A Fairy Meadow man accused of being part of an extensive cocaine ring dealing the white powder throughout the Illawarra has made his first appearance in court.
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Kaan Recept Berk, 25, appeared in Wollongong Local Court for a brief mention on Wednesday.
Berk was arrested last month as detectives from the Raptor Squad swooped on an alleged cocaine ring which dealt cocaine at apartments, restaurants and bars in Wollongong.
Police picked up Berk at a Wollongong gym before he was later released on bail.
Police have charged Berk with four offences as a result of their investigations.
Police allege that Berk was part of a criminal group with several other men between April and May this year and that on April 29 Berk supplied 14.175 grams of cocaine.
Police also allege that Berk self-administered 0.1 grams of cocaine between 6 and 6.30pm on the same day.
Police allege that on May 2, between 7.30pm and 8.30pm Berk dealt with $2,350 in cash, knowing it was the proceeds of crime.
Strike force arrests
Berk is one of 10 men arrested as part of Strike Force Gindurra, which was formed to target alleged associates of outlaw motorcycle gangs and organised crime networks that supplied cocaine in the Illawarra.
Those caught so far include Wollongong restaurateur Andrea Rubbo, of landmark North Wollongong restaurant Lucia's by the Sea, and Warilla Lake-South Gorillas player Tory Vartiainen - son of national Bandidos boss Tony "Big Tony" Vartiainen.
Police told the media last month that more arrests were to come.
Police allege the syndicate was directed from the Corrimal Street, Wollongong kitchen of mainplayer Mustajab Turi and was one of the main suppliers of cocaine to the Illawarra region.
Those now before the courts include:
- Accused mainplayer Mustajab Turi, 21, of Wollongong. Faces 25 charges, including 16 counts of supplying indictable and commercial quantities of a prohibited drug.
- Tory Vartiainen, 22. Son of Bandidos boss Tony Vartiainen. Charged with participating in a criminal group and contributing to criminal activity, knowingly dealing with the proceeds of crime and two counts of supplying an indictable quantity of cocaine.
- Stevce Blazevski, 42, charged with supplying an indictable quantity of cocaine and participating in a criminal group, following his arrest at Cringila.
- Lucia's by the Sea restaurant owner Andrea Rubbo, 42. Allegedly captured on police surveillance and phone intercepts self-administering cocaine inside Turi's apartment, buying it and making plans to on-sell it.
- Marwan Choubassi, 30. Arrested on Goolagong Circuit, Mount Warrigal on five charges. Allegedly recordedweighing and packaging drugs inside Turi's apartment. Refused bail on five charges, owing to prior drug history.
- Kaan Berk 25, arrested at gym on Montague St, Nth Wollongong. Charged with participate criminal group, supply prohibited drug, self administer prohibited drug and knowingly deal with proceeds of crime.
- Daniel Treneski, 38 Cringila arrested at Keira St business, Cafe Adore. Alleged to have exchanged $8500 in cash for two ounces of cocaine during an April 27 visit to Turi's unit. Allegedly sold the drugs and returned $17,000 to Turi.
- Jake Lloyd Agius, 24, allegedly bought and on-sold 56.7 grams of the drug. Arrested at Wollongong police station.
- Dimitri Cantarakis, 21. Allegedly caught on a secret camera delivering 255 grams of cocaine to accused mainplayer Turi.
- Stefan Stefas, 20, arrested on Shearwater Drive in Lake Heights and charged with eight offences, including five supply charges and one participate criminal group.
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