Charged and sentenced: Cocaine dealers convicted in NSW revealed
Cocaine use might have dwindled in NSW but Sydney is still classed as the coke capital of Australia. Here we take a look at some dealers who were caught and convicted across the state.
Narcos on the Front Line
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Cocaine use overall in Australia is down but Sydney is still the coke capital of the country.
And with cocaine use comes cocaine dealers.
A recent report from the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) showed overall cocaine use in Sydney dropped by 32 per cent.
The ACIC believes the decrease is due to the high number of drug busts around the country last year, not because of any drop in demand for the drugs.
Last month, News Corp launched its Narcos on the front line seven-part investigation into the global drug trade being fuelled by Australia’s huge appetite for illicit substances.
The series takes viewers into the world of drug smuggling, as well as exposing the new players and routes, as well as the billions of dollars outlaw motorcycle gangs are making by muscling in.
Here we take a look at the number of cocaine dealers who were charged and convicted over the past couple of years in New South Wales.
SIMON SULESKI AND SALIM NEHME: ILLAWARRA
Two Illawarra drug dealers working for the “Godfather”, have been jailed until the end of 2026 for their role in the “7-Eleven of the drug trade”.
Simon Dimitrija Suleski and Salim Sam Nehme were arrested in an Unanderra street in December 2020, following a major undercover operation which connected them to the sale and the pending sale of $1.5m of illicit drugs.
The duo were involved in selling 1.2kg of cocaine, 846g of meth, and 1.11kg of MDMA, with the transactions occurring between September 2020 and the date of their arrests.
In October 2022, the pair were sentenced to five years and six months in jail.
ZARA LAUREN LEES: EASTERN SUBURBS
Aspiring lawyer Zara Lauren Lees got into the driver’s seat of her Toyota Camry with her friend in the passenger seat and nearly 24g of cocaine hidden behind the panel of the front door’s armrest.
It was also the day police busted them, making Lees’ first drug run her last, Waverley Local Court heard in October 2022.
The then 21-year-old single mother from Rosehill in Sydney’s west initially pleaded not guilty to supplying more than an indictable but less than a commercial amount of cocaine, being 23.89g, as well as dealing with the proceeds of crime worth $1000. She also pleaded not guilty to driving with an illicit drug in her system, being THC.
But she changed those pleas to guilty before being sentenced for them in October 2022.
She was convicted of the drug supply, proceeds of crime and drug driving offences and sentenced to 11 months imprisonment to be served in the community by way of an intensive corrections order.
RITA HANNA: EASTERN SUBURBS
A 45-year-old mother in February came under fire by a magistrate for setting a bad example to her daughter after she was caught with almost 40 bags of cocaine, a court heard.
Rita Hanna of Merrylands appeared in Waverley Local Court after pleading guilty to supply prohibited drug and deal with proceeds of crime.
Agreed facts tendered to court reveal on November 19, 2022 Hanna was spotted by police picking up a man near Bondi Bowling Club.
In February 2023, Magistrate Ross Hudson convicted her in court and placed her on a two-year community correction order (CCO) for drug supply and fined $750.
For dealing with proceeds of crime, Hanna was placed on a 12-month CCO.
LUKE ANDREOU: ILLAWARRA
A bikie associate busted with more than $230,000 of dirty money as well as prohibited weapons, drugs and NSW Police gear, will be behind bars until at least 2025.
The Australian Federal Police raided Luke Andreou’s Horsley home in June 2022 as part of the high-profile Operation Ironside.
Gel blasters, fireworks, prohibited drugs including testosterone and cocaine, wads of cash, $55,000 worth of gold and silver and a NSW Police cap and vest were seized from his home.
Andreou was sentenced to five years in prison for supplying an indictable quantity of a prohibited drug and supplying a prohibited firearm as well as a strong of other charges.
An intention to appeal to the Court of Criminal Appeal was lodged in September 2022 but since then there has been no other movement, a District Court spokesman said.
JACK STUART JONES, MICHAEL GORDON, TATE ROBINSON, JED CONROY AND MIKAYLA NOAKES: LISMORE
In 2022, Jack Stuart Jones, Michael Gordon, Tate Robinson, Jed Conroy, and Mikayla Noakes were all sentenced in North Coast courts for involvement in a cross border cocaine syndicate.
