NSW: Alleged jail drug syndicate leader charged
05 Dec 2008 6:47 PM
SYDNEY, Dec 5 AAP - Convicted murderer Bassam Hamzy, the alleged mastermind of a drug-trafficking syndicate coordinated from his NSW jail cell, has been charged with drug offences.
Hamzy, who is serving a 21-year sentence for murdering a man outside a Sydney nightclub, was driven from the Goulburn supermax prison to the town's police station early on Friday afternoon, where the 15 charges were laid.
Police have previously alleged he made more than 19,000 calls from inside Lithgow prison, west of Sydney, between May 1 and June 11 this year as he coordinated a $250,000-a-week drug operation.
The charges laid against Hamzy on Friday were seven counts of supplying a commercial quantity of a prohibited drug, one count of supplying a large commercial quantity of a prohibited drug, two counts of supplying an indictable quantity of a prohibited drug, two counts of knowingly dealing in proceeds of crime, two counts of obtaining benefit by deception, and one count of participating in a criminal group.
Seven other men, all alleged members of the drug syndicate, were arrested in raids in Sydney and Melbourne on Thursday.
Five of them have faced two Sydney courts charged with drug possession and proceeds of crime offences, and participating in a criminal group.
None applied for bail and all were remanded ahead of their next court appearance on February 11.
Hamzy will remain in custody and is due to appear by video link at Goulburn Local Court on Monday, police said.
