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40+ NSW cocaine dealers named after research reveals the tragic toll of drug use

Police have exposed a former NRL star, an aspiring teacher and tradies as cocaine dealers as the seemingly harmless drug takes its tragic toll on lives around NSW. See the full list of dealers nabbed.

Angus Brockbank, Zachary Kershaw, Mackenzie McNally, Bodene Lee Robertson and Lola Chiche were all sentenced in separate drug cases. Graphic: The Daily Telegraph
Angus Brockbank, Zachary Kershaw, Mackenzie McNally, Bodene Lee Robertson and Lola Chiche were all sentenced in separate drug cases. Graphic: The Daily Telegraph

NSW’s major drug busts in the last 12 months have exposed a string of cocaine dealers including a former NRL star, an aspiring teacher, influencers and tradies while new research reveals the tragic toll the drug has wreaked on communities.

The latest data from the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission showed that while cocaine consumption in capital cities dropped between December 2021 and April 2022, Sydney ranked highest across the country’s capital cities and regional NSW ranked first nationally in consumption of cocaine.

Tragically, there were 884 cocaine-related deaths in Australia between 2000 and 2021, says a new study published by researchers at the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, UNSW Sydney.

The study, published in Addiction, examined data from the National Coronial Information System and found a large increase in cocaine-related deaths since 2012, with 398 known deaths in the last five years.

“These deaths are largely due to more widespread use of cocaine,” lead author Professor Shane Darke from NDARC and UNSW Medicine & Health said.

“We found clinically significant changes in case profiles across the study period that suggest a broadening of those who use cocaine and its associated harm.

“The major increase has really occurred from about 2012 onwards. There is evidence of a lot more cocaine around as we see the police seizures, arrests, hospital presentations, and treatment admissions.”

Of the 884 cases examined, the most prevalent cause of death was unintentional drug toxicity and generally involved cardiovascular events.

“Acute and chronic heart disease is a significant factor in cocaine deaths, and users may be unaware of this, or of the risk for stroke,” Professor Darke said.

The study also found 18 per cent of cocaine-related deaths involved intentional self-harm or suicide and 12 per cent were traumatic incidents, predominantly involving motor vehicles.

“It also causes a lot of behavioural problems, people being disinhibited, highly activated, highly energised and out doing things they wouldn’t normally do,” she said.

“The person is entirely confident they are going to be driving brilliantly and they are driving terribly.

“You see them driving on the wrong side of the road at 130km/hr and then running into a tree.”

Professor Darke said there is a misconception that cocaine is a safe alternative, especially when compared to ice. However, he warned this could not be further from reality.

“It’s not a safe alternative to methamphetamine, because all the things that does, cocaine does too,” he said.

“The people who have unfortunately lost their lives here are evidence of that. It has this image that it’s fluffy and safe and just a fun party drug.

“It does not matter if you are snorting, swallowing it, injecting it – it is dangerous. The first time you use it may well be the last.”

Professor Darke said there is no such thing as a “typical cocaine user”, and it is not just a “celebrity drug anymore” and has spread throughout society.

Find out how these 40+ dealers landed themselves in court for supplying cocaine:

BODENE LEE ROBERTSON, LISMORE

Bodene Lee Robertson appeared before Lismore District Court. Picture: Facebook
Bodene Lee Robertson appeared before Lismore District Court. Picture: Facebook

A Mullumbimby drug dealer supplied an undercover cop cocaine nine times, a total of drugs worth $174,000.

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 jailed with a non-parole period of three years and six months.

FULL STORY 

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 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 next year.

Aaron’s sentence will also be backdated because of time served, and he will be eligible for parole on October 6, 2023.

FULL STORY

LUKE ANDREOU, ILLAWARRA

Luke Andreou part of Operation Ironside AN0M bust. Picture: Facebook
Luke Andreou part of Operation Ironside AN0M bust. Picture: Facebook

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 last year 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.

FULL STORY

MACKENZIE MCNALLY, SUTHERLAND

Mackenzie McNally.
Mackenzie McNally.

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 last year during strict Covid lockdowns because, according to agreed police facts, she was “desperate for money”.

She was convicted and sentenced to a nine month intensive corrections order.

FULL STORY 

KANE RODGER, SUTHERLAND

Kane Rodger. Picture: Ashleigh Tullis
Kane Rodger. Picture: Ashleigh Tullis

A tradie narrowly avoided jail in November 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.

FULL STORY

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 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

Nathan Cooke. Picture: Ashleigh Tullis
Nathan Cooke. Picture: Ashleigh Tullis

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.

He was convicted and sentenced to an intensive correction order of 20 months.

FULL STORY

ANGUS BROCKBANK, NORTH COAST

Angus Brockbank.
Angus Brockbank.

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.

He was convicted and sentenced to an aggregated five years jail sentence with a non-parole period of two and a half years.

