James Strickland had multiple mobile phones, owned several cars, and had a series of ‘‘runners’’ to do the dirty work for him – in short, he had the drug dealing business down pat.
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Or so he thought.
Unbeknown to the Illawarra man, his every movement was being monitored by specialist police, intent on capturing their dealer red-handed.
What started with stakeouts and phone taps in February 2013 eventually moved to physical interceptions by police, who took down Strickland’s associates one by one as the months wore on.
By August that year it was all over, with officers arresting Strickland and two co-accused, Luke Keuenhoff and Shawn Francis, after a raid on an associate’s house at Koonawarra uncovered an abundance of cash and cannabis.
Police claimed the trio was responsible for distributing hundreds of kilograms of cannabis throughout the region, aided by a series of runners paid to sell directly to customers.
Keuenhoff supplied Strickland with up to 18 kilograms of cannabis a week, and Strickland in turn supplied some of the drugs to Francis.
Both Strickland and Francis had a ‘‘well-established customer base’’ court documents said, with Strickland supplying mobile phones and, at times, vehicles to his dealers so they could deliver the goods.
Between February and June, police recorded the trio’s involvement in no less than 15 drug deals, each involving the exchange of kilograms of cannabis at different locations throughout Wollongong’s southern suburbs.
Kanahooka Point was a much-used destination, however trades also took place in Cringila, Yallah and at the Tallawarra Power Station by Lake Illawarra.
By late May police had started to actively dismantle the group, slowly picking off its allies.
One associate was stopped with almost six kilograms of cannabis on the back seat of his car, while another was pulled over and found to have 27.7 kilograms of marijuana in five cardboard boxes in his vehicle.
The court heard investigating officers pounced on the Koonawarra house on August 1, discovering $12,360 in cash, a plethora of drug equipment and also $36,000 worth of marijuana hidden in the roof cavity.
The trio was charged with commercial drug supply.
Strickland later pleaded guilty and had the case sent to the District Court for sentencing.
In court on Tuesday the matter was adjourned to early next year for a sentencing hearing.
Strickland remains in custody.
Keuenhoff and Francis have been jailed for at least two years over their role in the sizeable syndicate.
