Multimillion dollar dope syndicate smuggler given five years’ jail

MEMBERS of a multimillion-dollar drug syndicate, including one who tried to smuggle 31kg of cannabis into the NT with his oblivious former cop father in his car, have been sentenced to jail

Some of the cannabis seized in the multi-million dollar drug bust. Picture: AFP

MEMBERS of a multimillion-dollar cannabis and money laundering syndicate, including one who was caught trying to smuggle 31kg of cannabis into the NT with his oblivious former cop father in the car, have each been sentenced to jail.

Thomas Phelan, 36, appeared in the Darwin Supreme Court on Friday after pleading guilty to one count of supplying a commercial quantity of cannabis to syndicate kingpin Peter Shayne Smith.

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The court heard Phelan – a plumber and former Inpex worker – had supplied commercial quantities of cannabis to Smith on six occasions between January and February this year, but was busted by police in March when he was pulled over and his car searched near Mataranka while driving from Victoria to the NT with around 31kg of the drug concealed in parts of his vehicle.

Phelan’s father, who the court heard is a “long-term highly decorated former police officer”, was in the car at the time of the search and was unaware of the drugs in the vehicle.

Police also seized $28,000 cash in the car, which they confirmed was from the sale of cannabis.

Justice Jenny Blokland told the court Phelan began doing subcontracting working for Smith as a plumber before Smith offered him the chance to supply him with cannabis in exchange for plumbing contracts.

“He somehow developed an idea that he could improve his situation by getting involved in this form of criminal activity,” Justice Blokland said.

He was sentenced to five years prison, suspended after three years.

Another man, 42-year-old Adrian Davies, was also sentenced on Friday for supplying and possessing cannabis.

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Davies was arrested in March after police searched his Moulden home and found almost 3kg of cannabis and more than $31,000 in cash from the sale of cannabis.

He was sentenced to three years prison, suspended after 18 months.