A sophisticated criminal syndicate responsible for distributing hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of party drugs throughout the Illawarra is run by two burly, ginger-headed twins from Coniston who are just days out of their teens, a court has heard.
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Joel and Flinn Westman, who turned 20 less than a week ago, are the alleged masterminds behind the burgeoning cocaine and ecstasy ring, which is alleged to have included their older brother, one of their girlfriends and a few loyal and trusted lieutenants to act as runners.
Police have been monitoring the pair and their alleged offsiders for more than three months, carrying out around-the-clock surveillance using phone taps, stakeouts, undercover buyers and - perhaps most importantly - planting a bug in the twins' Wonson Avenue home.
Wollongong detectives swooped at dawn on Friday, aided by tactical teams and the riot squad in carrying out simultaneous search warrants at homes in Coniston, Wollongong, Woonona, Unanderra and Oak Flats just after sunrise.
They seized weapons, drugs and a large quantity of cash, which will be alleged is the proceeds of some of the group's illegal activities.
Along with the Westman twins, police also arrested and charged their older brother Daniel (Woonona); Joel's girlfriend Nikita Campbell (Coniston); close friend Shaun Lane (Woonona); and Lane's brother-in-law, Graeme Ashfield (Unanderra).
Meanwhile, Lake Illawarra detectives busted their own off-shoot group with alleged links to the syndicate, arresting mates David Ognenovski (Mount Keira) and Thomas James Walton (Wollongong) on Friday morning and a third man, Hunter Harrison (Oak Flats).
All nine appeared in Wollongong Bail Court on Saturday but only Daniel Westman, Campbell, and Harrison were released on bail, while the rest remain in custody.
Those who were released have strict conditions attached to their liberty, including daily reporting to police, nighttime curfews, specified addresses and no-contact orders with any prosecution witnesses or co-accused.
As a result, Daniel Westman is barred from communicating with his brothers.
Police documents tendered to the court on Saturday reveal detectives only began their investigations in June but the extent of what they have allegedly uncovered so far led them to label the syndicate "sophisticated, well planned and meticulously organised".
They allege the syndicate is headed by the Westman twins, who stand accused of dealing in mid to large quantities of potent party drugs that are designed to be sold down the line to intermediary suppliers who traditionally cut them into single-dose amounts for individual sales.
The brothers are facing 25 charges each, including supplying commercial amounts of cocaine and ecstasy, which carry sentences of up to 15 years behind bars, and dealings with proceeds of crime charges stemming from the large quantities of cash allegedly paid to them in exchange for the drugs.
Meanwhile, police will allege the Westmans surrounded themselves with a trusted circle of helpers, including Nikita Campbell, who stands accused of playing a vital role in the syndicate's day-to-day operations, prompting police to describe her as one of the group's "key personnel".
"Nikita Campbell was at times responsible for the actual supple of cocaine and MDMA when required to do so for the criminal syndicate," police wrote in documents tendered in court.
"Nikita Campbell would bag and weigh prohibited drugs for the syndicate along with counting and dealing with the Australian currency."
In July, police listened in as Campbell and her boyfriend allegedly counted out $80,000-$100,000 in cash at the dining room table inside the Wonson Ave home, believed to be the proceeds of their drug sales.
It is also alleged Campbell was the main driver of a BMW that had been taken from a customer as payment for an outstanding debt owed to the syndicate.
Daniel Westman was allegedly recorded on the police bug attending his brothers' house in June and July and discussing drug supplies. It is allegedly he was also seen obtaining cocaine and ecstasy to on-sell to customers.
Police allege Shaun Lane's role in the syndicate was that of "street-level dealer" or "runner" whose job was to deliver the drugs to their respective buyers. It is alleged Lane was kept busy in this endeavour, with police claiming he made runs on an "almost daily basis".
Graeme Ashfield, who was dating Lane's sister, allegedly helped the group by storing the drugs until they could be sold, facilitated some of the sales, then collecting money from buyers and returning it to Lane.
