Jessica Lee Kendall, Omran Ramadan, Tony Charbel charged in alleged meth trafficking ring
Three accused drug dealers have been charged over an alleged $100k meth sting by undercover police operation in the northern suburbs.
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Three people have been charged after $100,000 worth of meth was allegedly uncovered during an undercover police operation in the northern suburbs.
Epping woman Jessica Lee Kendall, 29, Reservoir man Omran Ramadan, 28, and Reservoir man Tony Charbel, 41, appeared before Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday charged with trafficking methamphetamine.
The three were charged after 370g of methamphetamine was allegedly uncovered during a series of police raids on properties in Reservoir, Lalor and Epping in March following a seven-month police investigation resulting in six arrests.
Narco cops also allegedly seized more than $38,000 in cash, a baton, taser, imitation firearm and a money counter.
The court heard an undercover police officer had allegedly spoken to Mr Charbel about buying meth and Mr Ramadan had allegedly made the sale to the cop.
But the defence are arguing the undercover operative “escalated” the trafficking by requesting a larger quantity of drugs from the accused drug dealers, which led to more serious charges.
Lawyers for the accused meth peddlers will argue the operation could have been “unlawful” and non-compliant with police procedure, and that certain evidence gathered from the undercover operation was inadmissible.
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Mr Charbel and Mr Ramadan pleaded not guilty to all their charges and were committed to stand trial in the County Court.
The court heard Ms Kendall’s legal team were negotiating a plea deal, and her case was adjourned to January.
The quantity of meth allegedly seized meets the threshold of a “commercial quantity”, which carries a maximum penalty of 25 years imprisonment.