Three men, including the head of a “sophisticated” drug union known as “ethnic Brad Pitt,” have received lengthy prison sentences for their role in importing 56 pounds of methylamphetamine into WA.
Key points:
- Nikola Maksimovic was sentenced to 24 years in prison
- The other two men received a 20-year sentence
- They were caught in a covert police operation
Nikola Maksimovic, 35, Jason Gray, 48, and Quinn Newton, 44, were found guilty by a Supreme Court jury of arranging the import, which involved bringing the drug to Perth from the eastern states. by rail in May 2019.
The drugs had a purity of about 80% and an estimated street value of between $ 4.5 million and $ 6.5 million.
They were packed in one-kilo bags, which were wrapped in garbage bags, placed in plastic tubs and then hidden in the back of a marine container behind the carpet, insulating and wrapping bubbles.
But without the three men finding out, the police attacked them and, in the days before the import, the drug was secretly exchanged for an inert substance.
The drug was found in a shipping container traveling by train to WA from Victoria. (Supplied)
When Gray and Newton flew from Victoria to Perth to make delivery to Maksimovic’s union, they were watched by police.
Gray was seen driving a rental van to the parking lot of a Belmont hardware store, where he jumped out, leaving the keys on top of one of the rear tires.
Later, another car stopped next to him and the driver, a member of Maksomovic’s union, was seen retrieving the keys to the tire.
He then moved the plastic tubs to his vehicle and left $ 142,500 inside the rental car, which was paid for by Gray and Newton.
Methylamphetamine was placed in black vats for delivery. (ABC News: David Weber)
What were thought to be drugs were taken to a South Lake property to be “stored,” but police arrived and stormed the premises.
Gray and Newton were later arrested in the hotel rooms, where police also found the cash that had been left in the rented van in the hardware store parking lot.
“Ethnic Brad Pitt” fled
Drug union members had usernames: Maksimovic’s was “ethnic Brad Pitt,” while others included “beer monster,” “humor,” and “Ellendegenerit.”
Maksimovic was informed that the import had been discovered and fled the country to Thailand, leaving behind his wife and two children.
He finally returned in January 2020 believing he was no longer a suspect, unaware that a member of his union was cooperating with police.
Part of the methamphetamine was discovered by police in tea bags. (ABC News: David Weber)
The court heard that those involved in the plan used encrypted mobile phones to communicate so that their messages and calls could not be decrypted.
Maksimovic at the “top level of the drug hierarchy”
Judge Anthony Derrick told Gray and Newton that they had played an integral role in bringing a significant amount of drugs to Western Australia.
“You were the essential conduits between the eastern state provider and the union,” he said.
Judge Derrick says the drugs were intended for the Western Australian community. (ABC News: David Weber)
Judge Derrick said the men had committed the crime only for a major financial reward, knowing the union’s intention was to distribute the drug to the Western Australian community.
He sentenced the two men to 20 years in prison. They were eligible for parole, meaning they will have to spend 18 years behind bars before they can be released.
Judge Derrick described Maksimovic as “at the top level of the drug distribution hierarchy in this state” and the head of “a large-scale and sophisticated drug dealer company.”
He said there was no doubt that if the import had been successful and the drugs distributed to the community, they would have caused immense damage, so he had to impose a sentence that would deter others.
Judge Derrick sentenced the 35-year-old to 24 years in prison and will have to serve 22 years before he can be released on parole.
Posted 5 hours 5 hours agoDmec. June 29, 2022 at 7:25 am, updated 5 hours agoSunday, June 29, 2022 at 7:59 AM