THREE of four men alleged to be part of a South Coast drug supply ring pleaded guilty to multiple drug charges in Batemans Bay Local Court on Monday.
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Luigi Gino Fato, 62, of East Lynne and 40-year-old Hank Peter Pickett of Malua Bay appeared via audiovisual link from Parklea Prison. Sixty-three-year-old John Sidney Finlayson of Malua Bay and 46-year-old Garry Vyse of Batemans Bay appeared in person.
All had their matters adjourned.
Mr Fato, Mr Pickett and Mr Finlayson men were arrested in Gundagai on February 12. It is alleged police found 9.5kg of ice with an estimated street value of $9 million in their vehicle.
Police subsequently executed search warrants at numerous locations around the state and allegedly found 2750 cannabis plants worth $5.5 million on a rural property at Crowther, near Young.
Mr Vyse was arrested at his home in Batemans Bay on the same day.
Mr Fato pleaded guilty to four charges; supplying or knowingly taking part in the supply of a prohibited drug (two counts), conspiracy to commit offence – manufacture prohibited drug in a commercial quantity, supplying cannabis in an indictable and commercial quantity and receiving property from theft – serious indictable offence.
A charge of enhanced indoor cultivation of cannabis for commercial offence was withdrawn.
Mr Pickett pleaded guilty to supplying a prohibited drug in a commercial quantity (two counts), cultivating a prohibited plant in a commercial quantity and knowingly participating in a criminal group. A charge of knowingly taking part in the supply of a prohibited drug was withdrawn, and a charge of receiving property theft is expected to be formally withdrawn in Batemans Bay Local Court next Monday.
Mr Vyse pleaded guilty to cultivating a prohibited plant in a commercial quantity and enhanced indoor cultivation of cannabis for commercial purpose.
Mr Finlayson appeared on charges of supplying a prohibited drug in a large commercial quantity, cultivating cannabis in an indictable and commercial quantity, knowingly participating in a criminal group and receiving property theft.
Mr Finlayson did not enter any pleas and will appear in Batemans Bay Local Court again on August 25 after his defence counsel Geoff Knox made a section 91 application.
Mr Fato, Mr Pickett and Mr Vyse had their cases committed for sentencing at Bega District Court on October 20.
