A 21-year-old man accused of supplying party drugs as part of a "sophisticated criminal syndicate" operating out of Shellharbour has cried in court after being refused bail.
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Brodie Bridge is the the sixth man to be charged following a 10-month Lake Illawarra police investigation into the alleged drug syndicate, accused of supplying cocaine and 'ice' in the region.
Four men - Keiran Daniels, 27, Joshua Kemper, 22, Jarrod Turk, 21, Ryan McAllister, 18, - were refused bail in court on Friday after they were arrested while allegedly carrying out transactions in Albion Park Rail and Shellharbour on Thursday.
Their cases will return to court on Wednesday.
A fifth man was also arrested but released on police bail to appear in court in November.
In a press conference on Tuesday, police said they had dedicated substantial resources to the investigation and were expecting to make at least 10 more arrests.
"The ages of the people we have arrested so far is of grave concern to us," Detective Inspector Glen Broadhead said.
In documents tendered to court on Tuesday, police allege Bridge was recorded selling various quantities to police informants six times between July 5 and August 15, with the deals allegedly growing from four ecstasy pills worth $120, to 27.9g of ecstasy for $2150.
Police will allege an exchange of 10 tablets for $200 took place between Bridge and a buyer in a Shellharbour cafe bathroom on July 26 where Bridge was working as a casual chef.
He told the informant he had 'heaps at home'.
In August, Bridge allegedly told another buyer the person he was sourcing the ecstasy from was "messing him around" with prices.
He allegedly said the buyer should tell him if the quality was "shit" as he had a number of other suppliers, including a mate who was a "massive dealer".
He was arrested on Monday afternoon and charged with multiple drug offences.
In court on Tuesday, defence lawyer Darren Chennell said Bridge was "a very young man....only 21, with a very limited criminal record" who had never been in custody before.
"He needs to be at liberty to provide for his family," Mr Chennell said.
He said Bridge could report to police daily, provide a $500 surety and would abide by a curfew if released.
However, Magistrate Susan McGowan refused bail, prompting Bridge to become teary.
"I know there's going to be a delay [until the hearing] but that's just the way the world is," she said.
"They're serious offences, it's a strong case, and it was done for alleged financial gain."
The case will return to court on January 15.