Revealed: NSW people convicted of drug offences
From a Central Coast mother moving cannabis in Coles bags, to a Coffs Harbour dealer who spent $27,00 on ice in 30 days, these are the men and women busted for drug crimes.
Police & Courts
Don't miss out on the headlines from Police & Courts. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Drug dealers continue to be a major focus of police, from those acting as low-level “foot soldiers” to the most sophisticated of suppliers.
In 2020, there were 6631 incidents of drug supply or trafficking recorded by NSW Police, and 37,678 incidents of possession.
According to the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, cannabis was the drug most commonly possessed, followed by amphetamines, other drugs, cocaine, then ecstasy.
In the 12 months to December, 77 per cent of adults charged with drug offences proceeded to court, while 23 per cent were diverted.
Here are just some of the NSW people convicted for their drug crimes.
KURT HOWLETT
A Caringbah man selling cocaine across Sydney’s south was working as an “errand boy” to a higher-up to support his own drug habit.
A court heard Kurt Howlett, 29, dealt cocaine eight times in three months in Caringbah and Woolooware, to compensate another dealer for the cocaine he was using himself.
Lawyer Allan Goldsworthy said Howlett, an automotive interior designer, was merely a street-level supplier at the direction of somebody else.
“It was to acquit what he would otherwise owe to (the supplier) for the cocaine, and he got himself into this terrible cycle,” Mr Goldsworthy said.
“He was introduced to the cocaine by the co-accused, who supplied it to him, and then used him as an errand boy.”
Sutherland Local Court Magistrate Kate Thompson acknowledged Howlett was working to rehabilitate himself.
“I accept that he took steps to quit an entrenched drug habit and that shows great strength,” Ms Thompson said.
“He spent 41 days in custody (after his arrest) and I accept that has been a strong lesson in deterring him from continuing this behaviour.”
Howlett pleaded guilty to drug supply and was sentenced to a 14-month intensive corrections order and 100 hours of community service.
WAYNE AND JARADD CURRAN
Father and son concreters from Budgewoi also ran a side hustle supplying drugs on the Central Coast.
Jaradd Curran, 33, co-owned Empire Concreting with his father Wayne Curran.
A phone tap led police to surveil a drug deal on April 30, 2019, where Jaradd sold 3.57 grams of cocaine to a man from his Empire tip truck, in the car park at Tighes Hill TAFE.
Six months later police searched Jaradd’s home and found 100 tablets of Clenbuterol 40 and $5800 in cash.
On the same day they searched Wayne’s home, where they found 11 freezer bags containing a white powder and a plastic container also holding a white powder.
The powders turned out to be 322.5 grams of cocaine and 78.8 grams of methylamphetamine, also known as ice.
Wayne pleaded guilty to supplying a prohibited drug and a firearm offence and was sentenced to a two-year community corrections order in Wyong Local Court.
Jaradd, who became a father to twins in April, pleaded guilty to commercial drug supply and drug supply in the District Court at Gosford.
He was sentenced to three years and eight months in jail with a non-parole period of one year and 10 months.
SUSAN WAKELING
An unemployed mother-of-four has been jailed for her part in an ice ring using Coles shopping bags to move the drug around the Central Coast.
Susan Margaret Wakeling, 39, was stopped by police on The Entrance Rd, The Entrance on June 27, 2019, after officers noticed her driving too close to another car and at a slow speed.
Court documents said Wakeling initially told officers she had a migraine and was driving to have a break from her children.
Police searched the car after smelling cannabis and found a large sum of cash and four resealable bags with white powder – later identified as 1.34 grams of methamphetamine – inside her handbag.
The documents said she told police, “that’s mine, you’ll find some more stuff in the back”.
Officers located 445.3 grams of cannabis in the boot of the car.
The documents said prior to the vehicle stop, Strike Force Lamprey had been intercepting phone calls between Wakeling and eight others involved in the drug ring.
Wakeling was convicted of supplying drugs and participating in a criminal group.
She was originally sentenced to 18 months’ jail with a non-parole period of 11 months and 21 days, but had her non-parole period reduced to eight months on appeal.
RACHEL ENRIGHT
Secret phone calls helped bust a Nyngan mum-of-three who was selling drugs across western NSW.
Rachel Enright, 34, was found with 13.62 grams of ice when police stopped her car on Wheelers Ln, Dubbo on February 17 last year.
She had the drug hidden in her underpants at the time of the stop.
Enright had already come to the attention of Strike Force Akoohna, which was investigating break and enters on rural properties and reports of stolen firearms.
A police tap on her phone found Enright sold 30.75 grams of ice to various customers who would deposit payments into her Commonwealth Bank account.
When police searched her home in July, more ice was found in her laundry.
Enright pleaded guilty to two counts of taking part in the supply of a prohibited drug and one count of dealing with the proceeds of crime, for $250 cash found in her home.
Defence lawyer Jai Silkman told the court Enright was working as a cleaner and had sought help for her drug addiction, which she funded by selling the drugs.
