Anastasios Calligas, Brett Bennett granted bail after charges with drug supply

An alleged upline drug supplier and a runner have made a bid for bail, after police uncovered 15 firearms and a stash of drugs following an eight-month investigation.

Anastasios Calligas pictured has been granted Supreme Court bail. Picture: Facebook

An alleged upline drug supplier and a runner have been granted bail after police uncovered 15 firearms and a stash of drugs following an eight-month investigation into a large-scale syndicate.

Anastasios Calligas, 31, and Brett Bennett, 24, were represented by defence lawyer Ahmed Dib, from Dib and Associates, during their Supreme Court bail applications on Wednesday after they were in custody on remand for more than a month following their arrests in June.

The Lake Illawarra Police District established Strike Force Yirak in November to investigate the large-scale supply of drugs and firearms in the Illawarra region.

During the investigation, police uncovered 15 firearms – including shotguns and pistols – and detectives arrested three men and two women on June 28.

Calligas was arrested at his Bexley North home before he was charged with 39 offences including 31 charges for drug supply including commercial and large commercial quantities; four counts of supplying prohibited firearms or ammunition, two counts of dealing with proceeds of crime and participating in a criminal group.

Five people were charged with 161 drug and firearm offences after police uncovered 15 firearms and a stash of drugs following an eight-month investigation. Picture: NSW Police

Bennett was arrested during a vehicle stop at Oak Flats where police allegedly seized methamphetamine, MDMA, ketamine, cocaine, and Butanediol.

He was charged with 19 counts of drug supply and participating in a criminal group.

A 50-year-old man, James Strickland, was also arrested during a vehicle stop 30 minutes later at Haywards Bay, with detectives alleging he is the principal of the drug syndicate. He was also charged with drugs and firearms charges and has been refused bail.

None of the men have entered any pleas.

The Supreme Court heard, during the investigation into Strickland, police allegedly discovered Calligas supplied large quantities of a variety of drugs to the 50-year-old from March to June.

Drugs were seized. Picture: NSW Police

The court heard Calligas allegedly also supplied two firearms, which were unconnected to the alleged drug supply.

“All of this suggests the applicant is very well connected with serious and organised criminals able to obtain very large quantities of drugs and firearms,” Justice Hament Dhanji said.

The court heard Calligas was on bail from May 26 for an alleged car jacking, with Justice Dhanji noting Calligas’ behaviour during that alleged incident was “bizarre” and potentially connected to a significant drug problem.

Justice Dhanji said usually an application to seek bail for the serious charges Calligas faced would be “doomed to fail” but he agreed to grant release in order for Calligas to undertake a full time residential drug rehab program, prompting Calligas to shed tears.

Firearms were seized. Picture: NSW Police

Calligas must live at the full time residential rehab centre Connect Global; report to police daily and cannot leave premises unless with his mother for legal and medical reasons.

His mother offered a $800,000 surety, in the form of her house, to secure his realise.

During Bennett’s release application, the court heard he was allegedly a “runner” between Calligas and Strickland, supplying multiple types of drugs across five transactions between April and June.

Justice Dhanji said the case against Bennett appeared strong based on the police investigation.

He said given Strickland and Calligas had been arrested, Bennett was unlikely to supply drugs, adding he had no criminal history and the past month had been his first time in custody.

The court also heard Bennett had autism, and would live with his grandfather and had his family’s support.

Bennett must live at Shoalhaven Heads, report to police daily and only leave the house with a family member.

Both cases were adjourned to August 23 at Downing Centre Local Court.