The ringleader of the operation, Jones, turned to the drug after holding his mother’s hand after she took her last breath dying from cancer, Lismore District Court heard.
The charges related to 15 drug deals between October 1 and November 18 in 2020, totalling 58g of cocaine.
Jones pleaded guilty to knowingly directing activities of a criminal group and two counts of supplying a prohibited drug on an ongoing basis.
In April 2022, he was sentenced to three years jail with the non-parole period backdated to November 21, 2022, when he went into custody, to expire on April 13.
Gordon, a former NRL star played more than 250 games for five NRL clubs, including the Gold Coast Titans pleaded guilty to the drug possession charges and not guilty to drug supply charges.
But in September 2022, the magistrate found the supply charges were proven.
He was placed on two-year good behaviour order for supplying cocaine and a one-year order for the supply of MDMA. No convictions were recorded.
Robinson pleaded guilty to taking part in the same criminal group and two counts of supplying a prohibited drug on an ongoing basis. He was convicted and sentenced to more than two years on an intensive corrections order.
Noakes pleaded guilty to four charges including participating in a criminal group that contributed to criminal activity, two counts of supplying a prohibited drug and possessing a prohibited drug.
She was convicted and sentenced to a 12-month intensive correction order with 100 hours community service, and was fined $300.
Conroy pleaded guilty to four counts of supplying dangerous drugs, recklessly dealing with proceeds of crime, and participating in a criminal group contributing to criminal activity.
He was convicted and sentenced to serve a 30-month intensive corrections order with 200 hours of community service.
DARREN PEACHEY: GLENMORE
A Glenmore Park father and former Blacktown City Council employee, pleaded guilty to large commercial cocaine supply and commercial cocaine supply in relation to more than 2kg of cocaine he pushed between June 2020 and March 2021.
Agreed police facts tendered to the court reveal Darren Peachey supplied 1275g of cocaine to a syndicate operating throughout parts of western Sydney and Bathurst.
The father-of-one supplied a further 850g through smaller-scale, individual deals for which he charged roughly $300 per gram.
He was convicted and sentenced to an overall prison term of seven years, with a non-parole period of three years and nine months.
ZAIN PAPA: BYRON BAY
A “gofer” in a Byron Bay and Bangalow cocaine syndicate was caught out by a $9000 deal for 28g of cocaine by an undercover police officer in 2020.
Officers raided Zain Papa’s residence after the deal and uncovered a further 31.95g of cocaine in his bedroom.
Papa pleaded guilty to two counts of supplying cocaine and driving a motorcycle while never being licensed.
In April 2022, Magistrate Michael Dakin convicted and sentenced Papa to serve a nine-month intensive corrections order.
BODENE LEE ROBERTSON: LISMORE
A Mullumbimby drug dealer supplied an undercover cop cocaine nine times, a total of drugs worth $174,000 in 2020.
Bodene Lee Robertson pleaded guilty to supplying cocaine in a commercial quantity.
Defence barrister Ben Cochrane told the court Robertson had begun selling to help pay off a drug debt which had stemmed from an addiction to cocaine.
He said his client had been a victim of a home invasion due to that debt, however his troubles started much younger growing up with heroin addicted parents.
Robertson was convicted and sentenced to a total of six years imprisonment, three years and six months non-parole backdated to April 22, 2021.
An intention to appeal to the Court of Criminal Appeal was lodged in June 2022. Currently, the appeal is listed for callover in September 2023.
NATHAN AND AARON MUSCAT: DUBBO
Two heavily-tattooed brothers involved in a “joint” family operation, in which the older sibling sent drugs to his brother to distribute in the state’s central west, were sentenced to full-time imprisonment.
Nathan, 32, and Aaron Muscat 23, two brothers from Mudgee, faced Dubbo District Court in October 2022 where Judge Craig Smith sentenced them to a total of three years and six months behind bars.
