Cocaine dealer Luke Siponen escapes jail after Operation Megig detectives uncover Waratah drug house

Cocaine dealer Luke Siponen was quietly stashing drugs at a Waratah home, but detectives were watching his every move. Read what happened in court.

Detectives were closely watching a Hunter man and his every move when he suspiciously went in and out of a locked Newcastle property.

Police facts said detectives from Operation Megig - who set up surveillance nine months earlier to investigate the supply of cocaine across Newcastle - had reason to believe Luke Reino Siponen was storing large amounts of drugs at the Waratah premises in Station street.

In September last year, they watched the 26-year-old come and go at the address several times.

Luke Reino Siponen, who admitted to supplying more than two ounces of cocaine, outside Newcastle Local Court. Picture: Dan Proudman

They finally nabbed Siponen on September 23, last year and arrested him as he was driving his Mercedes Benz out of his West Wallsend home.

They raided his premises and seized drug paraphernalia, cash, about eight grams of cocaine and 22 vials of the steroid Somatropin.

They also opened a safe, where detectives found a stash of more than 50 grams of cocaine.

Officers also seized a Jeep SRT, which Siponen had paid $62,000 for in cash just 11 days before his arrest and transferred it into his de facto partner’s name.

The 26-year-old pleaded guilty to two counts of supplying an indictable quantity of cocaine and one count of dealing in the proceeds of crime.

A more serious charge of supplying a commercial quantity of a prohibited drug was withdrawn. Two drug possession charges were also dismissed.

Siponen escaped jail, with a 2.5 month ICO. Picture: Facebook.

In Newcastle District Court on Tuesday, Siponen gave evidence that he had been using a gram of cocaine a day for about a year, as well as amphetamines when he was arrested.

But he told the court of his remorse of dealing drugs to the community, which was a “massive wake up call”, citing he had been drug and alcohol free since being released on bail.

“I’m kind of glad I got caught, it was something I needed to get my life in order,” the court heard Siponen had told a psychiatrist who had assessed him.

“I can now see clearly not using drugs, and how they affect other people.”

He also said he “felt disgusted” for letting down his partner, who gave birth to their baby son while he was in custody.

“Shattered and probably the lowest point of my life,” he said.

Judge Megan Latham sentenced Siponen to two years and six months jail but ordered that be served by way of an intensive corrections order (ICO), within the community.

He was also ordered to participate in any treatment programs specified by community corrections and regularly see his GP for a mental health treatment plan.