OFF THE WIRE
Source: batemansbaypost.com.au
An alleged member of the Rebels outlaw motorcycle gang, arrested after a secret drug lab was uncovered at Bingie, is expected to appear in Sydney District Court today for sentence.
Matthew Espagne, also known as Mathew King, was scheduled to appear before Judge S Walmsley yesterday, but the matter was put over until today.
Mr Espagne was arrested as he allegedly tried to obtain a false passport at Hurstville Post Office in September last year.
The 33-year-old was charged with large commercial manufacture of drugs, possessing fraudulent identification and obtaining a fraudulent passport.
Police allege the St Clair man was a member of the Rebels and had connections to a clandestine drug laboratory discovered south of Moruya in April last year.
Detectives from Strike Force Kook carried out eight drug raids on April 7, 2009, aimed at stemming the manufacture of speed by the Rebels.
The raid at a property on Kelly Road uncovered a clandestine drug lab along with more than 100 litres of chemicals and equipment used to extract pseudoephedrine from cold-and-flu medication.
A former Batemans Bay businessman and his partner were arrested following the raid.
Adrian Stephen Farquhar, 47, has pleaded guilty to the supply and manufacture of illegal drugs and is scheduled to appear for sentencing on December 16.
However charges laid against 23-year-old Moleta Lee Wills have been withdrawn
