A Towradgi man accused of selling meth from a bike repair shop in the Wollongong CBD was secretly recorded boasting about conducting his drug deals right under the nose of local police, a court has heard.
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Colin Barnett, 55, stands accused of supplying a total of 20.26 grams of ice on 16 separate occasions from his business, Custom Recycled Cycles, between September 9 and October 1.
Police will allege he used regular customer traffic coming and going from the store as a "smokescreen" to avoid detection.
Documents tendered to Wollongong Bail Court on Saturday said police set up Strike Force Fame in April to investigate the alleged supply of drugs from the business premises after receiving a tip-off from the public that the shop was being used as a front for peddling illegal drugs.
Detectives used physical and electronic surveillance, as well as telephone intercepts, to monitor and record Barnett's alleged drug supply activities.
It is alleged in one conversation, officers overheard Barnett boasting to a potential customer that his activities were "so close to the police that they don't know I'm there".
He allegedly used common street drug terms in an attempt to hide his activity, referring to quantities of drugs as "dots", "half-weights", "snooker" and "hunge", and using coded language to communicate with potential customers, including asking them "what do you want to spend on the pokies?"
Barnett and his business partner, Heath Trudgett, were arrested on Friday morning following a raid on the business.
Police located and seized a number of items during the search of the business, including digital scales and containers holding the remnants of a crystal substance, as well as nunchucks and items suspected of being stolen.
Barnett was charged with 16 counts of drug supply and one count each of ongoing drug supply and conducting a drug premises.
He was also charged with six counts of driving without a licence.
Meanwhile, Trudgett is facing 11 counts of driving while disqualified after police allegedly recorded him illegally behind the wheel police during their investigation.
In court on Saturday, police prosecutor Sergeant Amelia Wall opposed Barnett's bail, saying he had a history of drug use, possession and supply.
Registrar Call D'Arcy noted Barnett's "lengthy record", and refused him bail.
Trudgett was also remanded in custody after failing to secure bail.
The two men will face court again on Monday.
Brendan Crabb
I'm a member of ACM's national property team, covering the Illawarra and South Coast. Based in Albion Park, NSW, I write about exciting, interesting or just downright quirky properties that have been listed for sale, major sales, market trends, auctions and more. One of my favourite aspects of being a journalist is I believe everyone has a story to tell. What's yours?
I'm a member of ACM's national property team, covering the Illawarra and South Coast. Based in Albion Park, NSW, I write about exciting, interesting or just downright quirky properties that have been listed for sale, major sales, market trends, auctions and more. One of my favourite aspects of being a journalist is I believe everyone has a story to tell. What's yours?
