Melbourne drug dealers 2021: Blayden Meagher, Brosnson Interlandi, Cassius Canfield
It was a deal-breaker for these wannabe bigtime Melbourne drug traffickers whose rackets went kaput in 2021.
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It was a deal-breaker for these drug traffickers whose rackets went kaput in 2021.
Here are some of Melbourne’s biggest dealers who had their comeuppance in court this year.
SPORTS PRODIGY TURNED TRAFFICKER
A former triathlete who competed on the world stage and who swam at state and national levels was busted with a massive haul of drugs, including MDMA and cocaine.
Blayden Meagher pleaded guilty in the County Court in August to multiple charges, including trafficking a large commercial quantity of MDMA.
Meagher’s major drug racket was sunk after he was pulled over by police on EastLink near Carrum Downs on November 16, 2019.
Investigators locked on to Meagher after reports he was driving erratically, the court was told.
The once-promising open swimmer, who competed at state and national level, was nabbed with 100 ecstasy tablets in a bumbag, 26 deal bags containing cocaine stashed in his waistband, scales, bute, deal bags and cash — some of which was bundled in his underwear.
The talented athlete, who once competed in the World Triathlon Championship Series, told police he picked up the drugs while on his way to his parents’ Blairgowrie holiday home.
Police raided Meagher’s parents’ Doncaster East home the next day but found nothing illegal.
However, Meagher’s sister informed police her brother had moved to a house in Bulleen.
Investigators raided the Manningham Rd property where they discovered an Aladdin’s Cave of drugs and cash.
Police seized 1.8kg of MDMA from an open safe in a room titled “manager’s room”, various other drugs, a box of needles and a “significant” amount of cash.
Meagher, who also pleaded guilty to trafficking cocaine, hopes to take up rowing after completing his jail stint.
He will face court again in 2022.
THE FLYING KANGAROO DRUG MASTERMIND
An Aspendale dad was revealed as the ringleader of a drug gang which manufactured and peddled ecstasy via the dark web.
Paul Rodgerson was sentenced in the County Court in February to a minimum three years and eight months’ jail after pleading guilty to charges including trafficking a marketable quantity of MDMA.
Federal authorities latched onto Rodgerson, who ran drug gang ‘The Flying Kangaroo’ and his crew after discovering an advert on dark net site Dream Market.
Covert operative ‘Red Bandit’ purchased the gang’s signature Qantas logo stamped flying kangaroo ecstasy via Wickr, Dream Market and dark web site AlphaBay.
FBI evidence revealed 72 separate buyers — not including Red Bandit — purchased 3130 Flying Kangaroo tablets via AlphaBay using Bitcoin at a combined value of almost $32,000 USD.
Crony Robert Olczyk manufactured the ecstasy at a Moorabbin factory leased by Rodgerson, while the gang sought to purchase pill presses and had dealings with manufacturers in China.
Rodgerson was jailed for a maximum six years and five months.
MUSCLEMAN PLUMBER’S DIAL-A-DEAL COKE RACKET
Plumber Bronson Interlandi became the ‘Big Boy’ of a citywide cocaine racket after his snack machine business went bust.
The Hawthorn East dad co-ordinated the Melbourne-wide cocaine delivery racket between November 2019 and June 2020, using two accomplices to distribute the drugs.
The cronies worked on a roster system to take turns picking up customers in the back seat of a car.
They would drive the customers a short distance and do the deal.
The trio sold two types of cocaine products — “normals” and “supers” — for $300-$400 a gram and used hired vehicles and codewords such as “beers” to mask their illicit activity.
Police, who launched an investigation on the crew in October 2019, established Interlandi was the “head of the operation” and was referred to by operatives as ‘The Big Boy’, ‘B’ and ‘Boss’’.
The crew used storage units at Hawthorn and Richmond, one of the crony’s Richmond apartments and a rented office suite “safe house” at Malvern to store drugs and cash.
Police installed cameras and listening devices at various locations and conducted telephone intercepts to snag Bronson and his accomplices in June.
