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Victoria Acevedo granted bail on drug supply charges after Strike Force Greatrex arrest

A Sydney woman has been accused of “playing an integral part” in a large-scale drug supply operation, which was allegedly being controlled by her boyfriend.

Victoria Acevedo. Picture: Facebook
Victoria Acevedo. Picture: Facebook

A Sydney woman accused of being a “courier” in a drug supply syndicate, allegedly controlled by her boyfriend, has been released from custody after a court heard she was “vulnerable” behind bars.

Victoria Acevedo, 26, successfully applied for bail on Monday in the Downing Centre Local Court, where she is facing 18 charges that include two counts of participating in large commercial drug supply, two counts of commercial drug supply, participating in a criminal group and dealing with the proceeds of crime.

She is accused of participating in the supply of more than 1kg of MDMA and 275g of methamphetamine, while police also allege she had 725g of cocaine at her home when she was taken into custody.

Strike Force Greatrex detectives arrested Acevedo during an August 22 raid on her home in Alexandra, where she lived with boyfriend Sven Voljevica, 38.

Voljevica is facing 60 charges, including large commercial drug supply, knowingly directing a criminal group and dealing with the proceeds of crime.

Victoria Acevedo, who was granted bail on Monday. Picture: Facebook
Victoria Acevedo, who was granted bail on Monday. Picture: Facebook

He remains behind bars on remand and is set to return to court on December 17.

The court heard on Monday that Acevedo had spent three months in custody after a previous bail bid was rejected, and she was “particularly vulnerable” behind bars.

Her lawyer described the strength of the prosecution case as something that favoured the granting of bail, saying Acevedo’s alleged involvement in large commercial drug supply involved being a driver and not actually leaving her car.

“The most serious charges are around the accused being the driver of the vehicle, while her partner was alleged to be engaged in the drug supply,” the lawyer said.

“The police fact sheet details that when these supplies took place, she remained in the vehicle away from the alleged supplies, so she’s removed from those transactions.

“I don’t know how police will allege she participated in criminal group activity other than that she was sitting in the car.

“It may well be the case that these more serious charges may fall away when regard is had to the actual evidence of the Director of Public Prosecutions.”

Victoria Acevedo. Picture: Facebook
Victoria Acevedo. Picture: Facebook

The lawyer also said three other drug supply charges related to what was allegedly found in the Alexandria unit, where Acevedo lived with Voljevica at the time.

The court also heard there was nothing to suggest Acevedo had obtained financial gain or any other benefits for her alleged involvement.

But a prosecutor argued Acevedo had not demonstrated why she should be granted bail, stating the position of police was that she had “played an integral part in the commission” of drug supply offences.

“There’s quite a lot of evidence in the facts alone — surveillance and telephone intercepts — which all observed Ms Acevedo involved in not so much the actual supply, but participating in that supply,” he said.

“It’s not uncommon for people in relatively good character to commit these types of offences.”

Magistrate Scott Nash said while the prosecution’s case was “reasonable” it was also “circumstantial”, and “it was apparent (Acevedo) remained in the vehicle”.

“The characterisation of her involvement is courier driver, to assist the co-accused in his endeavours,” Mr Nash said.

The magistrate imposed bail conditions requiring Acevedo to wear an electronic monitoring bracelet and report to police daily.

She is due back in court on December 16.

Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/southern-courier/victoria-acevedo-granted-bail-on-drug-supply-charges-after-strike-force-greatrex-arrest/news-story/d8da1afd2baa114480b33125a7bac13a