Shepparton: Mongols associate Lausei Asiata pleads guilty to drug offences

A Shepparton drug dealer and Mongols associate who sold more than $50,000 worth of cocaine to an undercover cop has been sentenced in court.

A Shepparton drug dealer and Mongols outlaw motorcycle gang associate sold more than $50,000 worth of cocaine and a gun to an undercover cop, a court has heard.

Lausei Asiata, 22, pleaded guilty to a string of charges including trafficking a drug of dependence at Shepparton Magistrates’ Court.

Court documents reveal Asiata is a member of a drug trafficking syndicate that is associated with the Mongols Outlaw Motorcycle Gang.

Asiata and two co-offenders travelled to Seymour train station on June 21 this year where they sold 83.8g worth of cocaine to an undercover officer for $21,900 after they struck a deal on social media.

One of the co-accused told the officer he had a sawn off double barrel shotgun for sale at $1000 but could not sell it at the moment.

The officer contacted Asiata’s co-offender once the group had left the original meeting and offered him $5000 before the group returned to complete the deal.

On July 4, the officer contacted Asiata’s co-offender where they agreed to sell him 112.1g of cocaine worth $29,200.

The drugs were handed over at Seymour train station shortly after.

Police executed a search warrant at Asiata’s Shepparton property on July 27 where a bag containing .22 rounds were found underneath the mattress in his bedroom.

Shotgun rounds were also seized by police before he was arrested later that day.

Asiata also faced court over an incident where police were forced to evacuate Murchison caravan park after they uncovered a live hand grenade in his bedroom in November 2019.

He pleaded guilty to a string of offences including possessing an explosive without lawful excuse.

Prosecutors told the court authorities executed a search warrant at the caravan park where Asiata lived when they found a M52 grenade inside a sports bag.

A substantial amount of drugs including 162g of methamphetamine, 478g of cannabis and 504g of Xanax tablets were also located in his bedroom.

The bomb squad was called in after the park was evacuated with officials determining the weapon to be safe.

Asiata was arrested and taken to Shepparton police station where he made full admissions to the offending.

Just three days earlier, Asiata was involved in an assault at a Shepparton taxi rank.

The two victims in the incident were sitting with friends when they were approached by a group of five men including Asiata.

One of the victims was punched before his mate intervened who was punched in the head and torso by Asiata and two co-offenders.

He was then slammed into a parked car.

As the males fled, one of the victims followed them before Asiatu launched another attack punching him in the jaw.

In his police interview, Asiatu told authorities he was drunk and had been drinking in the hours leading up to the incident.

“I had no intention of hurting him, I just wanted to hit him,” he said.

On Friday September 3 he was sentenced to five months behind bars with 66 days already served.

He was also fined $500 and ordered to pay $5000 in compensation.

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