Jiun Loong Chai sentenced over ANOM drug sting, links to Hakan Ayik

A father of three became caught up in a botched drug deal with a relative of Australia’s most wanted, Hakan ‘Big Hux’ Ayik, when he was handed a bag for 7 minutes at a Sydney car park.

A father of three will only have to spend one more month behind bars after he was sentenced for his role in a drug syndicate operation uncovered as part of the ANOM investigation.

Jiun Loong Chai, 34, was caught up in a botched drug deal with a relative of Australia’s most wanted — the alleged drug trafficker and former Sydney Comanchero Hakan “Big Hux” Ayik.

Chai was convicted and sentenced in Downing Centre District Court on Friday to two years in jail after he pleaded guilty to supplying a commercial quantity of methylamphetamine.

Chai has been refused bail since his arrest on December 8 last year and, with time served, will be eligible for release on parole on December 7.

The Chester Hill father smiled, fist pumped and gave two thumbs up to his family, who were in court, when he heard the sentence.

Jiun Loong Chai, 34, was arrested on December 8 for his involvement in a drug supply deal in Rockdale in May 2021. Picture: Australian Federal Police

Agreed facts state Chai came under police notice during an Australian Federal Police investigation into the encrypted communication platform ANOM.

Police allegedly uncovered Ayhan Dogan had communicated with his 20-year-old relative Yusuf Ayik via the ANOM app to ask him to drive him to a drug deal to sell 1kg of ice.

The court heard Yusuf Ayik — of Brighton-Le-Sands and Hakan Ayik’s relative — would receive $1000 in return.

Dogan has not yet entered a plea.

After discussing the details, the court heard it was agreed Ayik would use his mother’s Toyota Corolla to drive to a Rockdale car park on May 14 last year.

The court heard Dogan and Ayik allegedly met Chai when they arrived and gave him a white package in exchange for money.

Chai then got into his car, drove to another level and handed it to an unknown Asian man before they both left and went into a commercial property in Rockdale, the agreed facts state.

Hakan Ayik is Australia’s most wanted, an alleged drug trafficker and former Sydney Comanchero who is believed to be in Turkey.

Dogan allegedly told another man, known as ‘Clark’, he had ripped off Chai for $75,000 by actually selling him soda crystals instead of ice.

Clark tried to discourage Dogan from doing it but the court heard he allegedly seemed intent on carrying out the fake deal.

The court heard further discussion between Dogan and Clark allegedly led to Dogan calling Chai, on his personal phone, to rectify the rip off.

They allegedly met up again in the car park about 1.30pm and the money was exchanged for the crystals.

Police seized Chai’s phone on his arrest and confirmed the calls.

Ayhan Dogan, nephew of suspected drug kingpin Hakan Ayik, was arrested as part of an Operation Ironside, ANOM app investigation. Picture: Australian Federal Police

Judge Deborah Sweeney said Chai only had the bag, believing it contained real drugs, for seven minutes before he handed it off.

She noted he had no greater role in the syndicate and believed the amount of drugs was between 250g and 500g not the 1kg, therefore he was not involved in the negotiations of the drug deal.

Judge Sweeney accepted Chai did hand off the drugs as a “favour for a friend” and did not receive payment or any other benefit, noting it was a one-off offence.

She determined Chai’s involvement was less serious and below Ayik’s role.

Yusuf Ayik was sentenced over his role in a large commercial drug supply at the Rockdale car park. Picture: Australian Federal Police

The court heard Chai was aged 33 at the time, was married with three children; the last of whom was born two months ago while he was in custody.

He worked at a freight company for 10 years before he started his own business and the court heard he had gambling and drug addictions.

Judge Sweeney accepted Chai was remorseful and was a “model prisoner”, holding a trusted work position.

The court heard Chai’s time in custody had been “onerous” because he had been locked in for 108 days and was unable to see his family in person because of Covid restrictions.

Judge Sweeney accepted it was Chai’s first time in custody, he had good prospects of rehabilitation and would better address his drug and gambling addictions in the community.

Meanwhile, Ayik was previously sentenced to three years jail with a non-parole period of 18 months.

Having already spent time behind bars, the earliest he can be released is December 6.

Dogan remains before the court.