Hunter Harrison was allegedly seen leaving the Westmans' home with Flinn Westman on Thursday evening, the day before the raids. The pair returned a short time later with Harrison allegedly in possession of cocaine, which was re-packaged into two separate bags and put in the boot of Campbell's BMW that night.
The drugs were discovered by police during Friday morning's search. The cocaine was weighed at 267 grams.
Meanwhile, Ognenovski and Walton stand accused of supplying cocaine and ecstasy - up to an ounce at a time - some of which they allegedly purchased from the Westmans.
The Westman twins, Walton, Ognenovski and Lane will return to court on Monday. The other cases were adjourned to October.
The charged
Primary:
Joel Westman, 20, Coniston
- Alleged role: Mastermind, with twin brother Flinn
- Search warrant seizures: Not yet publicly revealed
- Charges: Direct criminal group; 5x dealing with proceeds of crime; 11x commercial drug supply; 3x large commercial drug supply; 2x ongoing drug supply
- Bail status: Not applied for, refused
Flinn Johnson Westman, 20, Coniston
- Alleged role: Mastermind, with twin brother Flinn
- Search warrant seizures: Not yet publicly revealed
- Charges: Direct criminal group; 5x dealing with proceeds of crime; 11x commercial drug supply; 3x large commercial drug supply; 2x ongoing drug supply
- Bail status: Not applied for, refused
Daniel Westman, 24, Woonona (older brother to Joel and Flinn)
- Alleged role: Assisted twin brothers Flinn and Joel in sales
- Search warrant seizures: 52 grams cocaine; 44.6 grams ecstasy; 25 grams ecstasy tablets; $6,500 Australian currency
- Charges: Participate criminal group; 3x drug supply; deal proceeds of crime.
- Bail status: Granted
Nikita Campbell, 19, Coniston (girlfriend of Joel)
- Alleged role: Assisted in day-to-day operations.
- Search warrant seizures: Not yet publicly revealed
- Charges: Participate criminal group;3x knowingly take part in supply of prohibited drugs; deal with proceeds of crime
- Bail status: Granted
Shaun Terry Lane, 20, Woonona
- Alleged role: Runner
- Search warrant seizures: 112 grams of ecstasy; $1,170 cash; 4.11 grams ecstasy pills
- Charges: Participate criminal group; 12x drug supply; 2x ongoing drug supply; 4x deal with proceeds of crime; possess prohibited drug
Bail status: Refused
Graeme Ashfield, 32, Unanderra
- Alleged role: Stored drugs prior to sale, sold drugs, collected money on behalf of the syndicate
- Search warrant seizures: $5,500 in Australian currency, 23 grams methamphetamine; 900 grams cannabis; cannabis seeds; sling shot; mobile phones, scales, ledgers "consistent with the supply of prohibited drugs".
- Charges: participate criminal group contributing to criminal activity; knowingly deal with proceeds of crime; 2x drug supply, possesses prohibited weapon
- Bail status: Refused
Hunter Harrison, 19, Oak Flats
- Alleged role: Helped Flinn Westman secure 267 grams cocaine
- Search warrant seizure: 14 grams cocaine; slingshot
- Charges: Supply prohibited drug; possess prohibited weapon
- Bail status: Granted
Secondary:
David Ognenovski, 26, Mount Keira
- Alleged role: Dealt cocaine and ecstasy, some of which he allegedly sourced from the Westmans
- Search warrant seizure: Steroids; jet ski; $39,950 cash
- Charges: Participate criminal group; 2x drug supply; knowingly deal with proceeds of crime
- Bail status: Refused
Thomas Walton, 30, Wollongong
- Alleged role: Part of secondary syndicate with Ognenovski
- Search warrant seizure: 90 grams of cocaine; steroids; drug paraphernalia
- Charges: Participate criminal group; 2x drug supply; deal proceeds of crime
- Bail status: Refused