Nathan pleaded guilty to three charges which included supplying a prohibited drug greater than commercial quantity – 289.48g of cocaine – supplying a prohibited drug greater than indictable quantity and sending controlled drugs by post, and dealing with the proceeds of crime.
His younger brother Aaron also entered guilty pleas to supplying prohibited drugs on an ongoing basis, supplying prohibited drugs more than the indictable quantity and supplying prohibited drugs greater than the commercial quantity.
Because of time already served and time in residential rehabilitation declared as “quasi-custody”, Nathan will be eligible for release on parole on December 5, 2023.
Aaron’s sentence will also be backdated because of time served, and he will be eligible for parole on October 6, 2023.
An intention to appeal to the Court of Criminal Appeal was lodged on behalf of the pair in October 2022 but since then there has been no other movement, a District Court spokesman said.
MACKENZIE MCNALLY: SUTHERLAND
A woman with the code name “big Macca”, avoided going to jail after she became caught up as a cocaine “runner” in the Sutherland Shire.
Mackenzie McNally, 22, who is a media and communications graduate, was convicted of supplying more than 60g of cocaine after picking up and delivering drugs to customers.
McNally delivered packages between June and August in 2021 during strict Covid lockdowns because, according to agreed police facts, she was “desperate for money”.
She was convicted and sentenced in May 2022 to a nine-month intensive corrections order.
KANE RODGER: SUTHERLAND
A tradie narrowly avoided jail in November 2022 after he convinced a magistrate he could stay clean from drugs and work full time.
Agreed facts tendered to the court revealed police came across Sutherland Shire’s Kane Rodger while investigating cocaine supply in the region.
Police intercepted Rodger’s phone, with conversations revealing he co-ordinated the supply of cocaine as part of a syndicate.
Between September 2021 and February 6, 2022, Rodgers supplied or assisted in the sale of 25 transactions of cocaine, totalling 31.2g. Another 0.9g of cocaine was also found.
Rodger was convicted and sentenced to a 17-month intensive corrections order.
AMY SARKIS: BONDI
A Western Sydney beautician claimed she was forced to sell drugs on the streets of Bondi Beach when she was discovered with multiple bags of cocaine and wads of cash by police.
Amy Sarkis was convicted for supplying cocaine and dealing with the proceeds of crime, but the magistrate said the young woman’s age – 24 at the time – warranted a sentence below full-time jail and in October 2022, sentenced Sarkis to an 18-month intensive corrections order.
Sarkis appealed the sentence and in January 2023 it was upheld and varied. She was convicted and sentenced to a Community Correction Order for 18 months starting on January 19, 2023 and expiring on July 18, 2024. She was also ordered to perform 150 hours of community service.
TREVOR CARTER: GOSFORD
A truckie was caught with a 2.3kg cocaine stash under his cabin mattress during a heavy vehicle inspection on the M1 in Mount White.
Trevor Ross Carter pleaded guilty to commercial drug supply, drug possession, and drive vehicle while an illicit drug was present in blood.
He was sentenced in Gosford District Court in November 2022 before Judge David Wilson who handed the truckie three years jail to be served in the community so he can access treatment. Carter was also ordered to abstain from drugs.
Court documents reveal he was pulled over for an inspection in September 2021 where he returned a positive drug test for methylamphetamine.
During a search of his truck, police found 2.385kg of cocaine hidden under a mattress in his cabin along with 1g of methylamphetamine and a glass pipe.
NATHAN COOKE: SUTHERLAND
A “courier” in a drug syndicate operating out of the Sutherland Shire was ordered to complete hundreds of hours of unpaid work.
Nathan Cooke pleaded guilty to his roles in the enterprise and the court heard he delivered 12 bags worth a combined 8.4 grams to customers from November 2021 to January 2022.
Cooke became involved in the delivery of drugs to feed his own addiction.
In June 2022, he was convicted and sentenced to an intensive correction order of 20 months.
ANGUS BROCKBANK: NORTH COAST
A NSW far north coast concreter who was busted supplying an array of party drugs and in possession of almost $300,000 cash grew up besieged by drug use.
