Cocaine is now fetching $200,000 per kilogram while meth is going for $300,000 a kilo, a Perth court has been told during the appearance of a senior bikie figure who stands accused of heading up a “sophisticated drug supply network.”
Marius Stelian Sabau, who police claim is the president of the Mongols MC in WA, and two others were arrested last week after drugs worth about $2 million were allegedly found at a Balga Airbnb property.
Last week’s gang crime squad investigation of Mr Sabau culminated in about 3kg of cocaine and one kilogram of methylamphetamine being found at the Rochester Circle home owned by a grandfather who had leased it out on Airbnb.
Mr Sabau, 42, was arrested along with fellow Mongols member Dre Frazier Collard-Williams, 22, and associate Cathy Patricia McFarland, 36. In the Perth Magistrates Court on Friday further details about the police operation into the trio were revealed as Mr Sabau made an unsuccessful bail application.
A police prosecutor told the court it will be alleged the 42-year-bikie, a father of five, was the head of a sophisticated drug supply network. The prosecutor said it will be alleged Mr Sabau, who the court was told is already a declared drug trafficker, “took possession” of the Balga home on June 29.
Thereafter, it’s alleged drugs were placed inside a ceiling space at the property. Shortly after police went to the home when there was nobody there and seized four packages of cocaine and meth.
They also placed cameras and microphones inside the home that same day. The following day Mr Sabau‘s co accused went back to the property where they realised the drugs were missing. On the morning of July 2 the trio went back to the home where they were swiftly arrested.
Police allegedly seized $313,000 cash and other drugs after several later raids in Landsdale and Alexander Heights.
“We say that the case is a very strong case,” the prosecutor said.
“The weight (of drugs) and the nature we say is indicative of a criminal network operating at a high level.”
The prosecutor said physical and audio surveillance would form part of the State’s case. Mr Sabau’s lawyer Nick Scerri argued his client, a landscaper by trade, should be granted home detention bail.
“He’s never been to that (Balga) house until the day he’s arrested…he’s never been there before that day,” Mr Scerri said.
Magistrate Michelle Pontifex ultimately denied bail to Mr Sabau, who appeared via video link from Casuarina jail. He will return to court in September. Mr Collard-Williams, who also faced court on Friday, was remanded in custody until a home detention bail order report can be produced. He will reappear later this month.
Make sure you have subscribed to our Facebook page or Twitter to stay tuned!
Source: The West Australian by Phil Hickey