Alleged AN0M drug dealer fronts court

An alleged Lamborghini-driving drug dealer, who was netted in the nation’s biggest crackdown on organised crime, has appeared in court.

A Comanchero associate, arrested in a complex global sting involving a fake encrypted app, has been unmasked after police claimed his ritzy Vaucluse apartment, Rolex watches and striking Lamborghini were all parts of a criminal fortune.

Crooks across the world had flocked to an encrypted and secretive app known as AN0M to organise everything from drug deals to murders in recent years.

But in 2021 it was revealed AN0M was being run by the FBI and the underworld had effectively handed their plans and communications over to police across the world.

Operation Ironside, led by the Australian Federal Police and NSW Police, arrested more than 100 alleged suspects in a nationwide raid in June 2021 — and Ashley Charles Rake was among them.

Ashley Rake outside Waverley Local Court on Monda. Picture: John Grainger

Ashley Rake’s ankle bracelet was clearly visible. Picture: John Grainger

Rake, police said, was part of a criminal network that dealt both cocaine and methamphetamine, court documents reveal.

He’d avoided the limelight until this week when he arrived at a routine court hearing with his lawyer.

Rake was dressed in all black and in good spirits, stopping to greet and hug a mate of his who was in Waverley Local Court on an unrelated drug dealing allegation on Tuesday.

The court heard it had taken police more than the normal six months to hand over the complex brief of evidence to Rake’s lawyers and part of the case included “phone surveillance”.

The court also heard the allegations against Rake date between 2016 and his arrest in June last year — but few other details are known.

Court documents reveal Rake allegedly provided false information to obtain loans from two different banks.

The first loan was for $1.125 million from NAB and the second loan was for $206,360 from Macquarie which was to be spent on a Lamborghini Huracan, the court documents say.

The Huracan LP 580-2 Couple, which police claim was the proceeds of crime, is valued at almost $400,000 and was labelled as a “a veritable bargain in supercar terms” when it launched in 2015.

Ashley Rake outside Waverley Local Court. Picture: John Grainger

Court documents also say Rake’s home in Vaucluse is considered by police to be “the proceeds of crime” as are two Rolex watches worth a combined $425,000.

His lawyers have said the timepieces were worth less than $140,000.

Rake’s lawyers have previously told the courts all of the “unexplained wealth” alleged by police is actually documented.

Police allege Rake took part in supplying 500-700 grams of methamphetamine and one to two kilograms of cocaine in April 2021.

Rake was released on bail in December after his girlfriend and mother-in-law stumped up $2m as surety.

His bail conditions prevent him from visiting any international point of departures, such as airports, and must wear an electronic ankle bracelet among other restrictions.

Rake’s case will return to court in March.