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Nathan Edward Gardner, Kyle Thomas Linsell, Mahlon John Norbury, Matthew William Clark-Kell plead guilty

Four of 12 people accused of being involved in an alleged Riverina drug ring supplying MDMA and cocaine have entered pleas in a Wagga court.

Police dismantle criminal drug network - Riverina region

Four of 12 people charged after police raided several homes in relation to an alleged drug ring have made admissions to their crimes.

Nathan Edward Gardner, 19, of Gregadoo, pleaded guilty to two counts of knowingly taking part in the supply of prohibited drugs and one count of supplying a prohibited drug.

Kyle Thomas Linsell, 20, of Cartwrights Hill, pleaded guilty to supplying an indictable amount of prohibited drug.

Mahlon John Norbury, 31, of The Rock, and Matthew William Clark-Kell, 19, of Lake Albert both pleaded guilty to taking part in supplying prohibited drug.

All four were not required to be present due to COVID-19 preventive measures and had their pleas formally entered via their lawyers.

Four people have pleaded guilty to being part of an alleged Riverina drug ring.
Four people have pleaded guilty to being part of an alleged Riverina drug ring.

Their admissions come after a Riverina police strike force in February brought down an alleged drug ring during raids across homes in Kooringal, North Wagga and Mount Austin.

During the operations, police seized MDMA, amphetamines, cocaine, more than $10,000 and two cars.

Court documents state police intercepted mobile phone conversations that led to capturing the four committing their crimes between December and January.

Gardner supplied 0.52 grams of MDMA and one gram of cocaine, while Linsell supplied seven grams of cocaine.

Norbury and Clark-Kell supplied three grams of cocaine and one gram of MDMA, respectively.

In court on Wednesday, five others out of the 12 charged also had their matters mentioned.

Kooringal residents Nathan Jack Job, 20, and Courtney Hinneberg, 22, appeared via video link after being charged with knowingly take part in the supply of prohibited drug, supply prohibited drug and participate in criminal group.

Job has also been charged with dealing with the proceeds of crime, knowingly direct activities of a criminal group and possess prohibited weapon.

Both Job and Hinneberg have not yet entered pleas.

Police allegedly seized MDMA, amphetamines and more during raids.
Police allegedly seized MDMA, amphetamines and more during raids.
A total of 12 people have been charged.
A total of 12 people have been charged.

Police allege Job was the ringleader of the operation who ordered members of the syndicate to supply the drugs on his behalf.

They also allege he was storing large amounts of drugs and cash.

Job’s solicitor Zac Tankard said the prosecution has been served him “about five inches of material” of evidence.

“I expect there’s a significant amount more to come,” Mr Tankard said.
Tolland man Hayden Benjamin Stirling, 24, has pleaded not guilty to the charges of knowingly take part in the supply of prohibited drug, supply prohibited drug and participate in criminal group.

Fellow Tolland resident Daniel Rafter, 21, has not pleaded to two counts of supplying prohibited drugs.

Kooringal man Benjamin Patrick Hickey, 22, has not pleaded to seven counts of supplying small quantities of prohibited drugs, one count of supplying prohibited drugs on an ongoing basis and one count of participate criminal group contribute criminal activity.

All three were not required to appear in court today.

The matters of the remaining three accused — two men aged 19 and 22 and a woman aged 20 — are scheduled for first mentions in Wagga Local Court in April.

Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/thewagganews/nathan-edward-gardner-kyle-thomas-linsell-mahlon-john-norbury-matthew-william-clarkkell-plead-guilty/news-story/290b20bf1ff39579b12f1ebf80386a99