A police investigation into a sophisticated party drug syndicate allegedly run by the Westman twins has claimed yet another scalp, with the network's "key street-level dealer" falling on his sword in court on Wednesday.
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Shaun Terry Lane, a close friend of Joel and Flinn Westman and one of the syndicate's loyal lieutenants, confessed to playing a major role in the drug ring, ensuring cocaine and ecstasy hungry customers were kept satiated and satisfied on a day-to-day basis.
Lane is the fourth person to admit their involvement in the illegal operation following court confessions from the twins' older brother Daniel on Tuesday, Joel's girlfriend, Nikita Campbell last month, and pseudo stand-over man Scott Crowther in April.
Documents tendered to Wollongong Local Court on Wednesday said Lane featured heavily on a footage obtained from a hidden police camera fixed inside the twins' Wonson Avenue home throughout the months of July and August last year.
"[Lane] was at [the Westmans'] home on a regular basis informing them of upcoming supplies he'd arranged, receiving instructions from [the twins], requesting and collecting drugs for supply and reporting back to [the brothers]," an agreed set of facts said.
"[Lane] acquired a broad customer base to supply drugs to and was one of the [syndicate's] major runners."
Police said in July and August 2019, Lane was recorded selling 293.78 grams of MDMA and 391.2 grams of cocaine on behalf of the Westman brothers in four separate transactions with a police mole.
In one exchange, the 20-year-old even gave the buyer an "extra half an ounce" of MDMA free of charge because they'd had to wait on stock.
The drugs were seized by police after each sale and found to be of high purity upon testing.
Lane was arrested as part of a series of raids across the Illawarra on the morning of August 16.
Police discovered 2.37grams of cocaine, 79.13 grams of MDMA, 28.68 grams of methamphetamine and $1,170 in cash during a search of Lane's Woonona home.
Lane was originally charged with 29 drug offences however the majority were withdrawn in court on Wednesday after he agreed to plead guilty to two commercial drug supply charges.
A further seven offences, including participating in a criminal group and dealing with proceeds of crime, will be taken into account when Lane is sentenced at a later date.
He remains in custody, bail refused, on the charges.