Interlandi was jailed in April for a maximum six years with a non-parole period of three years after pleading guilty to various charges.
ADMAN’S DRUG VENTURE FAILURE
A former advertising guru peddled huge amounts of a dangerous party drug linked to drink-spiking and sexual assaults after his marriage fell apart.
Christopher Henderson was sentenced in the County Court in September to a minimum three years’ and six months’ jail after pleading guilty to multiple charges including trafficking a commercial quantity 1,4 butanediol and meth.
Henderson, from Hawthorn, was nabbed driving erratically through Camberwell on June 7, 2019.
Police stopped Henderson on Canterbury Rd just before 430am and searched his hire car.
Investigators seized a knife, multiple bottles of GHB-mirror drug 1,4 butanediol weighing almost 8kg, 80 grams of meth, scales, 40 Xanax tablets and $2,935.
Investigators raided Henderson’s Hawthorn home later that morning and seized another seized 2.6kg grams of bute, $7800 cash from a small safe, a “quantity” of counterfeit cash, shotgun ammunition, bogus ID cards, 76 grams of meth, cocaine in a mickey mouse deal bag, and documents for a Hawthorn storage unit.
Next stop for the cops was the Burwood Rd storage unit which they hit later that afternoon.
Police seized a whopping 149.64 kilograms of bute from the unit.
The court heard Henderson graduated from Xavier College before commencing a business degree at Swinburne University.
Henderson left university to take up a role at a cosmetics company before landing a gig at an advertising agency.
The former adman was made redundant shortly after returning from his honeymoon, the court was told.
Henderson was jailed for a maximum six years.
THE BABY-FACED TRAFFICKER
A baby-faced dealer was nabbed with a stack of MDMA, cocaine, meth and cannabis at his grandparents’ place.
Liam Downes was sentenced in the County Court in May to time served – 238 days – after pleading guilty to trafficking a commercial quantity of MDMA.
Downes was charged after telling police a series of lies, including that he was forced to sell drugs for the Triads.
Downes, who also pleaded guilty to trafficking cocaine, cannabis and meth, was pinched at his grandparents’ Kalorama property on September 5 2019.
Police forced entry to the Ridge Rd property and arrested Downes and his crony girlfriend Lauren Brown.
Investigators seized 529 grams of cannabis, 366 grams of cannabis oil, 140 grams of MDMA, 76 grams of meth, cocaine, ketamine, DMT, 49 grams of magic mushrooms and $1650. Most of the drugs were found stashed in a bag in the garden.
Police secured the search warrant after an associate of Downes — who purchased a gram of cocaine at the property on September 4 — tipped them off.
Downes was hauled in for questioning where he initially denied the bag of drugs located in the yard was his.
Downes, who was also handed a three-year community correction order, claimed he spotted someone “popping around” the garden and the bag may have been planted by a person who “doesn’t like him”.
Brown was handed a good behaviour bond in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court after pleading guilty to drug possession in 2020.
MUM’S DEADLY DRUG RACKET
A Healesville mum was nabbed trafficking meth and a deadly drug linked to mass rave overdoses.
Monica Kellalea fronted the County Court in November after pleading guilty to trafficking meth and pentylone.
Kellalea’s drug racket came unstuck after police raided the Healesville home she shared with her children on April 7 last year.
Police seized almost 250g of meth, cannabis, GHB, prescription drugs and 50 pentylone tablets which the court heard was essentially “ecstasy”.
However, the deadly drug has been linked to mass overdoses due to its potency after users mistakenly believe they are taking less potent ecstasy.
Police also seized $2000 cash, digital scales, a vacuum sealer, two mobile phones and 100g of an alleged drug cutting agent at the Lowes Rd property.
The court heard Kellalea approached investigators at the raid with information after she realised her goose was cooked.
“I’m stuffed,” Kellalea told an investigator.
“I’m looking after something for someone which is going to get me into a lot of trouble.”
The court was told Kellalea, who also pleaded guilty to drug possession, was a drug “holder” or “courier” and her financial gain was to support her habit.