Police investigating Angus Brockbank searched his Bray Park home on January 6, 2021 and found 306.9g of cocaine, 98 cardboard squares (1.07g) of LSD and 134.23g of MDMA – all commercial quantities of the illegal substances.
Officers also found $299,790 in cash believed to be the proceeds of drug supply, which he claimed was for his partner’s cancer treatment but there was no evidence of this.
In July 2022, he was convicted and sentenced to an aggregated five years jail sentence with a non-parole period of two and a half years.
NED CORBETT: NORTHERN BEACHES
A teenage dial-a-dealer caught with a sizeable cocaine stash on Sydney’s idyllic northern beaches narrowly avoided full time jail.
Ned Corbett pleaded guilty to two counts of prohibited drug supply and recklessly dealing with crime proceeds which arose after police stopped his Volkswagen Caddy at Seaforth on New Year’s Day 2022.
Court documents revealed Corbett had $300 cash in his shorts, resealable plastic bags containing cannabis leaf, cocaine and MDMA, syringes and 16kg of fireworks in the Caddy.
In November 2022, he was convicted and sentenced to a nine-month intensive corrections order with supervision and 100 hours of community service.
MICHAEL HUGHES: MANLY
Michael Hughes was charged with indictable drug supply and dealing with property crime proceeds after police observed a customer buying cocaine from him in Manly’s night-life hotspot on March 18, 2022.
At Manly Local Court on September 21, 2022, Hughes pleaded guilty to the indictable drug supply charge, with the court considering the property proceeds charge as a factor in his sentence.
His solicitor Omar Juweinat told Magistrate Robyn Denes his client had been forthcoming with his employer about the court proceedings and had started pursuing rehabilitation and support for his own drug addiction after his arrest.
Ms Denes convicted Hughes and sentenced him to a 15-month intensive corrections order with supervision by St Leonards Community Corrections and 150 hours’ community service.
A sentence appeal was lodged on October 12, 2022 but the appeal was dismissed on November 22 of the same year.
LOLA CHICHE: SURRY HILLS
A French expat turned penis waffle purveyor was busted supplying cocaine, ketamine and cannabis while her inner Sydney sexy dessert cafe was closed due to the 2021 Covid-19 lockdown.
Lola Chiche was charged with one count of prohibited drug supply, three counts of knowingly participating in drug supply and dealing with property crime proceeds after she was dramatically arrested in September 2021.
The French national was the co-owner of MyKiki, a Surry Hills erotic dessert cafe specialising in waffles shaped like penises and vulvas.
In August 2022, she was convicted and sentenced to a 16-month intensive corrections order for the five offences.
FARIDH ZANGOURZADEH: FAIRFIELD
A southwest Sydney teen was enlisted as a cocaine dial-a-dealer allegedly by a 17-year-old boy, who became so agitated with her delivery times he hopped in her car to show her how to deal faster.
Faridh Zangourzadeh faced Downing Centre Local Court on November 30, 2022, after pleading guilty to three separate charges of prohibited drug supply.
Agreed police facts state the St Johns Park teen and a female associate were enlisted on July 30 to deliver 12 bags of cocaine to multiple eastern suburbs addresses by a young person who cannot be legally identified.
Taking into account an additional offence of participating in a criminal group, Magistrate David Price convicted Zangourzadeh and sentenced her to a 12-month intensive corrections order with supervision.
AARON PINTO: BLACKTOWN
A western Sydney PR account executive made thousands in a single night flogging cocaine across the eastern suburbs.
Aaron Pinto pleaded guilty to prohibited drug supply and dealing with property crime proceeds after police found him with 6.7g of cocaine and $2150 cash in Surry Hills on October 15, 2022.
At court, Pinto’s lawyer said the Prospect man had foolishly accepted the invitation to supply cocaine via Snapchat.
He was convicted and sentenced to a 12-month conditional release order to be of good behaviour.
MOHAMMED DIB: YAGOONA
A young man ran a lengthy one-man-show cocaine supply business from his Toyota Corolla across inner city Sydney, predominantly during the Covid lockdown.
Between June 19 and October 1, 2021, Mohammed Dib made 115 supplies across Sydney, delivering 242 individual bags of cocaine, mostly weighing 0.5 grams and selling for around $250 a pop, a statement of agreed facts showed.
