Accused drug importer’s life of party, exotic holidays prior to 6kg MDMA bust

Parties, exotic holidays and designer bags: that is the life an eastern suburbs promoter was living before police arrested him in relation the the seizure of $900,000 worth of MDMA hidden in water filters from Switzerland.

Antonio D'amico was arrested in May. Picture: Supplied.

An eastern suburbs promoter accused of importing $900,000 worth of MDMA into Australia will remain behind bars as police seek to translate a cache of text messages between him and a co-accused.

An eastern suburbs promoter accused of importing $900,000 worth of MDMA into Australia will remain behind bars as police seek to translate a cache of text messages between him and a co-accused.

Antonio D’amico, 24, lived a lavish lifestyle prior to his arrest in May, a month after allegedly going on the run from cops.

A search of his Bondi Junction home in April had allegedly located drugs, along with other documents relevant to the case, sparking a warrant for his arrest.

In total, police and Border Force officials allegedly seized 6kg of MDMA.

Police are still finalising a brief of evidence, with translation needed for a number of communications in relation to the drugs (pictured). Picture: NSW Police

D’amico has been in custody ever since his arrest at the Surry Hills police station.

Billing himself as an entrepreneur online who went to Carpigiani University, D’amico flaunts a variety of watches, leopard print jackets and trips to exotic holiday destinations on Instagram.

In one post, D’amico can be seen posing in a picturesque spot in Vaucluse holding a Louis Vuitton bag, a month prior to police locating the drugs.

Antonio D'amico, 24, was arrested in May. Picture: Supplied.

“Started the countdown! I’m so excited for it!! Are you ready for this weekend!?,” D’amico posted about a party in Darlinghurst the day after the Border Force bust.

The Central Local Court today heard that detectives were still assessing a large amount of material seized as part of the investigation, including a “substantial volume” of texts between D’amico and a co-accused that needed to be translated from Italian.

Police allege the drugs arrived from Switzerland in two separate consignments in March, hidden inside water filters.

The drugs allegedly found by detectives. Picture: NSW Police

His co-accused, 30-year-old Italian national Diego Adrimento who resides in Tamarama, was charged with attempting to import the drugs and was arrested with a 22-year-old female in Paddington.

The woman was released without charge and Ardimento has previously entered a plea of not guilty and remains on bail.

D’amico’s matters will return to the Central Local Court in September.