Kellalea will be sentenced at a later date.
DEALER’S AFL MATE
A drug-trafficking plumber avoided a jail stint after he was given a glowing reference from AFL premiership star Brandon Ellis.
Cassius Canfield was sentenced in the County Court in July to a three-year Community Correction Order after pleading guilty to cultivating and trafficking cannabis.
Canfield was busted at his rented Keilor East home early on February 27 last year.
Investigators discovered a hydroponic set up with eight plants growing in the rear garage of the Wunnamurra Drive house.
Police also seized almost 3kg of harvested and loose cannabis, more than 60g of speed, some cocaine and heroin, deal bags, 11 mobile phones, computers and $12,650 cash.
Police also raided Canfield’s Keilor East factory where they discovered a second hydroponic set up with six plants weighing almost 20kg.
Canfield, who also pleaded guilty to theft of electricity, was arrested, charged and bailed.
The court heard Canfield is a qualified plumber and co-director of heating and aircon company Brofield Group.
Ellis, a top flight Gold Coast Suns defender, tendered a reference backing Canfield.
Judge Michael Cahill said Ellis knew Canfield from a young age and the former Richmond premiership hero was confident his mate would commit no further “wrongdoing”.
Canfield read an apology letter to the court where he said sorry to family, friends and those who provided references including Ellis.
Canfield must also serve 250 hours of community work and undertake drug treatment.
BODYBUILDER MODEL’S COKE BUSINESS
Musclebound Melbourne model Ak Moslehi Roudi, 33, peddled cocaine to undercover cops at various Melbourne locations, including a deal which went down at a notorious bikie-linked tattoo shop in 2019.
Moslehi Roudi slung cocaine, MDMA and meth to undercover police after covert cops launched a sting on the personal trainer in January 2019.
Moslehi Roudi, who the court heard worked as a VIP manager at strip club Dreams Gentleman’s Club, kicked off his racket at South Melbourne tattoo shop City of Ink.
Moslehi Roudi took a $200 deposit for a 14-gram cocaine deal that was completed the next day at Travancore.
Moslehi Roudi sold the undercover cop another 14 grams of cocaine for $4000 in a deal at West Melbourne.
The model, formerly known as Armin Moslehi Roudi, suggested the cop buy ounces of cocaine.
The competition bodybuilder’s drug trafficking modus operandi continued for several weeks until he was introduced to a second covert cop.
Moslehi Roudi sold the new cop meth and cocaine and gave the operative ecstasy, the court heard.
Moslehi Roudi, from West Melbourne, trafficked seven ounces of cocaine in exchange for $58,000 via various deals between January and August 2019.
Police raided Moslehi Roudi’s home and seized cocaine, meth, MDMA, cash, scales, a drug scoop, weapons, police-marked tasers and mobile phones.
DEALER’S DOUBLE-TROUBLE
A Wollert man was nabbed trafficking meth and GHB after he was bailed for serious drug offences.
Mitchell Henwood was sentenced in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court in August to a minimum nine months’ jail after pleading guilty to trafficking meth and bute.
Henwood was pinched in Greensborough with more than 50gm of meth and $32,000 cash on September 15 2020.
The drug dealer was also nabbed at Wollert with meth.
Henwood was charged and bailed by police but went back to trafficking the very same day, Magistrate Mia Stylianou said.
Police caught up with Henwood again on October 1 when he was nabbed with more meth, $1650 cash and 222g of 1,4-butanediol – a chemical liquid widely sold as deadly party drug GHB.
Magistrate Stylianou said Henwood “astonishingly” trafficked meth the same day he was released from custody.
“You’ve involved in some really serious offending,” she said
Henwood, who pleaded guilty to eight charges including deal with the proceeds of crime, was jailed for a maximum 18 months.
He had spent 197 days in custody.
FITNESS COACH’S SIDE HUSTLE
Melbourne fitness coach Steven “Stavros” Pentaris, 30, was sentenced to an 18-month community correction order in August after pleading guilty to peddling cocaine after his business closed down due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Pentaris was nabbed after Prahran Divisional Response Unit members raided his apartment on September 25 last year.
