A HUSBAND and wife accused of using the dark web to facilitate the purchase of illegal drugs and launder money have been refused bail in Belmont Local Court on Wednesday.
Police allege Mathew Phillip Crawford, 47, and Nicole Naomi Crawford, 42 used an e-cigarette shop in Belmont as a front to purchase psychoactive substances that mimic the effects of cannabis and sold them using cryptocurrency - which when converted works out around $100 per 50 to 60ml.
Magistrate Michael Morahan denied a bail application from Mrs Crawford, arguing it was "very ambitious".
"Her record is not all that bad but in the circumstances there is potential for a further charge," he said.
"I do not intend to grant bail."
Mrs Crawford faces 10 drug supply charges and has not entered any pleas.
Her defence solicitor James Wallace argued his client should be granted bail on the basis she suffers from a medical condition that would make jail particularly onerous.
"She also suffers from a polycystic kidney disease and has monthly specialist appointments in regards to that," he said.
"Failure to monitor that could result in failure of the kidneys or liver which would have grave consequences.
"Mrs Crawford has participated in an interview with the police and denies any knowledge of the alleged offending."
Mr Crawford made no application for bail and it was formally refused. He faces 14 charges and is yet to enter any pleas.
Both matters return to court in June.
The pair were arrested as part of Strike Force Alaine, an undercover operation established by State Crime Command Cybercrime Squad detectives in May last year to investigate the alleged supply of prohibited drugs in Lake Macquarie.
Detectives swooped on two properties at Swansea and a storage facility at Caves Beach about 4pm on Tuesday.
The Crawfords were arrested at a home on Lakeside Drive and taken to Belmont Police Station where they were formally charged.
A 30-year-old man was also arrested in relation to the case at a home on George Street on Tuesday. He will appear at Belmont Local Court next week.
Cybercrime Squad Commander Detective Acting Superintendent Gordon Arbinja said the trio was detected as part of a police effort to weed out alleged offenders on the dark web.
"Police allege they had a legitimate e-cigarette store here in Belmont and that store was used to facilitate the purchase of drugs and to launder money," he said.
"We are saying they were in a joint criminal enterprise with the three of them.
"Our inquiries are continuing and we expect to find more people doing similar activities."
Superintendent Arbinja said police are relying on the public for assistance in their investigations.
"This isn't the only online alleged drug dealer, this is a significant one in this area and it's very important that we detect people like this and take them off the streets," he said.
"We usually get a lot of good information so I encourage the public to contact police and Crime Stoppers."
