Jemma Dann charged with drug supply offences

A former soldier has been accused of participating in a “sophisticated” and “meticulous” drug syndicate, which police say might have something to do with her diamond and designer handbag collection.

Jemma Dann and Jonathan Towers, from Caringbah South, have been charged over their alleged involvement in cocaine supply in NSW and the ACT.

A former soldier who now runs a supplements company is behind bars on remand accused of participating in a sophisticated syndicate dealing drugs across NSW and the ACT.

Jemma Dann, 26, was charged with six counts of prohibited drug supply, six counts of taking part in prohibited drug supply, participating in a criminal group and dealing with crime proceeds after a dramatic raid at Caringbah South on November 24.

Police say Dann and her partner, 32-year-old Jonathan Towers, were involved in a significant drug syndicate which is alleged to have supplied 3.3kg of MDMA and 1.1kg of cocaine to undercover officers in recent months at a cost of $430,000.

A court has since heard the scale of the syndicate’s substantial alleged activity was further indicated by officers who have seized multiple MDMA capsules embossed with the ace of spades at recent music festivals – said to be identical to those seized at the couple’s home.

Police also say a cache of diamond jewellery, including a $17,000 engagement ring and multiple designer handbags, constitute “unexplained wealth” for Dann that could be attributable to illegal drug supply.

Jemma Dann and Jonathan Towers.

At Sutherland Local Court on Friday, criminal solicitor Jermaine Corban made an application for Dann’s bail, submitting it may be difficult for the prosecution to prove Dann knew what her partner was allegedly doing.

The ex-Australian Army soldier has been in custody since her arrest on November 24, along with Towers and four co-accused Albert Cobeta, Mohammad Chohan, Raphael Kenny and Isileli Kirby.

Police ultimately allege the couple supplied 7.1kg of MDMA between September 2 and November 24, and 1.8kg of cocaine from October 14 to November 24.

“There are no rational inferences that can be drawn from the evidence to show she did have requisite knowledge,” Mr Corban told the court.

“She’s not alleged to have a handle for the encrypted apps used by the alleged principal, the witnesses, and the undercover operatives.”

Mr Corban also said forensic evidence did not indicate Dann had ever touched the drugs allegedly sold to undercover officers – but it did indicate Towers had touched them.

“Each time the drugs are said to have changed hands between Jonathan Towers and the co-accused, they are always secreted in some sort of package,” Mr Corban said.

“Once, it was a Nike brand orange shoebox – they weren’t exposed to the naked eye for my client to see.”

Items seized during Strike Force Sulphur raids.

The court heard Dann was medically discharged from the Australian Army in 2019 after five years’ service due to a back injury, for which she receives $1800 a fortnight in compensation.

She now runs a supplements company called JD Supps and has an infant son with Towers, who resided with them at a Caringbah South unit where police officers allegedly found drugs, $130,000 cash and a hydraulic press which the court heard can be used to package cocaine.

The business makes $600 to $3000 a week and has limited overheads as it mostly runs online.

Mr Corban offered the court an explanation for what police described as Dann’s “unexplained wealth”, referring to her diamonds, designer handbags, and cars owned by her and Towers.

“The high end diamond jewellery, and handbags worth $6000, she paid for,” Mr Corban said.

“The most expensive item was $17,000, and it’s her engagement ring.”

Mr Corban further ascribed a $98,000 deposit on an off-the-plan home build in Huskisson on the state’s south coast was paid for jointly with Dann and Towers’ savings, including money she had saved from her injury compensation payments.

The ace of spades MDMA allegedly found at Dann and Towers’ residence.

The court heard Dann was prepared to put up a $50,000 security, abide by conditions akin to house arrest, report to police daily, surrender her passport, use one mobile phone without encrypted apps and reside with her mother in Sanctuary Point in the Shoalhaven region.

But police prosecutor Sgt George Lolas said the court would not accept Dann, while living with Towers, was in a position to avoid noticing he was allegedly supplying drugs.

Magistrate Phillip Stewart noted police allege Dann was observed at least twice collecting items from a car being driven by the co-accused Kirby, one of which was allegedly a bag containing $85,000 cash.

“There is a strong inference in relation to her participating in the matter with her partner, who is the principal of what seems to be a sophisticated syndicate trafficking very large quantities of drugs through NSW and the ACT,” Mr Stewart said.

“That search warrant upon their arrest turned up 470g of cocaine, MDMA with this ace of spades picture on it, steroids, performance enhancing drugs, a hydraulic press used to press large quantities of cocaine, and $130,000 cash.”

Police arrested the group on November 24.

Mr Stewart found Dann had not shown any reason why her ongoing detention was not justified and he refused her bail application.

Dann and her co-accused return to court on February 6.

Cobeta, 29, from Loftus in the Sutherland Shire, was charged with three counts of prohibited drug supply, taking part in prohibited drug supply, dealing with property crime proceeds and participating in a criminal group.

Earlier in the day co-accused Cobeta had also applied for bail, saying he needed to support his pregnant partner and their two children.

Cobeta’s family had offered to put up their $1.5 million home to assure the court he would not flee the jurisdiction but Mr Stewart was not persuaded and his bail was also refused.

Kirby, 23, from Watson in the ACT from Loftus in the Sutherland Shire, was charged with nine counts of prohibited drug supply and participating in a criminal group.

Kenny, 26, also from Watson, was charged with 12 counts of prohibited drug supply, ongoing prohibited drug supply, knowingly dealing with crime proceeds and participating in a criminal group.

A fourth associate Mohammad Chohan applied for bail on November 25, with his lawyer Ms Le telling the court the Moorebank man was only planning to have breakfast with his friend – Cobeta – and that he was not at all associated with the other four individuals charged.

Chohan was charged with prohibited drug supply, taking part in prohibited drug supply, and dealing with property crime proceeds and his bail was ultimately refused.