Christopher Ferraro, 29, of Doncaster, organised safe houses for the storage of drugs for the syndicate, which called itself The Company.
The Supreme Court heard Ferraro's friends from his days at Whitefriars College, Joseph John Mansour and Bart Rizzo, ran the drug business while Mokbel was on the run in Greece. While Mansour and Rizzo allegedly personally received instructions from Mokbel, Ferraro did not know him and played a lesser role involving storing amphetamines and drug-making chemicals in return for cash. From January 2006 to June 2007, the group moved 42kg of speed with a wholesale value of $4.2 million but with a street value many times that, the court heard. Ferraro's cut was $500 for each pound of amphetamines he stored for The Company. Defence lawyer Rob Melasecca said his client wasn't in it for the money. He said Ferraro, who has cerebral palsy, was bullied as a teenager because of his disability. He felt indebted to Rizzo and Mansour as they were his close friends and protectors at school.
Ferraro, who has no prior convictions, pleaded guilty to two counts of trafficking in commercial quantities of drugs.
Judge Betty King will sentence Ferraro at a later date.
The Supreme Court heard Ferraro's friends from his days at Whitefriars College, Joseph John Mansour and Bart Rizzo, ran the drug business while Mokbel was on the run in Greece. While Mansour and Rizzo allegedly personally received instructions from Mokbel, Ferraro did not know him and played a lesser role involving storing amphetamines and drug-making chemicals in return for cash. From January 2006 to June 2007, the group moved 42kg of speed with a wholesale value of $4.2 million but with a street value many times that, the court heard. Ferraro's cut was $500 for each pound of amphetamines he stored for The Company. Defence lawyer Rob Melasecca said his client wasn't in it for the money. He said Ferraro, who has cerebral palsy, was bullied as a teenager because of his disability. He felt indebted to Rizzo and Mansour as they were his close friends and protectors at school.
Ferraro, who has no prior convictions, pleaded guilty to two counts of trafficking in commercial quantities of drugs.
Judge Betty King will sentence Ferraro at a later date.
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