An alleged Australian drug ring linked to a Colombian cartel allegedly compared their operation to TV drama Breaking Bad in a series of explosive encrypted texts.
Champion bodybuilder and lifeguard Rhys Alwyn Ferszt, 33, is a roads and drainage officer with Gold Coast council but is also alleged to be the ringleader of a $175million cocaine manufacturing syndicate.
He allegedly orchestrated the construction of a $250,000 cocaine laboratory in the regional Queensland town of Durong, where police recently discovered 100kg of pure extracted cocaine.
Rhys Ferszt (pictured), 33, named as the alleged ringleader of $175million cocaine plot
The alleged Australian drug ring linked to a Colombian cartel allegedly compared their operation to TV drama Breaking Bad in a series of explosive encrypted texts
Now details of alleged messages have been revealed between Ferszt – codenamed Loyalty on an encrypted messaging app called Threema – and co-accused Gregory William Murphy, 36 – nicknamed Loyalty Sidekick 2.0 in the texts.
The pair are said to have discussed the huge array of chemicals they need, with Murphy allegedly saying: ‘When I unloaded it, it looked like Breaking Bad.’
The texts were filed as evidence in the Supreme Court by Australian Federal Police when they opposed an application for bail by Ferszt while facing charges of conspiracy to manufacture a commercial quantity of a controlled drug.
He was arrested outside a Darwin gym on July 21 while on a ‘mid-career break’ from his council job.
Ferszt told the court in an affadvit that he wanted to be freed on bail so he could compete in a bodybuilding competition next month, reports the Courier-Mail.
He added: ‘I intend to contest the charges and deny the inferences that are said to be drawn by investigating officers.’
Details of alleged messages have been revealed between Rhys Ferszt – codenamed Loyalty on an encrypted messaging app called Threema – and co-accused Gregory William Murphy, 36 – nicknamed Loyalty Sidekick 2.0 in the texts
Federal police opposed the bail, alleging Ferszt had been schooled in drug production techniques by a Colombian chemist called Fabio Alberto Fernandez Pulgarin, 48.
The specialist had allegedly flown in to Australia on May 18 to show Ferszt and others how to extract large quantities of cocaine.
But the operation was under police surveillance and details of their alleged conversations were tendered in evidence.
In the transcripts, Murphy is alleged to have told Ferszt at the time of creating the alleged Dugong drug lab: ‘Like wtf I didn’t know what to think when I seen what unloaded today.’
Ferszt allegedly tries to tell his sidekick that it was just cleaning chemicals and paint, but Murphy allegedly insists there was ammonia, hydrochloric acid and ‘glass bottles of s***’.
He is also accused of storing fuels and chemicals used in the cocaine extraction process, while teaching others how to extract the drug
Police seized over $1million in cash from a 32-year-old Brisbane woman’s home – the cash is believed to be the profits from the cocaine cartel
Ferszt allegedly replies: ‘It’s everything you can get over the shelf.’
The pair also allegedly discuss their fears about locals taking an interest in what they’re up to, with Murphy allegedly adding: ‘I hope neighbours are not nosy.’
Ferszt allegedly replies: ‘Well if we don’t initiate contact they won’t.’
Murphy is alleged to have said he was more concerned about the smell coming from the drug operation but Ferszt allegedly adds: ‘That’s why they asked so remote.’
In June, another alleged exchange between the two erupts over a shopping list Ferszt has allegedly asked Murphy to buy.
‘Where am I goin to get half this stuff?’ Murphy allegedly messages Ferszt, who allegedly replies: ‘Science stores like test tubes and heaps.’
Further alleged messages between Murphy and another co-accused Douglas Sinnamon, 31, appear to hint at a rift within the alleged syndicate.
