Phone taps expose drug dealer

A CHINDERAH man dealing meth in the Tweed and Gold Coast came unstuck when police traced his phone for 60 days, recording texts and threatening calls.

Nathan James Windley, 35, pleaded guilty in Tweed Heads Local Court on December 17 to supplying a prohibited drug on an ongoing basis and attempt to acquire a firearm in contravention of a firearms prohibition.

Nine counts of supplying a prohibited drug, acquiring ammunition when subject to a prohibition order and dealing with proceeds of crime were admitted to and will be considered on sentence.

Court documents reveal that between September 18 and October 2, 2020, Windley was involved in 18 supplies of crystal meth, nine of which were for finance or material reward and nine which were ongoing.

Windley supplied a total of 56g of meth to more than 15 people over 14 days, making $26,275.

Documents reveal Windley would source larger amounts of meth from the Gold Coast and sell on smaller amounts.

However, he did sell up to 14g on two occasions.

Texts show him selling half an ounce for $6000, a “ball” for $2000, 9.5g for $4500, another ball for $2000, a ball to a woman who would pay a week later, half an ounce again for $6000, $700 worth and a half a ball for a person broking supply for another friend and various smaller amounts.

A phone transcript reveals that one supply sold “on tick” – to be paid later – went bad.

A crime scene was declared at an Anne St, Chinderah, address on December 18, 2020. Police found one round of shotgun ammunition and two gold-coloured rounds of ammunition. One of the rounds was loaded into a barrel.

Stopped on December 29 as a passenger in a black Mercedes, Windley produced $1058.75 in cash, reasonably suspected of being from drug sales. Police also seized two mobile phones. Windley will appear in the Lismore District Court for sentence on February 7, 2022. He remains in custody.