Jake Grima sentenced for storing cocaine inside Ramsgate home for Ejays syndicate

A former excavation business owner was recruited to store cocaine at his Ramsgate house for two weeks so he could pay off his drug debt.

Jake Grima was sentenced in Sutherland Local Court for storing 30g of cocaine at his home as part of a drug syndicate. Picture: Ashleigh Tullis

A tradie has avoided jail after he was busted storing cocaine in his south Sydney home for a drug syndicate during a two-week period to pay off his drug debt, a court has heard.

Jake Grima, 34, was sentenced in Sutherland Local Court on Tuesday after he pleaded guilty to supplying and possessing prohibited drugs and participating in a criminal group.

Agreed facts tendered to court said Central Metropolitan Enforcement Squad South started investigating the ‘Ejays’ drug syndicate in November where they established customers used a central phone number to place orders.

Runner would then deliver cocaine or MDMA to their location.

Police discovered, through telephone intercepts, runners would attend Ramsgate to collect the drugs at the start of their shift and would drop off the cash made from sale at the end of their shift.

Jake Grima at Sutherland Local Court. Picture: Ashleigh Tullis

Investigators determined Grima allowed drugs to be stored at his home for two weeks, court documents said.

On December 1, an Ejays runner parked outside Grima’s unit at Ramsgate before Grima went outside and got inside the vehicle for a minute before the left.

Police tracked the runner around Sydney as she delivered drugs when orders were received on the phone.

A week later, Grima again went outside his unit to a waiting car, leaned in and after 20 seconds walked back inside.

Grima was arrested moments later and other officers arrested the driver, who was found with 10 resealable bags of cocaine, weighing 8.9g.

Court documents said Grima supplied drugs to both drivers.

During a search warrant, police seized 24g of cocaine and 8g of MDMA from inside Grima’s home where they also saw resealable bags and scales.

In court, defence lawyer Ahmed Dib said Grima was a heavy user of cannabis and MDMA at the time, and the 8g of MDMA was for his personal use.

Mr Dib conceded the offence was serious but submitted Grima’s role was limited to being only involved in the syndicate for two weeks as a “storage person” and was “looking after” and “protecting” the drugs for the runners, but did not sell the cocaine.

Mr Dib said the principal runners picked up the drugs and were packing the cocaine at his home, which was why there were scales and bags found inside.

Mr Dib said Grima had an excavation business but had to dissolve it due to a lack of funds, which caused him anxiety and he turned to drugs and became an addict.

He said Grima owed the syndicate a drug debt and he was recruited to work for the syndicate for two weeks to pay back the debt.

Mr Dib said Grima accepted he made a bad decision and he accepted responsibility,

The court heard Grima had undertaken courses and was addressing his mental health, which reduced his risk of reoffending.

Magistrate Hugh Donnelly noted Grima’s role and involvement in the syndicate before he was sentenced to a 12-month intensive correction order.