Greek-Australian teenager Apostle Broikos, the youngest South Australian person to be arrested and charged as part of Operation Ironside in Adelaide, could be released on home detention because he is “vulnerable” in jail, the court has heard.
The 18-year-old appeared in the Adelaide Magistrates Court via video link on Tuesday and applied for home-detention bail.
Mr Broikos’ lawyer, David Edwardson QC, argued that his client, who was arrested by SA Police as part of an international law-enforcement operation, Operation Ironside, that saw more than 220 alleged Australian offenders apprehended, should be granted home-detention bail because of his age and vulnerable position behind bars.
“I am particularly concerned about such a young man in these circumstances. This extremely young man is only 18 years of age, is in a very vulnerable position and falls into a completely different category from other alleged offenders,” Mr Edwardson said. He added that Mr Broikos’ parents were willing to pay $20,000 upfront, as well as a $100,000 guarantee if bail is granted. The suspect would also work with his father, Alexi Broikos.
The former St Ignatius’ College student was charged with two sets of serious drug offences, including trafficking a large commercial quantity of a controlled drug being methamphetamine.
The offences allegedly occurred on 19 May, at Yamba, just west of the SA-Victoria border.
Mr Broikos, who has remained in custody since his arrest and first court appearance earlier this month, was also charged with manufacturing and trafficking a controlled drug at Morphett Vale between 1 January and 19 August, last year.
Magistrate John Wells heard from the prosecution that an initial charge of manufacturing a controlled drug had been upgraded to manufacturing a large quantity of methylamphetamine, to which Mr Edwardson argued that a clandestine lab in Morphett Vale had been raided in 2020 but there was nothing in the information he had seen that linked his young client to the house in question.
Mr Broikos’ lawyer added that there was currently no information tying the young man to the alleged manufacture of the drugs despite the fact he was charged over it.
The court heard Mr Broikos’ involvement was from his alleged meeting with two men in nearby shops and other locations in order to distance themselves from the Morphett Vale drug lab, where they allegedly exchanged “materials and substances”.
Mr Broikos allegedly delivered cash to one man — who is currently before the courts also facing drug-trafficking and manufacturing charges from Operation Ironside — and Mr Broikos allegedly arranged for other people to meet with the man to deliver substances and materials.
The teenager was also accused of distributing or selling phones that had the encrypted AN0M app installed, something that his lawyer argued was not illegal and was a fact “that can’t stand in the way of him getting bail.”
READ MORE: Three Greek Australians among those arrested in Operation Ironside
During the hearing, the prosecutor amended the manufacturing charge against Mr Broikos and upgraded it to include that between the seven months in 2020, the young man manufactured a large commercial quantity of a controlled drug, being methylamphetamine, with the intention of selling it or believing another person intended to sell it.
“We don’t know when. We don’t know what the substances are, the materials, who makes that assertion- whether it’s admissible or not. There is nothing that identifies this man as being connected. That may be simply an issue that SAPOL chose not to disclose that at this stage. We just don’t know,” Mr Edwardson argued.
Magistrate John Wells ordered a home-detention report be conducted, but told the lawyer to communicate to his client that this did not necessarily mean it would be granted.
The court heard the student, attended St Joseph’s Primary School in Payneham, “excelled” throughout school and averaged A-grades.
An acquaintance told Neos Kosmos on condition of anonymity: “We knew him as a really polite and courteous young boy, who never got into fights or caused trouble, but I guess one can never know what goes on behind closed doors.
“The drug culture amongst our generation is a well-known fact, therefore I don’t think it comes as a surprise to us that some of the people we have crossed paths with from time to time are involved in those activities. Let’s not kid ourselves, Adelaide is known for its drug issues,” an acquaintance who knew the accused but who wished to remain anonymous.
“We never saw Apostle using drugs or dealing drugs, at least not while we were all out partying together. His mum and dad are the nicest people. This must be hell for them.
“We know the family. Apostle’s mother and father are hard-working people that have never caused any kind of trouble within the community. Their daughter is a sweet young lady,” said the acquiantance.
Another source who also did not wish to be identified told Neos Kosmos that: “His mother is a wonderful woman. She must be devastated. We never thought that Apostle would be involved in something like this. He was a high achiever, a straight-A student and a talented soccer player. His mum and dad were so proud of him.”
Operation Ironside covertly began three years ago with the AFP and FBI discreetly reading messages sent through the dedicated encrypted platform called AN0M.
So far, under the operation Ironside, 95 South Australians have been arrested in the major police sting, three drug labs were shut down and 30 firearms and almost $2m in cash was seized.
The accused are facing charges ranging from conspiracy to murder and drug trafficking, to money laundering and participating in a criminal organisation.
Alongside Mr Broikos, his 45-year-old uncle, Theodore Tasman Broikos from Wattle Park, was also arrested and charged with possessing illegal firearms, ammunition, and silencers, as well as trafficking in a large, commercial quantity of a controlled drug.
Another four Greek Australians were arrested during the operation. Christo Nickolas, aged 32, from Ascot Park has been charged with two counts of money laundering.
“We know Christo and his other siblings. He comes from a proud Greek family. His parents have worked hard all their lives to provide for their four children. It’s disheartening and really disappointing to hear that Christo (may have been) involved,” a source alleged to Neos Kosmos.
Luke Kokotis, aged 44, from Hackham has been charged with trafficking in a large commercial quantity of a controlled drug.
Issa Boulos, aged 35, from Two Wells has been charged with possessing firearms and ammunition without a licence.
Stamati Toulantas, aged 24, from Park Holme has been charged with trafficking in a controlled drug, possess prescription drug and possess prohibited weapon.