Dib was convicted of drug supply, over an indictable amount, and for dealing with the property proceeds of crime, $11,700. He was handed a 12-month intensive correction order and had pleaded guilty to the charges.
Dib’s ICO will expire on October 6, 2023.
STEVE AYAD: SUTHERLAND
A confessed drug dealer is believed to have exchanged bags of cocaine for covert gym access when Sydney’s Covid-19 lockdown saw all facilities closed.
Police swooped on Steve Ayad in the middle of Sydney’s Covid-19 lockdown after they caught him supplying cocaine through extensive surveillance over several weeks.
Ayad was charged with two counts of prohibited drug supply, one count of possessing prescribed restricted substances and two counts of possessing prohibited drugs after police intercepted more than 25,000 phone calls and text messages – many pertaining to drug supply.
Ayad pleaded guilty to all the charges and was spared full time custody.
In February 2022, he was convicted and handed a 21-month intensive corrections order with supervision, 150 hours of community service and a $3300 fine.
SARAH CAMILLE DIAZ: SYDNEY
An aspiring fitness influencer claimed she was forced into selling drugs on the streets of ritzy Double Bay when her account was drained of $15,000 through a cyber scam.
Sarah Camille Diaz was discovered with 23 small bags of cocaine and $1500 in $50 notes in a black bag from luxury brand Coach by police late on a Saturday night, court documents show.
She was charged with supplying a prohibited drug and dealing with property suspected to be proceeds of a crime.
Diaz pleaded guilty to both offences. In June 2022, she was convicted and fined $2000.
CYNTHIA BALLO: EASTERN SUBURBS
An aspiring teacher caught dealing cocaine in Sydney’s eastern suburbs was slammed by a magistrate who said describing the situation “as a fall from grace is an understatement”.
Cynthia Ballo pleaded guilty to supplying drugs on an ongoing basis after she was sprung with cocaine in her bra during a dial-a-dealer adventure gone wrong in Potts Point and Woolloomooloo on May 9, 2021.
Magistrate Theo Tsavdaridis said no alternative than imprisonment was possible. In May 2022, he sentenced Ballo to one year imprisonment, to be served in the community by way of an intensive correction order.
A sentence appeal was filed on July 5, 2022 but withdrawn on September 14 of the same year.
JOHN ROBERT FAAOLOII: INNER WEST SYDNEY
A rap promoter who became a dial-a-dealer peddling cocaine on the streets of Sydney used “coffee” and “beer” as codewords with his customers.
John Robert Faaoloii was in the passenger seat of a car with a female driver when police found them with cocaine at Petersham one night in late 2020.
Faaoloii was convicted of two counts of ongoing drug supply and supplying drugs of an indictable quantity and sentenced to an aggregate sentence of three years in custody, backdated to December 2020, and with a non-parole period of one year and 10 months.
AMANI JOSHUA TAURIMA TOFAEONO: MACARTHUR
A churchgoing supermarket worker caught red-handed dealing cocaine “turned his life around” after having lost his job during the depths of the Covid pandemic.
Amani Joshua Taurima Tofaeono was charged with drug supply, drug possession and dealing with the property proceeds of crime after police busted him making a cocaine deal in Darlinghurst in 2020.
He pleaded guilty to all three offences and his lawyer told the court the young man had spurred himself toward redemption, having been made aware “of the harms of drugs on the community”.
In May 2022, he was convicted of the drug supply and crime proceeds and sentenced to a 12-month conditional release order, with a 12-month conditional release order without conviction for the drug possession.
DREW LLOYD: BONDI
A tradie from western Sydney found himself at an eastern suburbs’ court after he was busted with five bags of cocaine and $3900 in $50 notes while driving the streets of Bondi Beach.
Drew Lloyd, of Lethbridge Park, was sentenced for drug supply and dealing with the proceeds of a crime at Waverley Local Court in November 2022.
Magistrate Ross Hudson – who noted drug supply matters flowing into Local Court take up an increasing amount of its time – directed some blame at demand from the eastern suburbs.
