George Awkar aka ‘Pizza’ sentenced to almost 17 years in prison for role in Ironside syndicate

A former successful businessman and prominent member of the Lebanese community caught as part of Operation Ironside has been given the steepest sentence since the operation begun.

A former successful pizza chef and prominent member of the Lebanese community has been jailed for almost 17 years for his role as a major drug dealer for a state spanning methamphetamine syndicate – the largest sentence handed down as part of Operation Ironside to date.

George Awkar – who managed the successful San Giorgio’s pizza bar on Rundle St before losing the business in 2012 – was charged with multiple counts of trafficking in large commercial quantities of drugs after Ironside resolution day in June last year.

George Awkar, a former pizza bar owner, became a major drug dealer as part of Operation Ironside. Picture: Facebook

Messages revealed the 56-year-old was receiving, storing and onselling kilograms of methamphetamine from his Semaphore home.

Operating under the handle “Pizza”, Awkar received as many as 4kg of methamphetamine in a single hit before sending it on to other dealers or customers.

Thousands of messages released by the District Court showed the travails of being a commercial level drug dealer during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Awkar and his contacts complain about the quality of the drugs, the difficult in getting overseas methamphetamine once the borders closed and the frustration with customers who complain about the product being too “wet”.

Last week, Judge Paul Cuthbertson in sentencing Awkar said the prominent businessman had been given multiple chances by the courts, including suspended sentence in 2017 for dealing methamphetamine.

Court released photos which had been sent over the encrypted AN0M app between George Awkar and his drug supplier. Picture: District Court

Social media photos of George Awkar, a former pizza bar owner who became a major dealer arrested as part of Operation Ironside.

“One might have thought that having been given such an opportunity by the judge the defendant would have taken it and not committed any drug offences,” Judge Cuthbertson said.

“But he did.”

During sentencing submissions, Michael Woods, for Awkar, told the court his client had lived a law abiding life until he had turned 50 when financial pressures had led to his turning to drugs.

ANOM text messages in the case of George Awkar

Awkar lost his business and many of his assets. His drug dealers came calling, wanting outstanding debts to be cleared and offering Awkar work to help pay the debt.

Between March 26, 2020 and June 7, 2021, Awkar was part of a sophisticated drug syndicate involving eight other co-accused.

The remaining co-accused have pleaded not guilty and are scheduled to go to trial next year.

When police raided Awkar’s home on June 7, 2021, they found 121g of methamphetamine in a suitcase in a second bedroom of his home.

Alongside the drugs was $81,170 in cash.

Awkar was sentenced to a total of 16 years, ten months and 19 days in prison.

As a serious repeat offender Awkar will spend a mandatory four fifths of the term in prison before being eligible for parole.

Judge Cuthbertson set a non-parole period of 12 years, one month and three weeks in prison.

With time already served Awkar will be eligible for parole in August 2033.

Originally published as George Awkar aka ‘Pizza’ sentenced to almost 17 years in prison for role in Ironside syndicate