Bexley father Ahmed Rachid charged with commercial drug supply

Police are investigating how a 1.2kg cocaine package from Hawaii could be linked to a south Sydney businessman arrested after drugs were found inside a van.

Ahmed Rachid has been charged with commercial drug supply after 460 grams of cocaine was allegedly found inside his van. File picture

A Bexley father has been refused bail after a large stash of cocaine was found inside a van as police continue to investigate alleged links with a drug importation from the United States.

Ahmed Rachid, 38, fronted Sutherland Local Court on Tuesday where he sought release over serious drug supply charges following his arrest last month.

A police statement of facts said a strike force was established to investigate drug supply from the US.

American authorities intercepted a consignment in Hawaii that allegedly had 1.2kg of cocaine inside.

The package was addressed to a neighbour living in Rachid’s unit complex.

Police allege the consignee phone number was not registered to Rachid but telephone intercepts allegedly revealed he was using it.

Police further allege Rachid bought a motor vehicle and transferred it into another name.

On October 10, police executed a search warrant on a van found in a public car park in the vicinity of Rachid’s unit block.

Police allegedly saw Rachid walking nearby and he handed over a car key that unlocked the van.

Police allegedly found 460g of cocaine inside.

His unit was then searched, with police seizing testosterone vials and other items allegedly belonging to Rachid.

The court heard police are further investigating alleged links to a Mexican associate about the importation of 1.2kg of cocaine.

Ahmed Rachid was refused bail when he appeared in Sutherland Local Court.

Rachid has been charged with supplying more than a commercial quantity, 460g of cocaine, on October 10 about 4pm.

Rachid was also charged with possessing prescribed restricted substances for the two vials of testosterone and handling an explosive without a licence.

The court heard Rachid had a limited criminal record in NSW but had previously served a 54-month jail sentence in the US for the supply of cocaine in 2012.

Defence lawyer Elias Tabchouri proposed strict house arrest bail conditions, including Rachid only being able to leave his home in the company of his wife, sister or mother; only having one mobile phone, no encrypted apps, not going near a point of departure and a $75,000 surety.

Mr Tabchouri said Rachid was a trained barber and could be employed by his sister, who owned two hairdressing salons called The Color Lounge, so he could be supervised while working.

The court heard Rachid’s 18-month-old son had been diagnosed with the most severe level of autism recently which had “devastated” the family.

Mr Tabchouri submitted Rachid needed to be at liberty to care for his non-verbal son and also support his wife who was having complications with her pregnancy and mental health issues.

The court heard Rachid was also the primary carer for his mother and he suffered from severe reflux not being treated while in custody.

Mr Tabchouri said Rachid was the sole financial provider for the family and they had significant loans his wife could not repay on her own and she was therefore at risk of losing the home.

Mr Tabchouri submitted his client’s business was not fraudulent and was legitimate contrary to the police statement of facts.

The court heard Rachid’s work involved importing vans from Japan, which customers or businesses bought, and he made them roadworthy and occasionally on-sold the vehicles.

Mr Tabchouri submitted evidence of legitimate vehicle registration transfers and accounting records, adding there was “significant material that shows on all fronts this is a legitimate exercise”.

Mr Tabchouri said the Crown case against his client was “not weak” but noted there were some “issues”, notably that the van where the drugs were found had been in the hands of other people and Rachid was not the only one with a key.

Magistrate Phillip Stewart said he was “not persuaded at all” that the risk to the community had been mitigated and refused to grant Rachid release.

The case was adjourned to December 6.