Joshua Gotsis applies for bail on drug supply charges

A southern Sydney plumber accused of supplying more than 2000 individual bags of cocaine while police surveilled his activities has denied being a high-ranking member of a dial-a-dealer syndicate.

Joshua Gotsis. Picture: Facebook

Police will allege a southern Sydney plumber flogged more than 2000 individual bags of cocaine, netting $500,000 in a few short months while officers had him under surveillance.

A solicitor said Joshua Gotsis would deny he was a high-ranking facilitator for an alleged cocaine dial-a-dealer syndicate in the Sutherland Shire which is accused of moving more than a kilo of drugs in four months last year.

Gotsis is charged with large commercial drug supply, ongoing drug supply, knowingly dealing with crime proceeds, knowingly directing a criminal group, and failing to comply with a digital evidence access order direction after an extensive investigation by Sutherland Shire Police Area Command detectives, which began last August.

Police will allege the syndicate netted $35,000 a week selling cocaine, and used a “central control phone” to mass message 1900 contacts so buyers could place orders for various drugs.

Gotsis, 23, was arrested alongside Mohammed El-Sammak, Joshua David Hargreaves, George Nicolau, Brandon Matavesi, and Kyle Blake Russo when police smashed the alleged syndicate in December.

Subsequent raids at five homes in Thirlmere, Menai, Padstow, and Panania uncovered 272.6g of cocaine, 33g of MDMA, $130,000 cash, $400,000 in luxury watches, $340,000 in vehicles, $95,000 in trail bikes and a gel blaster.

(L-R) Brandon Matavesi, 24, Joshua Gotsis, 23, Joshua Hargreaves, 23, and Kyle Russo, 23 are among six charged over the alleged drug supply. Picture: Facebook

Gotsis appeared from Cessnock Correctional Centre via audiovisual link at Downing Centre Local Court on Monday to apply for bail through his solicitor Elias Tabchouri.

“He’s clearly not a runner,” Mr Tabchouri told Deputy Chief Magistrate Sharon Freund.

“He’s not at the top of the tree – maybe mid-level.”

Mr Tabchouri said at one point telephone intercepts indicate Gotsis was chastised by another alleged syndicate member for not being organised – further indicating he was not at the head of the supply.

The solicitor also said Gotsis would have the support and supervision of his grandparents, who had raised him since he was 10 due to “deprivation at the severe level” in his childhood.

“Although he left school at 15 and struggled with ADHD, he fell into carpentry, then he goes to plumbing, he’s worked for two employers, got his full qualifications, he’s done all the right things,” Mr Tabchouri said.

“He starts using MDMA and cocaine, as you often see around that age, he has a fight with his supervisor, he stops working … his cocaine use starts to escalate.”

Mr Tabchouri proposed strict bail conditions akin to house arrest with a monetary surety from his grandparents, who attended court to support him.

Bail was strongly opposed by a prosecutor who said the crucial phone used by the alleged syndicate was found at Gotsis’ residence.

“Over 2000 bags of cocaine supplied to numerous persons all across Sydney – it’s an offence which is prevalent,” the prosecutor said.

“He is something of an orchestrator … he organised other persons to run the drugs.”

Ms Freund said she agreed with the prosecution there was an “overwhelmingly strong case” against Gotsis, who has no prior criminal record.

“He is not a low level runner, the UberEats drug delivery person, though where he fits in the organisation is at issue at the moment,” Ms Freund said.

“There is no doubt that if he is convicted, he will serve full-time custody – he was an organiser and this was sophisticated even if he wasn’t at the head.”

Ms Freund refused Gotsis’ bail and his matter will return to court on February 13.