Wei Wang, a 33-year-old Chinese national, was granted bail by the ACT Magistrates Court after being charged with a crime related to an alleged $5 million steroid seizure. Photo: McKnight, Albert
Despite concerns raised by the police, a man who was accused of being involved in the ACT's second massive steroid bust in less than a year has been granted bail.
After an alleged $5 million worth of steroids and prescription drugs were seized last month, 33-year-old Chinese national Wei Wang was arrested.
He was held in jail for two weeks before the ACT Magistrates Court granted him bail on Thursday, August 8.
"OzPharmLabs," according to police, was the largest illegal controlled and prescription drug distribution network ever identified in the ACT and Victoria when it was allegedly busted in December 2023.
A second criminal organization, which the police described as "an affiliated syndicate," was found to be operating in the ACT under the name "Nexnos" as part of that investigation.
READ ALSO An ice pick robbery would have been "frightening and painful" for the victim, according to the police. The syndicate used the postal network to deliver controlled substances, including steroids, to buyers all over Australia.
It is alleged that Nexnos and OzPharmLabs exchanged messages that indicated they were purchasing substances from one another and had exchanged $970,000 over three months.
On July 25, police allegedly seized 59,000 vials and 156,000 tablets of steroids and prescription drugs with an estimated value of $5 million from an O'Connor residence that was thought to be Nexnos' "warehouse."
Mr Wang was captured during the strikes and gave 54 charges, for the most part steroid or medication related, then, at that point, was declined bail when he confronted the Demonstration Judges Court the following day, however he applied for it again on Thursday.
drugs seized by police On July 25, as part of their investigation into the alleged supply of steroids, police conducted raids in Flynn, O'Connor, and Whitlam. Photo: ACT Security.
He was on a bridging visa and trying to become an Australian citizen, according to the court. It also learned that he was incarcerated alongside a mix of prisoners who had not yet been sentenced.
The court heard from a police officer that they had taken all of his assets that they were aware of, with the exception of a $170,000 Lexus that they had not been able to locate.
Mr. Wang's attorney, Jon White SC, stated that his client had ties to the ACT, that his assets had been restricted, and that a friend could offer a $100,000 surety. READ ALSO Sushi Bay companies were fined millions for exploiting workers, including in the ACT.
Additionally, he stated that his client would be subjected to a "paintaking" investigation if bail was denied.
Morgan Howe, the prosecutor who opposed bail, claimed that there was an illegal trade that was generating what appeared to be millions of dollars annually.
He claimed that Mr. Wang had shown "boldness" to effectively continue the business after the arrests of the OzPharmLabs suspects had garnered significant media attention.
Wei Wang (center) was aided in his exit from court by his legal team, which included barrister James Walker and Michael Kukulies-Smith of Kamy Saeedi Law (left). Photo: McKnight, Albert
Additionally, according to Mr. Howe, Mr. Wang had been observed dropping off packages at post offices, which the police later seized and discovered to contain steroids.
According to Special Magistrate Rebecca Christensen SC, the fact that the police have provided her with recent information indicating that there are still packages to be recovered gave her "some pause."
She stated that, in the event that the police did not know where all relevant PO box keys were, there was a possibility that items would be received and made available to him if he was granted bail.
READ ALSO Woman sought assistance from ANU staff following an alleged assault at the university. However, the special magistrate also stated that several electronic items seized during the raids were in police custody and that the investigation had essentially uncovered the alleged mechanism by which he was accused of engaging in the offense.
She stated that she was not convinced that the prosecution had necessarily established the level of involvement in a criminal syndicate.
Mr. Wang was granted bail subject to a number of conditions, including his daily attendance at a police station, providing the $100,000 surety, surrendering his passport, avoiding Australia Post parcel lockers, not contacting a list of people, and excluding one mobile phone from his electrical devices.
The matter was put on hold until October 10th.
Mr. Wang has pleaded not guilty to 22 counts of providing an anabolic steroid, 28 counts of providing a declared substance, and one count of attempting to provide anabolic steroids. He also faces charges of possessing a prohibited weapon, possessing the proceeds of a crime, and failing to comply with a 3LA order. A 3LA order grants law enforcement officers the authority to compel a person to reveal their private encryption keys, personal identification numbers, or passwords.
