‘Home sweet home’: Baby-faced alleged drug trafficker Apostle Broikos’ new look after leaving custody

The teenage alleged drug trafficker, nabbed as part of Operation Ironside, has been spotted with a new look.

The baby-faced alleged drug trafficker, who is the youngest person in South Australia to be arrested as part of Operation Ironside, has sported a new look at his first public appearance since being released from jail.

Apostle Broikos, 18, was charged with two sets of serious drug offences after he was arrested by SA Police under the international law-enforcement operation that led to more than 220 alleged Australian offenders being apprehended.

After the teenager’s arrest and first court appearance earlier this month, the teenager had remained in custody, but was granted bail earlier this week.

He was seen on Thursday with a short shaved haircut, cut prior to him being granted home detention bail and was wearing a fitted navy suit with a white shirt and black tie.

Apostle Broikos is the youngest person arrested in South Australia as part of Operation Ironside. Picture: Supplied/Instagram

The teenager showed off a very different look when he appeared in court on Thursday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Kelly Barnes

The Burnside resident appeared in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Monday where Magistrate John Wells granted him home detention bail “with a great amount of hesitation” because of his age and “vulnerable position” in jail.

However, the prosecutor contested that decision because the accused could continue to offend “wholly undetected”.

He asked for a Supreme Court review on the magistrate’s decision, meaning Mr Broikos was to remain in custody while an outcome was pending.

A notice of discontinuance was filed later that same day, however, so the teenager was able to return to his home in Adelaide’s east.

Mr Broikos took to social media after his release and posted a photo of himself with the caption: “Home sweet home”.

Wearing a black hooded jumper, grey tracksuit pants and slides, the mirror selfie showed his ankle bracelet.

The teenager posted a photo of himself with his home detention bracelet on after he was released on bail. Picture: Supplied/Snapchat

His parents Monika and Alexi Broikos both signed as guarantors for their son. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe / NCA NewsWire

Mr Broikos was granted a $1000 bail to live with his parents and 15-year-old sister in Monday’s court appearance.

His parents Monika and Alexi Broikos both signed as guarantors, each to the amount of $25,000.

The teenager is not permitted to leave the property, unless he has permission from Correctional Services, and will wear a tracking monitor under his bail conditions.

He also cannot possess more than one mobile phone or be in contact with a number of people including any of his co-accused.

Mr Broikos was charged with serious drug offences as part of Operation Ironside. Picture: Supplied/Instagram

Mr Broikos was charged with trafficking a large commercial quantity of a controlled drug, being methylamphetamine, for offences that allegedly occurred on May 19, 2021 at Yamba, just west of the Victoria-SA border.

Mr Broikos was also charged with manufacturing and trafficking a controlled drug between January 1 and August 19 in 2020 at Morphett Vale.

Apostle Broikos was seen leaving the Adelaide Magistrates Court after his appearance on Thursday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Kelly Barnes

There was a mass hearing for Operation Ironside accused on Thursday, where majority of defence lawyers argued their clients names and identities be suppressed to ensure the allegations against them did not prejudice a jury.

The long list of suppressions granted by the magistrate include the teenager’s co accused.

Craig Caldicott, for Mr Broikos, tried to request a suppression order for his client but told the court he was aware “the horse had bolted” because the matter was already widely reported.

NCA NewsWire successfully argued against the suppression.

Magistrate Wells agreed, asked Mr Caldicott if he had further submission about the order – who did not – then denied the request.

“There has been significant publicity at this point,” the magistrate said.

“There is not utility in that order that any prejudice can be cured by a direction.”

Magistrate Wells addressed Mr Broikos and his mother during the appearance, reminding them of their responsibilities under the home detention order. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Kelly Barnes

Magistrate Wells then spoke directly to the teenager’s mother and reminded her of her responsibilities as guarantor to ensure her son doesn’t breach his conditions.

Then speaking to the accused, the magistrate said Mr Broikos was “very fortunate” to have been granted home detention bail.

“I urge you to continue to obey your conditions.

“If you disobey your conditions, you know what the consequences will be.”

Mr Broikos held his mother’s hand as they left the courthouse and opened the car door for her, but made no comment to reporters.

Mr Broikos is due to reappear in December.