Greens MLC Sue Higginson wants Cody Ward to be given a computer in jail

The Greens are demanding the state government give a computer to a man in jail for co-ordinating a $17 million drugs syndicate on the dark web.

Dark web mastermind Cody Ward had two luxury cars seized by police. Picture: Instagram

The hacker “mastermind” of a dark web drug syndicate should be given access to a computer in prison – so he can obtain a university degree, according to the Greens.

Their NSW Upper House MLC Sue Higginson questioned Corrective Services Minister Anoulack Chanthivong in Budget Estimates this month, asking why the state had “blocked” inmate Cody Ward from a computer.

“His future is currently being put on a very cruel hold because of this,” she claimed. “I know that he has written to you multiple times and has been advocating fiercely to go to university.

“Many inmates actually commence their education, they commence their study, and then they’re cut off because of the technology limitations of being able to continue.

“I’m not sure there’s much worse. Somebody has a start, they get a start-up, and then they’re stopped. It’s more than cruel and it is the state that is doing this.”

Hacker Cody Ward was the mastermind behind a multimillion-dollar dark web drug syndicate.

But The Saturday Telegraph can reveal the man the Greens MLC is supporting was convicted of co-ordinating a $17 million online syndicate.

Cody Ronald Ward pleaded guilty in the NSW District Court to multiple drug offences, including six for importing or supplying large commercial quantities of border-controlled and prohibited drugs.

Each charge carried a maximum penalty of life. The convicted drug dealer, from the south coast community of Callala Bay, said he was raking in “thousands a day” from selling drugs on the dark web.

“I used to get very involved in role-play games where you would get deeply involved into a character like you would as an actor,” he said during sentencing.

“When I was 17, I used to role play as a drug trafficker and drug supplier.

“It (the offending) felt very similar but instead of being rich in a game, you earn money in real life.”

Greens MLC Sue Higginson during the NSW Budget Estimates hearing. Picture: Gaye Gerard

In response to the calls from the Greens MLC, the Corrections Minister said he was “aware of the complaints from the particular inmate”.

“We need to balance the needs of inmates who are seeking to be rehabilitated through education and training but also be mindful of security for the whole system,” he said.

At the height of his dark web trade, the 26-year-old had a Maserati and a Mercedes Benz in his possession, before they were seized by police.

A Corrective Services NSW spokeswoman told The Saturday Telegraph “unrestricted access to inmate laptops and email accounts would pose serious security and safety risks for inmates, staff, victims, and the community”.

“Inmates do not have access to the internet outside of a limited number of secure websites,” she said.

The Greens MLC said “everyone deserves the opportunity to rebuild their lives”.

“Mr Ward is serving a sentence for his actions and that sentence was imposed by the independent criminal justice system,” she argued.

“Mr Ward is clearly an extremely intelligent and capable person, he should be able to use his time in prison, time that the public is paying for, to engage in rehabilitative programs including higher education.

“We want people to come out of prison better than when they went in.”