FULL STORY

NED CORBETT, NORTHERN BEACHES

Ned Corbett. Picture: John Grainger
Ned Corbett. Picture: John Grainger

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.

He was convicted and sentenced to a nine-month intensive corrections order with supervision and 100 hours of community service.

FULL STORY

MICHAEL HUGHES, MANLY

Michael Hughes.
Michael Hughes.

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.

FULL STORY

LOLA CHICHE, SURRY HILLS

Lola Chiche owner of My Kiki, a Surry Hills waffle shop serving penis and vulva shaped snacks. Picture: Damian Shaw
Lola Chiche owner of My Kiki, a Surry Hills waffle shop serving penis and vulva shaped snacks. Picture: Damian Shaw

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.

She was convicted and sentenced to a 16-month intensive corrections order for the five offences.

FULL STORY

FARIDH ZANGOURZADEH, FAIRFIELD

Faridh Zangourzadeh. Picture: Flavio Brancaleone
Faridh Zangourzadeh. Picture: Flavio Brancaleone

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.

FULL STORY

DARREN PEACHEY, GLENMORE

Censored image of Darren Peachey, a Glenmore Park father who admitted to supplying more than 2kg of cocaine.
Censored image of Darren Peachey, a Glenmore Park father who admitted to supplying more than 2kg of cocaine.

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.

FULL STORY

AARON PINTO, BLACKTOWN

Aaron Pinto.
Aaron Pinto.

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.

FULL STORY

MOHAMMED DIB, YAGOONA

Mohammed Dib.
Mohammed Dib.

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 ICO and had pleaded guilty to the charges.

FULL STORY

ALEX SKINNER, SYDNEY

Alex Skinner.
Alex Skinner.

A Sydney chippy turned Snapchat dial-a-dealer made an eye-watering amount of money in a few short hours peddling cocaine across Sydney’s ritzy eastern suburbs.

Alex Skinner pleaded guilty to supplying a prohibited drug and dealing with the property proceeds of crime after police tracked his movements and his customers.

Skinner was ultimately found with 4.8g of cocaine and sentenced by Magistrate David Price to a 10-month intensive corrections order.

He since appealed the severity of his sentence in the Sydney District Court and it was reduced to a 15-month community corrections order.

FULL STORY

STEVE AYAD, SUTHERLAND

Steve Ayad. Picture: Eliza Barr
Steve Ayad. Picture: Eliza Barr

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. He was convicted and handed a 21-month intensive corrections order with supervision, 150 hours of community service and a $3300 fine.

FULL STORY

SARAH CAMILLE DIAZ, SYDNEY

Sarah Diaz.
Sarah Diaz.

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. She was convicted and fined.

FULL STORY

CYNTHIA BALLO, EASTERN SUBURBS

Cynthia Ballo. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Flavio Brancaleone
Cynthia Ballo. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Flavio Brancaleone

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. He sentenced Ballo to one year imprisonment, to be served in the community by way of an intensive correction order (ICO).

FULL STORY

AMY SARKIS, BONDI

Amy Sarkis.
Amy Sarkis.

A well-groomed Western Sydney woman 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 sentenced Sarkis to an 18-month intensive corrections order.

Sarkis has since appealed the severity of her sentence and it has been reduced to an 18-month community corrections order.

FULL STORY

JOHN ROBERT FAAOLOII, INNER WEST SYDNEY

John Robert Faaoloii.
John Robert Faaoloii.

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.

FULL STORY

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”.

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.

FULL STORY

DREW LLOYD, BONDI

Drew Lloyd Waverley Court November 1 2022
Drew Lloyd Waverley Court November 1 2022

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-dollar 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 last November.

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.

FULL STORY

CHRISTOPHER IAN WALSH AND BETTINA HOENSELAARS, COFFS HARBOUR

A pair of newlyweds got in over their heads when they wound up supplying cocaine and meth to support their drug habits.

The couple married and moved to Grafton to start a new life together and “both resolved their issue with drugs and are not partaking at all”.

Coffs Harbour Local Court heard Ian Walsh did not “go out onto the streets” to sell drugs but that he was “servicing his own drug habit”.

Walsh pleaded guilty to three counts of indictable prohibited drug supply and three counts of small prohibited drug supply.

Bettina Hoenselaars pleaded guilty to one count of participating in indictable prohibited drug supply.

Walsh was convicted and ordered to serve an 11-month intensive corrections order, and an 18-month community corrections order.

Hoenselaars was convicted and sentenced to a 12-month community corrections order.

FULL STORY 

RILEY MULQUINY, ENGADINE

Riley Mulquiny was sentenced to CCO for a drug deal with a mate at Cronulla. Picture: Ashleigh Tullis
Riley Mulquiny was sentenced to CCO for a drug deal with a mate at Cronulla. Picture: Ashleigh Tullis

A young tradie was slapped with a fine after he sold his unwanted coke to a friend of a friend who dropped the bag of drugs in view of police.

