Aspendale dad Paul Rodgerson jailed for Flying Kangaroo dark web drug trafficking empire
An “arrogant” Aspendale dad who ran the Flying Kangaroo dark web ecstasy empire has appeared shocked after learning his fate.
South East
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An Aspendale dad revealed as the ringleader of a drug gang which manufactured and peddled ecstasy via the dark web has been jailed.
Paul Rodgerson, 42, was sentenced in the County Court on Thursday to a minimum three years and eight months’ jail after pleading guilty to charges including trafficking a marketable quantity of MDMA.
Rodgerson ran drug gang ‘The Flying Kangaroo’ for several months until his arrest in November 2016.
Federal authorities latched onto Rodgerson and his crew after discovering a Flying Kangaroo advert on dark net site Dream Market.
The advert read: “The time has come for Flying Kangaroo to resurface and bring back the quality and value that our previous buyers are used too (sic.). WE apologise for laying low for so long but we are now back and ready to service your needs......”
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.
Red Bandit also discussed a new batch of ecstasy called ‘FK 2.0’ with Rodgerson via his Wickr handle ‘NSVD’.
The court was told Flying Kangaroo advertised ecstasy for sale on dark web site Silk Road 2 as early as 2014.
Crony Robert Olczyk manufactured the ecstasy at a Moorabbin factory leased by Rodgerson.
The Keys Rd factory fronted as a storage facility.
Rodgerson and Olczyk were arrested on November 23, 2016.
Investigators seized evidence at Rodgerson’s Aspendale home, the Keys Rd factory and Olczyk’s rented Moorabbin home.
Authorities also seized 200 ecstasy tablets, $15,000 and drug making equipment, and more than 300 grams of pure MDMA was discovered inside DVD cases in a safe at the factory.
Police also found images of kangaroo-stamped ecstasy on Rodgerson’s phone.
The prosecution submitted Rodgerson held a “superior, cerebral, secretive and secure” role within the crew.
The gang sought to purchase pill presses and had dealings with manufacturers in China, the court heard.
Rodgerson was also linked to the purchase of blue food colouring used to dye the distinctive tablets.
The court heard Rodgerson had “major online input” related to the ordering process and “after sales liaison” with Chinese ecstasy production equipment suppliers.
Rodgerson, who denied dealing drugs, told police he had worked in IT and was “technically savvy”.
Rodgerson, who claimed to “not be a regular user of the dark net”, told police he was aware drugs were sold on the dark web.
He said those who hosted dark net websites were “pretty on the ball” and “enjoying the buzz”.
“Feeling powerful … they like that feeling,” Rodgerson said.
“I guess they’re committing crimes but, you know, they don’t consider it as a criminal act but you guys do, so — it is what it is.”
Rodgerson confirmed he had seen the name “Flying Kangaroo” on the dark net.
He said Flying Kangaroo was “one of the four main guys selling stuff that came up” but claimed to know “nothing” about “him”.
Rodgerson also refused investigators access to his devices.
“You don’t need access to all of my information,” Rodgerson said.
“I’m not involved in this network or whatever you’ve got going on here.
I don’t know anything about it and I’m not going to be involved in it.”
Judge Michael Tinney said Rodgerson was a “narcissistic and arrogant individual”.
Rodgerson was remanded in custody on January 28 after begging judge Tinney for leniency.
Rodgerson, who also pleaded guilty to possess substance to manufacture drug, MDMA possession and failure to comply with order to assist police, was jailed for a maximum six years and five months.
Rodgerson, who appeared via videolink from Fulham Correctional in his prison-issue white t-shirt, looked bemused and put his hands on his head and face shortly after the sentence was handed down.
Olczyc was jailed in October 2019 to a maximum nine years’ and eight months after pleading guilty to importing, trafficking and manufacturing MDMA.
