Alleged Mongols-associated drug syndicate members face court

Two alleged members of a Mongols outlaw motorcycle gang-associated drug syndicate have faced Shepparton Magistrates’ Court accused of trafficking cocaine.

Lausei Asiata, 22, is facing multiple charges of trafficking cocaine, possessing a firearm as a prohibited person, dealing proceeds of crime, failing to comply with a direction to assist, and bail offences, while Alexander Kalogerakis, 22, is charged with trafficking cocaine, possessing an imitation firearm and possessing a shotgun without a licence.

Echo Taskforce’s Detective Senior Constable James McLuckie told the court both accused were alleged members of a drug trafficking syndicate associated with the Mongols, and had been investigated via an operation featuring undercover police officers and telephone intercepts.

The court heard both were associates of Joshua Eddy, a patched member of the Mongols who is currently facing charges of trafficking a large commercial quantity of cocaine and methamphetamine.

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It was heard Asiata and co-accused Montather Al Mousawi allegedly travelled to Seymour and sold 84 g of cocaine to undercover police officers on June 21. It is alleged through that interaction they agreed to sell a sawn-off double-barrel firearm to the officers, which was subsequently bought for $4500.

Det Sen Constable McLuckie said Kalogerakis, Asiata, Al Mousawi and further co-accused Pancrazio Mazza travelled to Seymour on July 4 and allegedly sold 112 g of cocaine to an undercover police officer for $29,200.

The court heard Kalogerakis’s house was raided on July 27, with police locating assorted shotgun ammunition in his bedroom, along with a shotgun, three boxes of 12-gauge ammunition, knuckledusters, scales and zip-lock bags in a room occupied by Mazza.

Asiata’s house was also raided, with police locating 22 rounds of ammunition. It was heard a phone was seized, but he did not provide police with his PIN code. It was also heard Asiata received $5000 from an associate who worked at Kyabram and Shepparton bank branches, after that associate allegedly withdrew the money from an unknown customer’s account.

Representing himself, Asiata told the court he had a young daughter and did casual work three or four times a week. Magistrate Mary-Anne MacCallum noted his young age and lack of previous criminal convictions could also be seen as contributing factors to exceptional circumstances to grant bail.

Police prosecutor Senior Constable Caitlin McLeod opposed bail, submitting Asiata was a “primary offender” within the alleged offending, adding he had been on bail at the time of the offending.

Ms MacCallum refused the application, finding exceptional circumstances did not exist, remanding Asiata to appear in court on August 20.

In a separate bail application, Kalogerakis’s lawyer Anthony Coote submitted compelling reason to grant bail was made out via a combination of factors, including the lesser role of the accused in the alleged offending and his complete lack of prior criminal convictions.

Ms MacCallum granted bail with conditions including a curfew and not to associate with any co-accused. He will also appear in court on August 20.

Australia - BNN.