Officers watched on as Ryan Mulquiny, of Endagine, and another man walked towards a white Toyota HiLux on Elouera Rd where they exchanged cash before the man walked away.

He dropped a small clear resealable bag of cocaine onto the roadway while he was trying to put it into his wallet, along with two other bags, court documents revealed.

Mulquiny was convicted, fined $1000, and placed on a 15-month community correction order after he pleaded guilty to supplying drugs.

FULL STORY

MAAROUF EL CHAMI, WOLLI CREEK

Maarouf El Chami was sentenced for supplying cocaine when his Wolli Creek home was raided. Picture: Facebook
Maarouf El Chami was sentenced for supplying cocaine when his Wolli Creek home was raided. Picture: Facebook

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.

However, officers located 18.4 grams 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.

FULL STORY

ZAIN PAPA, BYRON BAY

Zain Papa (far right) talks with lawyers after his sentence was handed down before Tweed Heads Local Court.
Zain Papa (far right) talks with lawyers after his sentence was handed down before Tweed Heads Local Court.

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.

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.

Magistrate Michael Dakin convicted and sentenced Papa to serve a nine-month intensive corrections order.

FULL STORY

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.

Magistrate Michael Dakin sentenced her to serve a two-year community corrections order.

FULL STORY 

MELANIE COX, COFFS HARBOUR

Melanie Cox faced multiple charges after police stopped her car and located drugs, cash and property. Picture: Frank Redward
Melanie Cox faced multiple charges after police stopped her car and located drugs, cash and property. Picture: Frank Redward

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.

Cox was convinced and ordered to serve an intensive corrections order for 15 months.

FULL STORY

BLAIR WYLDE-BROWN, TWEED HEADS

A parolee was caught dealing cocaine and meth in Tweed Heads after police raided his home.

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.

Wylde-Brown was convicted and sentenced to 18 months in prison with a nine month non-parole period.

FULL STORY

SHARON FRANCIS GRACE SIMIANA, COFFS HARBOUR

A woman was found guilty after police intercepted her calls offering to sell over $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”.

Simiana was convicted and sentenced to a two-year intensive corrections order.

FULL STORY

AARON LUONG, CABRAMATTA

The Cabramatta man was found with of cannabis, heroin and methylamphetamine during a vehicle stop near Byron Bay on Tuesday, July 6, 2021. Photo: NSW Police.
The Cabramatta man was found with of cannabis, heroin and methylamphetamine during a vehicle stop near Byron Bay on Tuesday, July 6, 2021. Photo: NSW Police.

A young man was nabbed driving down the Pacific Highway with an estimated $2m worth of marijuana, heroin and meth stashed in a rental truck.

Aaron Luong had 183kg of cannabis inside removalist boxes, 816g of heroin between two mattresses and 2.5kg of meth in a Woolworths bag when he was pulled over north of Byron Bay on July 6, 2021.

At the time of the offence, Sydney residents were not allowed to leave home without reasonable excuse due to coronavirus lockdowns.

Luong pleaded guilty in Lismore District Court to one count each of supplying commercial quantities of prohibited drugs, dealing with the proceeds of a crime and leaving home without reasonable excuse during the Covid-19 lockdown.

He was sentenced to six years and six months in jail and was eligible to apply for parole on January 5, 2025.

FULL STORY

ZACHARY KERSHAW, SOUTH COAST

Zachary Kershaw. Picture: Nathan Schmidt
Zachary Kershaw. Picture: Nathan Schmidt

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.

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.

FULL STORY

SAMIU TUKUAFU, ILLAWARRA

An Illawarra Comanchero bikie gang associate was released from jail in December 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.

FULL STORY

SIMON SULESKI AND SALIM NEHME, ILLAWARRA

Simon Dimitrija Suleski and Salim Sam Nehme were arrested in a Unanderra street in December 2020. Picture: NSW Police
Simon Dimitrija Suleski and Salim Sam Nehme were arrested in a Unanderra street in December 2020. Picture: NSW Police

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.

The pair were sentenced to five years and six months in jail.

FULL STORY

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.

Bowen was sentenced to five years in prison.

FULL STORY

JACK STUART JONES, MICHAEL GORDON, TATE ROBINSON, JED CONROY AND MIKAYLA NOAKES, LISMORE

NRL star Michael Gordon (right).
NRL star Michael Gordon (right).

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.

While Gordon, a former NRL star played more than 250 games for five NRL clubs, including the Gold Coast Titans.

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.

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.

Mikayla Noakes.
Mikayla Noakes.

Gordon was found guilty of two counts of supplying a prohibited drug.

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.

FULL STORY

Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/truecrimeaustralia/police-courts-nsw/40-nsw-cocaine-dealers-named-after-research-reveals-the-tragic-toll-of-drug-use/news-story/cc568a37a445e051888a9b565d2249f8