The courts have yet to decide on the three men charged with OzPhamLabs.
Despite concerns raised by the police, a man who was accused of being involved in the ACT's second massive steroid bust in less than a year has been granted bail.
After an alleged $5 million worth of steroids and prescription drugs were seized last month, 33-year-old Chinese national Wei Wang was arrested.
He was held in jail for two weeks before the ACT Magistrates Court granted him bail on Thursday, August 8.
"OzPharmLabs," according to police, was the largest illegal controlled and prescription drug distribution network ever identified in the ACT and Victoria when it was allegedly busted in December 2023.
A second criminal organization, which the police described as "an affiliated syndicate," was found to be operating in the ACT under the name "Nexnos" as part of that investigation.
READ ALSO An ice pick robbery would have been "frightening and painful" for the victim, according to the police. The syndicate used the postal network to deliver controlled substances, including steroids, to buyers all over Australia.
It is alleged that Nexnos and OzPharmLabs exchanged messages that indicated they were purchasing substances from one another and had exchanged $970,000 over three months.
On July 25, police allegedly seized 59,000 vials and 156,000 tablets of steroids and prescription drugs with an estimated value of $5 million from an O'Connor residence that was thought to be Nexnos' "warehouse."
Mr Wang was captured during the strikes and gave 54 charges, for the most part steroid or medication related, then, at that point, was declined bail when he confronted the Demonstration Judges Court the following day, however he applied for it again on Thursday.
drugs seized by police On July 25, as part of their investigation into the alleged supply of steroids, police conducted raids in Flynn, O'Connor, and Whitlam. Photo: ACT Security.
He was on a bridging visa and trying to become an Australian citizen, according to the court. It also learned that he was incarcerated alongside a mix of prisoners who had not yet been sentenced.
The court heard from a police officer that they had taken all of his assets that they were aware of, with the exception of a $170,000 Lexus that they had not been able to locate.
Mr. Wang's attorney, Jon White SC, stated that his client had ties to the ACT, that his assets had been restricted, and that a friend could offer a $100,000 surety. READ ALSO Sushi Bay companies were fined millions for exploiting workers, including in the ACT.
Additionally, he stated that his client would be subjected to a "paintaking" investigation if bail was denied.
Morgan Howe, the prosecutor who opposed bail, claimed that there was an illegal trade that was generating what appeared to be millions of dollars annually.
He claimed that Mr. Wang had shown "boldness" to effectively continue the business after the arrests of the OzPharmLabs suspects had garnered significant media attention.
Wei Wang (center) was aided in his exit from court by his legal team, which included barrister James Walker and Michael Kukulies-Smith of Kamy Saeedi Law (left). Photo: McKnight, Albert
Additionally, according to Mr. Howe, Mr. Wang had been observed dropping off packages at post offices, which the police later seized and discovered to contain steroids.
According to Special Magistrate Rebecca Christensen SC, the fact that the police have provided her with recent information indicating that there are still packages to be recovered gave her "some pause."
She stated that, in the event that the police did not know where all relevant PO box keys were, there was a possibility that items would be received and made available to him if he was granted bail.
READ ALSO Woman sought assistance from ANU staff following an alleged assault at the university. However, the special magistrate also stated that several electronic items seized during the raids were in police custody and that the investigation had essentially uncovered the alleged mechanism by which he was accused of engaging in the offense.
She stated that she was not convinced that the prosecution had necessarily established the level of involvement in a criminal syndicate.
Mr. Wang was granted bail subject to a number of conditions, including his daily attendance at a police station, providing the $100,000 surety, surrendering his passport, avoiding Australia Post parcel lockers, not contacting a list of people, and excluding one mobile phone from his electrical devices.
The matter was put on hold until October 10th.
Mr. Wang has pleaded not guilty to 22 counts of providing an anabolic steroid, 28 counts of providing a declared substance, and one count of attempting to provide anabolic steroids. He also faces charges of possessing a prohibited weapon, possessing the proceeds of a crime, and failing to comply with a 3LA order. A 3LA order grants law enforcement officers the authority to compel a person to reveal their private encryption keys, personal identification numbers, or passwords.
The courts have yet to decide on the three men charged with OzPhamLabs.
