Identity of fifth alleged member of Albany’s organised drug syndicate revealed as he faces court on 10 charges

A fifth member allegedly caught up in a major Albany drug syndicate that police busted last week, fronted court on Friday. A four-month undercover operation by Albany police and detectives led to the arrest of four alleged offenders who were hit with serious drug charges in July. The Advertiser can reveal the identity of a fifth person that police allege is involved in the sell and supply of large amounts of methamphetamine. Gary Antony Gordon Batchelor, 36, was arrested on Thursday in relation to the operation and appeared in custody at Albany Magistrates Court on Friday on 10 drug-related charges. Mr Batchelor is facing a charge of offer to sell or supply methamphetamine to another along with six counts of sold a prohibited drug, namely methamphetamine. He was also charged with possession of a prohibited drug and two counts of possessing drug paraphernalia in or on which there was a prohibited drug. Police will allege that Mr Batchelor was arrested after offering to sell or supply a significant amount of methamphetamine on July 15. His six charges of allegedly selling methamphetamine range from June 20 to July 20. Mr Batchelor spoke to confirm his name and was crying in the dock while the court proceedings took place. Legal aid duty lawyer Lucy Bourne represented Mr Batchelor and made an application for bail during the brief appearance. Police prosecutor Sgt Warrick Walker did not oppose bail but asked the court to apply conditions for Mr Batchelor to comply with. Magistrate Dianne Scaddan granted Mr Batchelor bail with a $10,000 personal undertaking and a $10,000 surety. His conditions also include staying at a residential address and being under curfew from 7pm to 7am daily where he must report to police if they visit the home. His matters were adjourned for legal advice and he is next due to face Albany Magistrates Court on August 31. Mr Batchelor was initially facing 14 drug charges but the police prosecutor made an application that four of those be discontinued, which the court granted. Five people have now been arrested and charged in relation to this organised drug syndicate. Owen Leslie Sullivan, Emily Jane Carter, Jason Edward Olivieri and Sheralee Ann Steele are the other alleged members of the syndicate and have already fronted court, three of which are facing charges of selling a trafficable quantity of methamphetamine. Earlier, Albany officer-in-charge Sen. Sgt Hugh Letessier labelled the police operation a “success” and said they will not stop here. “Even though this operation has been completed, we’re going to continue to work in this space now that we’ve got an appetite for investigating drug offences in Albany,” he said. “Anyone that chooses to commit drug offences can expect us to knock on their door at some stage.”