Fatima Zalghout, Rashed Wannous: Couple charged with attempting to possess imported cocaine

A couple were arrested in a raid after German, Belgium and Australian customs officials intercepted parcels containing a fireplace, microwave and art supplies – and kilos of cocaine.

Fatima Zalghout, 43, and Rashed Wannous were refused bail in Sutherland Local Court for serious drug importation charges. Picture: Facebook

A married couple has been refused bail after they allegedly attempted to get kilos of cocaine delivered in parcels from Germany and Belgium into Australia.

Fatima Zalghout, 43, and Rashed Wannous aka Rik Hernandez, 42, were arrested in a raid on Wednesday morning at their Illawong home.

They were charged with possessing a commercial quantity of unlawfully imported border controlled drugs and dealing with the property proceeds of crime and applied to be released on bail in Sutherland Local Court on Thursday.

A police statement of facts tendered to court states German customs officials intercepted a parcel addressed to Zalghout, to be delivered to her previous home with Wannous on Jubilee Cct, Rosemeadow on July 26, 2022.

The parcel contained numerous toys and artwork. Inside the wall of the cardboard box was allegedly several plastic bags containing 1.8kg of cocaine, which was seized, and remain with German customs.

On August 11, Australian Border Force officials intercepted a parcel also allegedly addressed to Zalghout, who works for Telstra, which was to be delivered to the Rosemeadow home.

The parcel contained an electric fireplace which allegedly had 2.5kg of white powder inside, which was tested and found to be an inert substance.

Investigators allege the package was a “dry run” as a means of testing Australian customs, the documents state.

On May 4, Australian Border Force intercepted another parcel allegedly addressed to Zalghout at her new Mariner Rd home at Illawong.

The parcel allegedly contained a microwave with 2.18kg of cocaine concealed inside.

On May 5, Belgium customs intercepted another package containing art products with allegedly 2kg of cocaine inside, which was allegedly addressed to Zalghout at her Illawong home. The drugs are still with Belgium customs.

Investigators established Strike Force Schwafe in May and started listening to the couple’s mobile phone calls.

On May 23, plain clothes police attempted to deliver the microwave package to the Illawong address however Zalghout allegedly refused to accept the package and told officers she didn’t shop online, documents state.

Immediately afterwards, Zalghout called Wannous and spoke to him in Arabic before he allegedly told her not to talk until she got out of the house.

Zalghout went to her Bankstown workplace, borrowed a colleague’s phone and called Wannous.

“I told you. Don’t say more than a few words. Don’t say you’re Fatima. I told you a million times before the goods come what to say and what not to say … I told you. Let them leave it outside,” Wannous allegedly said.

The couple were refused bail when they appeared in Sutherland Local Court

The couple were arrested on Wednesday where their home was searched and four packages containing white powder, which is yet to be tested, was allegedly found inside the fireplace.

Electronic devices, SIM cards and $4710 in cash were also seized.

At Sutherland police station, officers allegedly recorded them talking in Arabic, documents state.

“I hope there’s nothing on my phone. How can I delete everything off my phone,” Zalghout allegedly said.

“Don’t forget there is no electronic device that links any of this together” Wannous allegedly said, before they discussed the fireplace.

The court heard police had physical and electronic surveillance, multiple sources of covertly obtained admissions and evidence from Belgium, German and Australian customs.

The documents state investigators are likely to lay further charges related to the German and Belgium drug seizure.

The couple’s lawyer AJ Karim said the prosecution case against them was “inherently flawed” and would “fail”, claiming neither clients actually attempted to possess the drugs.

He said the evidence against Zalghout was limited and the prosecution would have to prove she had knowledge the packages contained drugs.

However, Magistrate Philip Stewart disagreed and said the surrounding circumstances of the case, especially the telephone intercepts when they were in custody, implied Zalghout did know about the drugs, determining it was an “overwhelming strong case”.

Mr Karim submitted Zalghout and Wannous, who worked as a truck driver for Marvel Demolition, would likely spend two years on remand awaiting trial.

He said they had community ties with work and family living in Sydney and could abide by strict bail conditions which included a $100,000 surety, curfew and not contact with each other.

Mr Stewart noted Zalghout had no previous criminal history but Wannous had multiple convictions for drug possession and supply, adding if convicted of the charges they would serve lengthy jail sentences.

He refused bail with the cases adjourned to August 1 at Downing Centre.