THE alleged head of a Ballarat drug syndicate accused of trafficking commercial quantities of speed, ecstasy and ice, was refused bail yesterday following his arrest during police raids across the region.
Three men, Clifford Formosa, 32, and Danny Missen, 27, both of Snake Valley and Matthew Cicero, 31, of Ballarat North appeared in Ballarat Magistrates Court yesterday over their alleged involvement in a drug ring that was
the subject of police operation "Remex" for almost 12 months.
Senior Constable Travis Barber of the Crime Tasked Operations in Melbourne described Formosa as the "leader" of the syndicate and said he trafficked drugs to customers who would then become sub-dealers.
Sen Const Barber said Missen also played a major role and would collect drugs from Melbourne which would be brought to a shed dubbed Formosa's "office", to be weighed, cut and other materials added to increase the quantity
of the product before the drugs were sold.
Sen Const Barber said Formosa would threaten to get syndicate members from Melbourne to "run through" the homes of people with unpaid drug debts and had access to numerous firearms including a Mini-14 semi-automatic
assault weapon.
Police opposed bail applications made by Formosa and Missen, arguing they posed an unacceptable risk to the community, and said investigations were continuing.
The police operation involved thousands of telephone interceptions, the use of covert cameras and traditional investigation methods.
The court heard the syndicate would use code names when discussing drugs including white hearts for ecstasy, frozen water for ice (crystal methamphetamine) and in one conversation a "motorbike" as a code for amphetamines.
Formosa and Missen, face 13 charges each including drug trafficking and drug possession.
Defence lawyer for Missen, Koulla Roussos said her client was a "young man" of good character who had no prior convictions.
She said Missen had family support and was willing to abide by any bail restrictions imposed by the court such as a curfew.
Representing himself, Formosa said he was also willing to abide by any conditions if granted bail.
Magistrate Kay Robertson denied both men bail and remanded them in custody to reappear in Ballarat Magistrates Court for a filing hearing next Thursday.
Cicero faces 15 charges including trafficking commercial quantities of a drug of dependence, drug possession and dealing in property suspected to be the proceeds of crime.
He was remanded in custody to reappear in Ballarat Magistrates Court next Tuesday on unrelated matters.