“It’s not as if Ms Enright is some major drug kingpin, she’s a mother-of-three,” Mr Silkman said.
Enright was last month sentenced in the District Court at Dubbo to a three-year intensive corrections order and 100 hours of community service.
TAMERA BONANNO
A young Matraville mother was convicted after pleading guilty to drug possession, but escaped further punishment for her crime.
Tamera Bonanno, 23, was nabbed by police in possession of 0.43 grams of ketamine and 200 valium tablets at Botany about 9pm on July 6, 2019.
Bonanno, who lives with her mother and four-year-old child, was in breach of a court order after stealing a $1195 pram from Baby Bunting at Moore Park Supa Centre the year prior.
Lawyer Bryan Wrench told the court his client had a “traumatic” upbringing and was taking steps to overcome her demons.
Magistrate Erin Kennedy said Bonanno was “a woman who knows how she wants to live” but had become “lost” on several occasions.
Magistrate Kennedy chose not to take action on the breach but recorded a conviction for one charge of drug possession and one of possessing a prescribed restricted substance.
MICHAEL RAFFERTY
A South Grafton dad who dealt drugs to feed his own addiction was motivated by guilt after the death of his child.
Michael ‘Bags’ Rafferty, 34, was jailed for his role as a low-level street dealer in an ice ring operating across the Coffs Harbour and Grafton regions.
Rafferty came to the attention of police after buying more than $27,000 worth of the drug from former Grafton footy star Aaron Taylor, who had been under surveillance while running drugs to the region from Sydney.
Court documents said Rafferty had spent $27,190 on the drug in just 30 days between September and October 2019, selling some and using the rest.
The court heard he had been consuming about 3.5 grams of ice daily, with his drug habit worsening in 2019 after the death of his fifth-born child — a five-month-old son — to SIDS.
Rafferty never met the child due to being behind bars at the time.
The court heard Rafferty had never been employed and had a long criminal history including drug possession, break and enter, assault and police pursuit.
Rafferty pleaded guilty in the District Court at Coffs Harbour to two counts of drug supply.
He was convicted and sentenced to two years and nine months in jail, with a non-parole period of 17 months. He’ll be eligible for release this month due to time served.
ASHLEIGH AITKEN
A Lismore mother has avoided time behind bars after being sentenced for her part in a drug ring working in the Ballina area.
Ashleigh Aitken was busted by officers from Operation Braun Beck, which was looking into the supply of ice in the region.
Court documents revealed Aitken used text messages to discuss supply of the drug and restricted substance Xanax with another man.
Police searched her home on May 1 last year, where they found scales, drug packaging and a mobile phone.
Aitken pleaded guilty to supplying 49.75 grams of ice over two weeks in April.
Magistrate Jeff Linden told Lismore Local Court Aitken was performing “street-level dealing” and labelled ice a “dreadful” drug with significant impacts on the local community.
Aitken was sentenced to an 18-month intensive corrections order.
ALEX THERIS AND KYLE MAFFESONI
Two men from Lake Macquarie and Newcastle met for the first time in court after being busted as part of the same drug ring working across the region.
Alex Michael Theris, 29, and Kynan Mark Maffesoni, 25, worked in a syndicate selling cocaine and ecstasy before it was broken up by Strike Force Pallamana, with the help of bikie cops Strike Force Raptor, early last year.
Theris pleaded guilty in the District Court at Newcastle to the ongoing supply of cocaine between November 23 and December 4, 2019.
The court heard he sold 27.5 grams of the drug for $5,500 in five transactions during that time.
His car and phone had been tapped by police as part of their investigation.
Maffesoni pleaded guilty to two counts of ongoing supply.
The court heard he sold 28.5 grams of ecstasy and 15.5 grams of cocaine in 15 transactions between 27 November and 27 December, 2019, then 8.5 grams of ecstasy and 18 grams of cocaine in 11 transactions between 28 December, 2019 and 26 January, 2020.
He collected $11,000 for his work.
Court documents revealed Maffesoni often sold drugs from car parks at Wests Cardiff and Cardiff RSL, sending his customers messages such as “get in while stocks last” and “restocked, anyone need to put an order in for tonight?”
Judge Roy Ellis took into account additional charges of drug supply and knowingly dealing with the proceeds of crime, as he sentenced Maffesoni to an intensive corrections order for a period of two years and three months.
He’ll have to complete 200 hours of community service, and undergo drug counselling and abstain from drugs.
Judge Ellis sentenced Theris to an intensive corrections order of one year and 10 months, and 100 hours of community service.
He’ll have to abide by the same conditions as Maffesoni.
Huge amount state is paying to probe ex Federal Court judge
How much is a top investigator costing to probe an ex Federal Court judge? Will the mother of an accused drug king pin lose her house? And how long will a high profile sexual harassment battle be behind closed doors? The Snitch is here.
Assaad clan clashes in bitter battle over home of slain gang kingpin
An infamous Sydney underworld figure’s family have gone toe-to-toe in court over his estate and the home where he was killed.