The drug orders always came through in codes.
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’G’, ‘HG’ and ‘12’ were the more common terms used; ‘baseball’ and ‘G-string’ the more obscure.
One would-be customer was even told to use emoticons to indicate what she wanted; one smiley face for an ounce, two smiley faces for two ounces.
But regardless of how they placed their orders, all the customers buying drugs from this Illawarra syndicate knew what they were getting – high-quality, locally made meth (ice).
The ring was made up of several Illawarra identities, all with different roles to play.
There was Marino Descresci the cook, who was involved in the manufacturing process, and Terrence Strafford, who was responsible for overseeing the deals and delivering money to one of the alleged kingpins, David Dahl.
Nicholas Drougas was a down-line purchaser and close associate of Strafford. He was involved in negotiating with customers, and was often by Strafford’s side when deals were done.
Also in the mix was Angela Hood, an up-the-line supplier who drove a silver Audi to drug appointments with the men.
On one occasion in January 2014, Hood met with Strafford, Drougas and a female buyer at Strafford’s house, where they carried out a deal worth $25,000.
Also in the mix – although apparently very reluctantly – was David Dahl’s wife, Joanne Dahl.
The daughter of a former cop, Joanne Dahl wasn’t happy with her husband’s alleged involvement in the drug world.
But that didn’t stop her from acting as his runner on occasions.
Such was her apparent discomfort though, she was initially relieved when caught by police on April 20, 2014.
“I do it for him,” she confessed, “I don’t even like it....to be completely f---ing honest I’m glad you guys stopped me, I hate this shit.”
The remaining group members were arrested 10 days after Dahl.
They had been monitored by police in an undercover operation for more than five months.
Strafford, Drougas, Hood, Descresci and Joanne Dahl have each pleaded guilty in court to drug supply charges.
They will be sentenced on April 1.
David Dahl and another alleged up-line supplier associated with the group, Evren Agdiran, continue to deny their involvement.