Mr Hudson convicted Lloyd of drug supply and dealing with the proceeds of a crime and sentenced him to a combined 27-month conditional release order.
MAAROUF EL CHAMI: WOLLI CREEK
A Wolli Creek personal trainer avoided spending 12 months behind bars after he was caught up in sweeping police raids targeting organised crime in Sydney.
Maarouf El Chami was not the intended target when Raptor Squad police officers went to his Wolli Creek unit to execute a Firearm Prohibition Order in May 2022.
However, officers located 18.4g of cocaine, wrapped in plastic, found inside a tin in the living room of El Chami’s home.
El Chami was convicted and sentenced to a 12-month intensive corrections order to be served in the community.
TYLAH BORONIA HICKLING: BONDI
A Casino woman was involved in a “brazen” drug supply operation where a customer would call a “controller”, who would direct a “runner” to deliver cocaine.
Tylah Boronia Hickling pleaded guilty in Casino Local Court to two counts of supplying a prohibited drug, cocaine.
Hickling dealt five bags of cocaine to a male witness attached to police Strike Force Giovanna at Bondi.
In October 2022, Magistrate Michael Dakin sentenced her to serve a two-year community corrections order.
MELANIE COX: COFFS HARBOUR
A 50-year-old woman was pulled over by police who soon uncovered 245g of meth, 30g of cocaine and $4180 in cash.
Melanie Cox of Coffs Harbour pleaded guilty to several drug supply charges and recklessly dealing with the proceeds of crime.
In September 2022, Cox was convinced and ordered to serve an intensive corrections order for 15 months.
BLAIR WYLDE-BROWN: TWEED HEADS
A parolee was caught dealing cocaine and meth in Tweed Heads after police raided his home in 2020.
Officers found cocaine, meth, and large sums of cash, and Blair Wylde-Brown pleaded guilty to two counts of supplying a prohibited drug, two counts of possessing a prohibited drug and one count of dealing with proceeds of crime.
Mr Boland said his client’s mental health took a turn when his best friend was murdered.
In April 2022, Wylde-Brown was convicted and sentenced to 18 months in prison with a nine- month non-parole period.
SHARON FRANCIS GRACE SIMIANA: COFFS HARBOUR
A woman was found guilty after police intercepted her calls offering to sell more than $50,000 worth of MDMA as well as $9000 of cocaine.
Sharon Francis Grace Simiana was found guilty of five drug supply charges, one possess drug and one possess prohibited weapon charge.
Police facts revealed that between October 14-October 18, 2021, Simiana organised a deal involving $9000 worth of cocaine and $50,000 of MDMA – which she attempted to disguise using the term “black boat”.
In October 2022, Simiana was convicted and sentenced to a two-year intensive corrections order.
ZACHARY KERSHAW: SOUTH COAST
A once-aspiring rugby league star dodged jail time after pleading guilty to a cocaine conspiracy.
Zachary Kershaw, a former Nowra-Bomaderry Jets player, was charged with drug supply and participation in a criminal group after a months-long police investigation concluding in late-2021.
In March 2022, Kershaw was convicted and sentenced to a 12-month community corrections order, as well as a $500 fine for a lesser charge of possessing alprazolam, a type of sleeping pill.
SAMIU TUKUAFU: ILLAWARRA
An Illawarra Comanchero bikie gang associate was released from jail in December 2022 after he was busted wheeling and dealing thousands of dollars of cocaine.
Samiu Tukuafu came on the radar of police connected with Operation Ironside while using the encrypted messaging service AN0M where he went by the alias ‘JDoe’.
Tukuafu supplied at least eight ounces (approximately 225g) of cocaine over a 15-month period between 2020 and 2021, agreed police facts revealed.
He was sentenced to two years and three months in prison, but was released taking into account time served behind bars while on remand to serve the remainder in the community.
CHRISTOPHER BOWEN: CANBERRA
Christopher Bowen was busted smuggling almost 2kg of cocaine from Sydney to Queanbeyan concealed in a cognac box in a storage unit.
NSW Police estimated the value of the cocaine to be about $900,000.
In May 2022, Bowen was sentenced to five years in prison.
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