Heber Ngati sentenced over running drugs for Sutherland Shire ‘street level syndicate’

The Merrylands father began working for a “large street level syndicate” operating in the Sutherland Shire, a court has been told. Find out what his role in the network involved.

A runner for a cocaine syndicate operating out of the Sutherland Shire has avoided jail after he admitted to his role in delivering drugs to customers.

Heber Ngati, 31, was sentenced in Sutherland Local Court on Monday to a 12-month intensive correction order.

Agreed facts tendered to court said police investigators identified a “large and sophisticated street level cocaine syndicate” allegedly being operated by two other men.

Police allege the syndicate was using a “control phone” to receive orders of drugs, namely cocaine, from customers via normal messaging apps or via encrypted app Signal.

Investigators also identified the syndicate used a number of runners who allegedly worked for Zac Sweeney and Adrian Moussa, delivering the street level quantities of cocaine to customers predominantly within the Sutherland Shire seven days a week.

Heber Ngati was sentenced for delivering drugs for an alleged large and sophisticated street level cocaine syndicate in the Sutherland Shire. Picture: Ashleigh Tullis

Moussa and Sweeney have been charged with serious drug offences for their alleged roles and the men are yet to enter pleas. They return to court on June 16.

Police allege one runner was employed between the hours of 2.30pm and 10pm from Monday to Wednesday, up to two runners on Thursday and up to four runners between 2.30pm to 11pm Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Police further allege the syndicate used various forms of safe houses, including a home in Denman Ave, Caringbah, to store cocaine and where runners could drop off the cash from drug sales.

On May 13, last year investigators allegedly intercepted a phone call between Moussa and Sweeney where they discussed paying Ngati.

According to documents, about a month later Ngati was captured on electronic surveillance attending the Caringbah safe house where he arrived in a Kia Sportage, which was registered to his partner.

Investigators confirmed he was the only runner working that day and delivered 9.6 grams of cocaine allegedly at the direction of Moussa and Sweeney, the court documents said.

Police allege a day later on June 11 Ngati was caught on electronic surveillance attending the house again with Moussa before Ngati dropped him off at Sweeney’s house.

Police said Ngati then made a drug sale at a home in Kareela, before travelling to San Souci where another transaction occurred.

Ngati supplied three bags of cocaine, weighing 1.8 grams that day.

Police executed a search warrant at Ngati’s Merrylands home on July 16 where he was arrested and immediately told officers he had prohibited drugs in his bedroom inside a shoe box.

He told officers, “it’s all for me, it’s nothing to do with them”, referring to his family.

Police found cocaine, weighing 27.85 grams and MDMA, totalling 0.98 grams, inside the shoe box, along with resealable bags, scales and rubber bands.

Police also located $3840 in cash, and an extendible baton.

Ngati was taken to Parramatta Police Station where he was charged with supplying prohibited drugs, participating in a criminal group, possessing prohibited drugs and a weapon as well as dealing with money suspected to be the proceeds of crime.

On Monday, the court heard Ngati was the full-time carer for his elderly father, who requires kidney dialysis three times per week.

Ngati lives with his partner and young child.

The court also heard Ngati had a criminal history but not a recent one nor did it relate to drugs.

Magistrate Hugh Donnelly said Ngati was involved in a “large street level syndicate” before noting he had made significant steps towards rehabilitation, and showed contrition.

Magistrate Donnelly sentenced Ngati to a 12-month intensive correction order to be served in the community where he must continue drug rehabilitation and relapse prevention counselling.

Ngati was also placed on a community correction order for 18 months where he must be of good behaviour, and was fined $800.