Police seized 175g of cocaine — some divvied up in deal bags — hidden in a locked safe and other parts of the property.
Pentaris, who pleaded guilty to possessing ecstasy, also refused to give police access to his iPhone.
Pentaris was convicted and also ordered to perform 200 hours of unpaid community work.
THE CURIOUS CASE OF THE DEAD BODY AND THE DEALER
A former Melbourne Uni biomed science student was done trafficking drugs after finding his mate dead in a Highett motel room.
David Jurd was sentenced in the County Court in March to a 12-month community correction order after pleading guilty to trafficking MDMA, cocaine and ice.
Jurd was nabbed with a stack of drugs in his BMW at the Best Western Buckingham International Motel Highett just after 7.30am on August 31, 2018.
The court heard Jurd had just returned to the motel, having spent the night at his parents’ Parkdale home, to find his friend dead in a running spa.
Jurd phoned 000 but was soon arrested after he pulled out a packet of morphine tablets while showing police his driver’s licence.
Police then seized a combined 130g of pure meth, MDMA and cocaine and a range of steroids from his luxury vehicle.
Jurd, on parole at the time, told police he had taken the drugs from the motel room and wiped up a “bunch of lines” before phoning triple-0.
Jurd claimed he didn’t want the drugs to “reflect badly on his friend” nor did he want to breach his parole.
The St Bede’s College graduate and teacher’s son had been an “excellent” high school student, despite being bullied about his weight, the court was told.
The court heard Jurd commenced a biomedical science degree at Melbourne Uni but dropped out in the second year.
DISGRACED ESTATE AGENT’S DOWNFALL
A former award-winning real estate agent was exposed as a cocaine dealer.
David Costa was jailed for 18 months in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court in February after pleading guilty to drug trafficking.
Costa, who ran Elders Real Estate in Werribee and Tarneit for 15 years, was caught out after selling thousands’ of dollars worth of cocaine to an undercover police officer.
He first sold the man $1200 worth of coke from his Altona property on April 1 last year before the officer returned for $7500 worth of coke two days later.
On April 10, Costa organised for an associate to deal more to the covert officer at a Thomastown car wash.
Police arrested Costa in a Collins St hotel room in May, where he and a co-accused housed more than $10,000 in cash, bags of drugs and a number of mobile phones.
The sting came less than two years after Costa accepted a litre of GHB from another undercover office at his house, before escaping jail time in the County Court in June 2019.
He was again arrested and remanded in August last year when the Westgate Family Violence, Armed Crime and Federal Police Anti Gang squad raided an Altona factory which housed bags of cocaine and steroids as well as a firearm, a baton and ammunition.
Costa was ordered to serve 10 months behind bars before he is eligible for parole.
BMX DRUG BANDIT
A former Shepparton teen BMX star who was exposed as a drug dealer after he stole a gun then held it to a woman.
Tyson May was sentenced in the County Court in March to time served – 221 days – after pleading guilty to charges including trafficking ice, cannabis and GHB.
The court heard May pointed a stolen sawn off .22 calibre rifle at a woman’s head the day before police seized it from his home.
Investigators raided May’s Nagambie bungalow home on June 23 last year and seized the rifle, .22 calibre bullets, meth, cannabis, a hunting bow and a range of stolen power tools.
The weapons and tools had been stolen from a locked caravan at a Miepole property the month earlier, with the thief having removed screws from the caravan door.
Following the raid May was taken to Shepparton police station where police found messages and photos on his phone that revealed he had been dealing drugs since early in May.
May’s messages revealed him offering numerous customers “gear”, “juice” and “bud” for varying prices.
It was submitted May was raised in a supportive Shepparton family and was a keen BMX rider until 2016, who competed around Australia, while his father was the president of Shepparton’s BMX track.
May, who also pleaded guilty to theft of a firearm and common assault, was also handed a 24-month community correction order.
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