a rendezvous point in the middle of the ocean, before ultimately arriving in Australia.

The court heard a picture of the drug haul was sent to members of the syndicate, which Blackman was allegedly part of, but the narcotics never arrived in Australia following delays caused by Colombian protests.

The bail hearing also heard Blackman had been charged in connection to an alleged methamphetamine operation which saw drugs delivered to a Western Australia location in exchange for $8 million cash, which was sent to Sydney in a crate.

The prosecutor told the court a small portion of the cash was allegedly used to pay for the Filipino boat crew in the cocaine importation conspiracy.

Blackman was allegedly a player in the two criminal enterprises, the court heard, with the prosecutor alleging AN0M exchanges outlined the 51-year-old’s knowledge.

On one occasion, the Maroubra man allegedly texted syndicate members for “any updates” in relation to the cocaine importation and on another time wrote “I will sort them”, in connection to a problem which had arisen during the methamphetamine enterprise.

Law enforcement officials had allegedly captured surveillance of Blackman attending a meeting at a gym which had been arranged the day earlier through the AN0M encrypted device allegedly in his control.

The prosecutor said, despite Blackman not being the chief player behind the two alleged criminal operations, it was clear he had knowledge and was involved. However, Blackman’s barrister Dennis Stewart claimed the evidence linking his client to the crimes was “limited”.

Magistrate Ian Guy agreed with Mr Stewart and stated the prosecution case wasn’t as “clear cut” as they believed and judged the case, as it was presented before him, as weak.

Blackman, who the court heard had previously been sentenced to a decade-long jail term for drug-related crimes and has links to the Lone Wolf outlaw motorcycle gang, was granted bail on the condition an acceptable person lodge a surety of $2.3 million.

The Maroubra man must report to police each day and can only leave his home for legal or medical reasons.

The matter will return to court later this month.