Zac Sweeney, Adrian Moussa: Drug bosses sentenced for commercial supply of coke
The high-flying bosses of a Sutherland Shire cocaine syndicate who made $350,000 in revenue and took home between $5K to $10K per week have learnt their fate.
St George Shire Standard
Don't miss out on the headlines from St George Shire Standard. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The dealings of a drug syndicate that kept two kingpins flush with cash for nine weeks in Sydney’s south have been revealed in court.
Zac Sweeney, 30, and Adrian Moussa, 29, operated a cocaine syndicate in the Sutherland Shire which netted more than $350k in nine weeks, and paid the pair between $5k and $10k a week.
Both men pleaded guilty to directing a criminal group, commercial drug supply, two counts of supplying an indictable amount of drugs, and not complying with a Covid direction.
Sweeney, who owned Cronulla’s Water Edge Cafe, and Moussa were living in Caringbah while operating the syndicate.
Court documents show the men carried out 852 orders for cocaine over nine weeks last year, and supplied more than 630g of the drug.
The court heard the two men could have taken $10,000 a week in “income”, but the amount was disputed with the pair claiming to have made half that money.
Judge Penelope Wass described the case as “unusual” because Sweeney and Moussa effectively “rented” the drug operation, where they were given a mobile phone with a customer base and supply chain.
The men directed eight other people in the network, stored cocaine in “safe places” – which included a car of one of Sweeney’s friends – created small bags of cocaine, ensured the runners were stocked and took the cash.
The pair used their “income” to pay for the rent of the mobile phone and at times had to use their own funds to keep the syndicate ticking over.
They also occasionally took on the “menial” or “risky tasks” of delivering the drugs to customers.
Judge Wass noted the men didn’t control the size of the operation, nor created the buyers, with both becoming involved primarily to fund their drug habits.
Moussa was also threatened over a $20,000 drug debt which led him to speak to an associate about acquiring the drug operation.
Sweeney had an injury which prevented him from working in 2020, so he turned to supplying drugs.
The pair paid $2000 per week to rent the mobile phone, and Moussa paid a further $2000 to pay off his drug debt.
The court heard Moussa intended to stop his involvement once his debt was paid.
Judge Wass said their offending was “ongoing and organised” but not “sophisticated‘’, noting only some messages to customers were coded and Sweeney used his personal phone.
The men were arrested on July 16, 2021 with $11,545 in cash found in Sweeney‘s home and $475 in Moussa’s bedroom, which were both the proceeds of crime.
Judge Wass determined a disputed $32,000 in cash that was seized from a safe in Moussa’s parents’ bedroom was not the profits of the drug sales but rather were the savings from his parents for a holiday.
The court heard Moussa had breached a community correction order where he was convicted of supplying cocaine. Sweeney had no prior criminal record.
Moussa, who lives with his family in Merrylands, is now completing a TAFE certificate and has made important steps towards his rehabilitation.
The court heard he is now clean from drugs after having a significant addiction since 2019 and is managing his gambling problems after completing courses.
Moussa has also addressed his mental health issues with treatment and medication.
The court heard Moussa had an onerous time in custody with long periods in lockdown, and received threats from cellmates for his snoring caused by sleep apnoea.
Meanwhile, Sweeney recently became a father, has family support and is working as a diesel mechanic supervisor.
The court heard he was a cocaine user for 10 years and used it to manage his ADHD.
While in custody, Sweeney was not given medication for four weeks, was handed the wrong drugs, did not have his glasses and was in solitary confinement except for 15 minutes per day.
The court heard Sweeney had received neurological feedback treatment to help with impulse control and anxiety, and had re-engaged with his psychiatrist.
Judge Wass took into account the “abhorrent” lack of appropriate medical care and poor conditions they were in while in custody.
She noted both men had not breached their bail, accepted responsibility and expressed “genuine remorse”, assessing them as “low” risks of reoffending if they remained clean.
“I am concerned the positive steps they have taken would be interrupted if they returned to custody,” Judge Wass said.
“The offenders are at a point in their lives where a level of leniency is required to encourage reform and rehabilitation.”
She therefore did not send them to jail but rather placed them on intensive correction orders for three years and two years and 10 months for Moussa and Sweeney respectively.
Join the conversation
‘It’s sideways’: Passion and pain at City v Country junior rugby
There were thrillers, comebacks, heartbreak and heroics as the young guns of rugby played with passion - and pain - in a memorable City v Country showdown. Stars and result wrap
Read more
$355m loss: NSW worst pokie hotspots
This is where NSW pokie players have lost more than $355 million in four months. Search and check our interactive table to see if it’s where you live and how your suburb compares.
Read more