Murphy is alleged to have said he was more concerned about the smell coming from the drug operation but Ferszt allegedly adds: ‘That’s why they asked so remote’
Murphy allegedly moans that Ferszt ‘stresses’ him out because he wants everything done as ‘quickly as possible’, but ‘doesn’t do anything’ himself and has ‘too much time on his hands’.
Sinnamon allegedly replies: ‘Yeah just throw money at a problem but also make sure nothing’s suss.
‘But when you start telling I want a shed f***ing finished a full year earlier before anyone else.
‘And I’ll pay you cash, just f***en make it happen.
‘Do they want it not to be not suss or what? It’s very confusing.’
In June, another alleged exchange between the two erupts over a shopping list Ferszt has allegedly asked Murphy to buy
Murphy allegedly adds the following day that Ferszt is ‘the link between here and overseas’.
Police also allegedly eavesdropped on a conversation between Murphy and another co-accused Benjamin Williams, 30, when they discussed the quality of the coke being produced while inside a car.
‘I am buzzing off my f***ing head c***, so are you’, Williams allegedly said, while Murphy allegedly tells an unknown person nearby: ‘If my boss asks, we had one test here.
Williams allegedly adds: ‘That is so strong, I’ve never had anything like that. It burnt my f***ing insides…it’s nothing like any coke we’ve had is it?’
Murphy allegedly replies: ‘That white s*** was powder, and then they’ll mix that with the f***ing chlorine flakes, and then they’ll press it all. Wash it with the anhydrous soap. That’s just pure coke bro.’
Williams allegedly adds: ‘I f***ing know it is. I can f***ing tell that. F***ing pure as it goes. Oh my god.’
Ferszt grew up on the Gold Coast and at one point trained under Denis Cotterell, who also trained Olympic swimming champions Grant Hackett and Giaan Rooney.
He competed alongside Hackett and also swam against Ky Hurst in the 2011 Australian 10km open water championships at the London Olympic trials, finishing 10th.
He also worked as a lifeguard with the Gold Coast City Council lifeguard service.
Rhys Ferszt grew up on the Gold Coast and at one point trained under Denis Cotterell, who also trained Olympic swimming champions Grant Hackett and Giaan Rooney
Police allege Ferszt was told about a shipment of cocaine smuggled into NSW which ultimately led to the mass arrests of his group.
Ferszt and two other men packed 11 bricks of cocaine into a barbecue before taking it to Brisbane to be repacked into two fridges, it is claimed.
One of the men then took the fridges but was intercepted by NSW police.
Ferszt’s NT residence was later searched, with police allegedly uncovering steroids, rifles,$60,000 cash, a paper shredder and a notepad with titles such as ‘Aus, Key, Overflow, and Stash Bag’.
He was then arrested and extradited from the Northern Territory to Queensland, where he has since been remanded in custody.
Defence counsel Michael Gatenby told the Supreme Court that part of the prosecution material aimed at showing whether Ferszt had access to ‘substantial’ amounts of illegitimate money was wrong.
He said his client had access to a legitimate source of income and was just on a break from his council job, which he would return to if given bail.
Police say a message to Ferszt about a cocaine shipment led to the arrest. Nine people were arrested across three states for their alleged role in a drug ring
It is alleged Ferszt orchestrated the construction of a $250,000 cocaine laboratory in the regional Queensland town of Durong, where police recently discovered 100kg of pure extracted cocaine
Justice Declan Kelly found the claim was substantiated through a letter sent to the court from the council which confirmed Ferszt was on paid leave at the time of the offence.
The prosecution argued he was a flight risk and at risk of reoffending or interfering with case witnesses.
However, Mr Gatenby counter-argued that bail was appropriate and that his client was not a flight risk, would report to police Monday to Friday, surrender his passport and offer $200,000 surety.
Justice Kelly decided to grant the bail application, saying he was satisfied with its conditions.
Ferszt will now be subject to strict bail conditions, including the banning of encrypted apps on his phone. He must also provide bail officers passwords and full access to his phone at any given time upon request.
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