Men make bail bid after allegedly supplying drugs for dial-a-dealer syndicate in Sutherland Shire

Four young men have been accused of picking up cocaine and making deliveries to customers for a ‘sophisticated and highly-profitable drug syndicate’ operating throughout south Sydney.

Four men were granted bail after they were arrested for their alleged involvement in a Sutherland Shire dial-a-dealer syndicate. Picture: Facebook

Four young men who allegedly made multiple cocaine deliveries for a “sophisticated and highly-profitable drug syndicate” operating throughout the Sutherland Shire have been granted bail.

A court heard the syndicate organisers allegedly used a “central control phone” to send mass messages to 1900 contacts while buyers would place their orders before runners would deliver their cocaine and MDMA.

In August, Sutherland detectives started an investigation into the ongoing supply of drugs and used physical and covert surveillance, controlled buyers, undercover police operatives and telephone intercepts to monitor and gather evidence on the alleged syndicate members and their customers.

The court heard Joshua Briggs, 22, Nelson Moore, 23, Zachary Gabor, 19, and Daniel Pearce, 19, – who all live in the Shire - were allegedly “runners” – who work or are paid to deliver drugs.

They appeared in Sutherland Local Court on Tuesday where they successfully applied for release following their arrests last week.

Brandon Matavesi, (left to right) Joshua Gotsis, Joshua Hargreaves, and Kyle Russo. Picture: Facebook

Police arrested alleged leader Mohammed El-Sammak, 28, along with Joshua Luke Gotsis, 23, Joshua David Hargreaves, 23, George Nicolau, 35, Brandon Matavesi, 24, and Kyle Blake Russo, 23, on Wednesday.

They were all refused bail with their cases to return to court next year.

Joshua Briggs

During a search of the homes across the Shire last week, police seized 272.5g of cocaine, 33g of MDMA, 300g of cannabis, $130,000 in Australian currency, about $400,000 in luxury watches, $340,000 in vehicles, $95,000 in trail bikes and a gel blaster.

The court heard police will allege Gotsis and Hargreaves supplied 1.2kg of cocaine for $500,000, from July to December 13.

In a police statement of facts, police allege Gotsis was the main operator of the phone with Hargreaves helping out when he was busy; with messages sent to customers notifying them of the product they had available.

Police allege drugs were stored at both their homes and runners would collect the drugs and make deliveries.

Police further allege Gotsis would deliver the cash takings to El-Sammak, who would then give money to Gotsis and Hargreaves as payment, which was about $35,000 a week.

On Tuesday, the court heard the allegations about Briggs, Moore, Gabor and Pearce‘s alleged drug deliveries were not extensively detailed in the 52-page police statement of facts; with their parents, partners or siblings in court to support them.

Daniel Pearce

Magistrate Philip Stewart agreed to grant them all bail despite the “very well organised and sophisticated” drug syndicate noting their roles were allegedly lower in the hierarchy.

He accepted they could abide by strict bail conditions, had family support and they may not receive full-time sentences of imprisonment and therefore would be in custody on remand for a lengthy time awaiting finalisation of their cases.

Zachary Gabor

Barrister Ronald Keller said Pearce had a birth-related disorder that would make custody more difficult for him and he had issues with his development but conceded he was on bail at the time for domestic violence and driving allegations.

The court heard Briggs – who had one matter of violence on his criminal record – was charged with supplying 28g of cocaine and dealing with $11,000 in the proceeds of crime; with telephone intercepts between him, Gotsis and Russo allegedly discussing how many bags he had left.

Nelson Moore

Meanwhile, Gabor was charged with supplying 80g of cocaine, which equates to roughly 133 individual transactions.

Defence lawyer Elias Tabchouri said Gabor could attend psychological treatment to help him deal with the death of his mother, and that he could continue working as a waterproofer and cleaning cars for Tynan Motors.

The court heard Moore allegedly supplied 84g of cocaine and could live with his parents in Tweed Heads where he could continue to work as an electrician.

All men must live at their homes, report to police, not take illegal drugs, only use one mobile phone with no encrypted apps, not communicate with each other and their families offered varying amounts of surety.

All cases were adjourned to February 13.