An alleged drug dealer from Iran accused of supplying almost $100,000 worth of ice in Sydney has claimed he was ‘tricked’ into the deals by his pregnant girlfriend.
Amir Elikaie, who arrived in Australia nine years ago as an Iranian refugee, appeared in court in Parramatta on Friday.
The migrant, who has since gained Australian citizenship, is charged with several alleged offences relating to dealing ice across the city.
Police claim Amir Elikaie was part of a network involved in ice deals worth $83,000 around Sydney (stock image)
He is accused for his alleged role in an ice ring, with deals worth $83,000 in four drops around the city’s western suburbs, the Daily Telegraph reports.
Police claim Elikaie and his girlfriend, Natalie Joseph, is believed to be part of a network which sends ice in the post around the Parramatta area.
Joseph is currently behind bars and is seven months pregnant.
But in documents submitted to the court, police said that during interview, Elikaie told officers the whole plan was his girlfriends.
He told police he had been ‘tricked and pressured’ into getting involved, the Telegraph claimed.
Four deals across four addresses in western Sydney landed the couple a reported $83,000 for ice reported to be 75 to 80 per cent ‘pure’.
Drugs raids at a property in Merrylands, western Sydney, reportedly found ice (pictured, stock image), heroin and drug equipment
A hearing at Parramatta Local Court heard that when Elikaie was arrested during a raid last week, he was wearing just a pair of shorts.
It is alleged the apartment in Merrylands contained ice, heroin, scales and other drug equipment.
But police reportedly found more ice packets when Elikaie asked the arresting officers to hand him a shirt which was hiding more packets on the floor, it is claimed.
Elikaie has pleaded his innocence and denied he knew anything about the drugs allegedly found in his apartment.
A bail application by Joseph was turned down by magistrates on Thursday, while Elikaie will appear again on April 26.
Police have been cracking down hard on alleged ice dealers across Sydney.
Elikaie is another Iranian refugee claimed to be involved in deals around the city.
Ali Maleki and Yosra Rabieh, an Iranian couple who arrived on a boat five years ago, are also facing charges as part of a separate investigation.
Ali Maleki and Yosra Rabieh, another Iranian couple charged by police over ice offences as part of a separate investigation
The pair are accused of meth trafficking after police reportedly seized more than 36kg of ice, $260,000 in cash and three luxury cars during raids in the city’s north-west in February.
A third Iranian man was charged in connection with the reported discoveries by police.
Meanwhile, two other men were arrested in February following a raid by Australian Federal Police in October 2017 which reportedly found 10kg of ice hidden inside honey jars on a plane bound for Australian.
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