Peter Foudoulis: Potts Point drug import was ‘doomed to fail’

A court was told how a man’s ‘horrendous’ experience set him on the path to importing GBL from Asia to his Potts Point home. Now he could faces many years in jail.

An eastern suburbs man who attempted to import a precursor to party drugs to be flogged on Sydney’s night-life precincts has admitted in court his plan was “doomed to fail”.

Peter Foudoulis, 43, faces the possibility of a prison term as he awaits sentence in the District Court after a five month multi-agency operation nabbed him attempting to import GBL from Asia to his Potts Point home.

At his sentencing hearing on Monday his barrister Avni Djemal said Foudoulis’ drug habit, his family history and using personal information in buying the drugs led to his downfall in May 2020.

“It was doomed to fail,” he said.

Foudoulis during the raid.

“This man’s drug problem is ground in something far more serious with things that are really not in his control. You don’t choose your parents.”

A report tendered to the court outlined Foudoulis’ troubled childhood.

Crown prosecutor Kieran Fitzgerald said while despite dealing with a drug problem Foudoulis was able to live a successful private life where he reached a managerial position in his day job.

“His experience as a child was horrendous and no child should go through that,” he said.

“But he’s managed to achieve a lot in his career, he was in a managerial position.

“It is the case that while his background and experiences created his personal problems he was able to still function as a productive member of society.”

Police raiding the home of Foudoulis.

Where they allege he ran a drug supply business.

Police have alleged Foudoulis was behind the supply of the drug GBL across Sydney, a precursor to GBL and known as liquid ecstasy, after intercepting his parcels from Asia.

The joint operation between Australia Border Force and the NSW Police organised crime squad netted Foudoulis last year.

He has pleaded guilty to importing a commercial quantity of GBL as well as smaller amounts of testosterone.

He has also admitted to supply 27g of pseudoephedrine, a precursor to the drug ice after 19 other charges laid by the Crown were dismissed earlier this year.

Foudoulis sat quietly, only occasionally fixing his glasses inside the Kempsey Correctional Centre where he appeared from via audiovisual link.

His case was adjourned and he will be sentenced in October.