Nomads bikie Stephen John Garland pleaded guilty to drug supply of ‘ice’, GBL and cannabis, more 100 charges dropped
The former national treasurer of the Nomads bikie gang was under covert surveillance on an unrelated matter when his drug house operation was foiled. Read what happened in court.
Newcastle
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The former national treasurer of the Nomads bikie gang was already under police watch when he was busted dealing drugs from his Newcastle unit.
In September last year, police commenced investigations into an unrelated matter involving covert surveillance of 64-year-old Stephen John Garland.
Police facts said he was identified as a “low level dealer” of methamphetamine and usually supplied ‘points’ or 0.1 grams of ‘ice’ on a number of occasions to customers who would frequent his Waratah West home.
Court documents revealed the former high-ranking bikie was running a drug house where he supplied over 30 grams of meth, on more than 50 occasions, over the months of September, October and November last year.
On rare occasions he would supply cannabis and the party drug gamma butyrolactone, also known as GBL.
Police facts revealed he supplied almost 30 grams, an ounce, of cannabis leaf on November 7.
He would also allow customers to take drugs with deferred payment, with one customer owing him $5000, according to court documents.
Detectives eventually swooped on Garland, and he was arrested on November 25, where police raided his unit.
Police facts detailed that officers found 2.68 grams of meth in the pantry, a further 7.71 grams under the bed and less than a gram buried in the garden.
They also seized scales, resealable bags and almost $200 in cash.
He was taken to Newcastle Police Station where he made admissions in an interview, before being charged.
In Newcastle Local Court on Wednesday, Garland appeared via video link and pleaded guilty to two charges of supplying a prohibited drug on an ongoing basis, while two other supply offences will be related charges.
More than 100 other drug supply charges were withdrawn by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
His matters will head to the district court next month to fix a sentence date.
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