Krystle Piggott: Sylvania woman charged with commercial drug supply refused bail

A woman – who once had aspirations of opening an escort business – has made a bid for bail after she was allegedly embroiled in a major bust which saw police seize an estimated $7m worth of drugs.

The bail hearing took place at Downing Centre Local Court.

A woman – who once had aspirations of opening an escort business – has made an unsuccessful bid for bail after she was allegedly embroiled in a major drug syndicate which saw police seize an estimated $7m worth of drugs.

Krystle Piggott, 28, of Sylvania, was refused bail on two counts of commercial drug supply and eight counts of failing to comply with a digital evidence access order direction by Magistrate Greg Grogin at Downing Centre Local Court on Tuesday. No pleas have been entered.

Piggott’s lawyer Mr Bermack told the court his client was a “young” and “vulnerable” woman who had been diagnosed with bipolar and schizophrenic disorder and trained in boxing to manage her mental health conditions.

“This applicant is clearly on the edge,” Mr Bermack said.

He said her criminal record included a drug possession charge that was dismissed without conviction and had no history of violence or noncompliance.

Piggot has been charged with commercial drug supply and eight counts of failing to comply with a digital evidence access order direction.

Mr Bermack argued “the role of Ms Piggott (in the alleged drug syndicate) is very much uncertain” given “the presence of males in and around her life who were involved in drugs”.

He noted while police “appear to be convinced” she would be convicted, he told the court the thousands of dollars in cash seized by police had not been discovered in Piggott’s possession.

The court heard the 28-year-old had met with lawyers to discuss the particulars of setting up a business prior to her arrest and heard on another occasion she had planned to set up an escort business.

Piggott’s mother Julia Piggott gave evidence during the bail application that her daughter acted as an unpaid carer for herself and her two brothers, aged 44 and 28, who lived at home while being heavily medicated for complex mental health issues.

She said she had found it “hard to believe” her daughter had allegedly become embroiled in a major criminal operation on hearing her daughter had previously been bail refused on “serious drug matters”. A surety of $20k was offered for Piggott’s release.

Magistrate Grogin said he had found cause had been shown that Piggott acted as a carer and support for her mother and brothers but said he must consider the “strong prosecution case”.

Mr Grogin refused Piggott’s bail application on the grounds of the strength of the allegations against her.

The Sylvania woman’s arrest came following the launch of Strike Force Nemarang in September 2022 to investigate the supply of prohibited drugs across Sydney’s metro regions.

Strike force investigators executed search warrants at homes in Parramatta, Fairfield West, and Leppington on June 29.

During the search, investigators found 6.4kg of methamphetamine, 4.1kg of heroin, 1.5kg of cocaine, 866g of MDMA, more than $200,000 in cash, $18,000 in foreign currency, electronic devices, and an emergency siren.

Following the raids police arrested Piggott along with Nathan Notaras, a YouTube maths tutor, who was charged with commercial drug supply and recklessly dealing with crime proceeds.

Five other people have been charged in relation to the syndicate, including a 20-year-old and 25-year-old man from Leppington, a 19-year-old man and a 21-year-old man. The matters all remain before the courts.

Piggott is set to appear at court via video link on September 12.