Zac Sweeney makes bid to delete curfew to attend night road work job

A former Cronulla cafe owner accused of directing a large-scale cocaine network in the Sutherland Shire has reappeared in court. He wanted to be able to help his pregnant girlfriend in an emergency.

A former Cronulla cafe owner accused of operating a large-scale cocaine supply network has successfully had his bail conditions changed so he can now do night road construction work.

Zac Vincent Sweeney, 30, who is an expectant father, appeared in Sydney Local Court on Thursday where he was expected to enter a plea to serious drug supply charges but instead sought to have his curfew deleted.

He was arrested on July 16 along with five other men, including his alleged co-accused and joint principal Adrian Moussa, following a police investigation into alleged cocaine supply primarily in the Sutherland Shire.

Zac Sweeney attempted to change his bail conditions when he appeared at Downing Centre’s Local Court on June 16. Picture: Ashleigh Tullis

Police allege the men were in charge of a large and sophisticated street-level syndicate, that would use runners and safe houses.

The court heard police alleged Sweeney and Moussa supplied more than 591 grams of cocaine.

Sweeney and Moussa have been charged with supplying a commercial quantity of drugs, knowingly dealing with the proceeds of crime, knowingly directing activities of a criminal group, supplying an indictable to commercial quantity of drugs and not complying with a Covid direction.

Sweeney, who established Cronulla’s Water’s Edge Cafe, was granted Supreme Court bail in October last after his first application in the Local Court was denied in July.

Zac Sweeney was arrested on July 16, 2021, over his role in an alleged dial-a-dealer syndicate in the Sutherland Shire. Picture: Facebook

In court on Thursday, barrister Arjun Chhabra sought to have Sweeney’s bail changed to allow him to leave his home to attend a medical emergency with his pregnant girlfriend, noting she may need his assistance as she entered the third trimester.

The court heard Sweeney and the woman did not live together but he lived, as per his bail conditions, with his aunt in Lidcombe.

Magistrate Susan Horan refused to delete the curfew condition altogether, as Mr Chhabra proposed, and instead amended it.

She noted he was already allowed to leave the house between 9pm and 5am if in company of his aunt and could therefore attend to his partner if a medical emergency arose.

Mr Chhabra conceded Sweeney’s partner had no medical issues thus far with her pregnancy.

Magistrate Horan varied Sweeney’s bail conditions to allow him to leave home by himself to attend work as a state road construction worker and that he must take the most direct route there with no deviations.

Zac Sweeney is charged with large commercial drug supply. Picture: Ashleigh Tullis

In considering the application, Magistrate Horan noted the allegations Sweeney faced were “really serious”.

“In these types of enterprises, there are a lot of people in the chain of command,” she said.

“He sits at the top with someone else. He was not a runner.

“The issue here is whether the variation sought undermines the unacceptable risks identified.

“Indicated in the Crown case statement it was a serious drug supply enterprise.

“Other people named as couriers acted at the direction of the accused and co-accused.”

Magistrate Horan did accept Sweeney’s alleged offending was not confined to the evening, as outlined in the 36-page police statement of facts.

She also took into account Sweeney’s nil criminal history and that he had been on bail without incident for nine months.

Sweeney is subject to other bail conditions including reporting to Auburn Police Station three days a week.

He must present himself to the door if police conduct an enforcement check.

Sweeney is not allowed to contact any co-accused, is only allowed to have one mobile phone and no encrypted apps on it.

His aunt also agreed to forfeit $500,000 if he fails to comply with his conditions.

Sweeney is also unable to apply for a new passport or approach a point of departure.

Meanwhile, Sweeney’s co-accused Adrian Moussa also remains on bail, which he was granted in October last year.

He also appeared in court on Thursday where his lawyer sought an adjournment.

The men’s cases will return to court on 30 June, with Magistrate Horan ordering there can be no further delays and pleas must be entered on that occasion.