Strike Force Kotzur: Nicholas Hansen, 30, charged with commercial drug supply of MDMA and cocaine use in Tamworth

Nicholas Hansen was arrested at a Manilla business on Wednesday morning and taken to Tamworth where he was charged with three offences, including using cocaine and commercial drug supply of MDMA – a charge that carries 20 years behind bars, if convicted. 

The Leader can reveal the 30-year-old is the fifth person arrested as part of Strike Force Kotzur – an operation that has seen the arrest of Tamworth personal trainer Mark McDonald – who Hansen is accused of purchasing drugs from.

Hansen appeared in Tamworth Local Court on Wednesday afternoon and lodged a bid for bail. Solicitor Garry Johnston said Hansen had “very strong ties” to Tamworth where he had lived his whole life, and worked in Manilla but “current medical issues” meant he needed treatment daily for a condition.

He said a trial date was up to two years away and called into question the strength of the case.

“The police case that my client has actually purchased the amount of MDMA … must be in some doubt,” he said, adding that telephone intercepts did not support the allegation.

“At his highest he's got a couple of hundred left.

“At no time during that conversation does my client say well give em to me.

“Seems to be at its highest ... non-committal.

“Again no commitment to buying anywhere near the 400 pills that is alleged.”

Police prosecutor Sergeant Matt Pawsey opposed bail and said Hansen was an unacceptable risk and was facing a custodial sentence if found guilty because “currently it’s a substantive supply”.

He said Hansen had a non-compliance with a community service order for assaulting police in 2009 and had breached a bail condition previously.

Acting magistrate Mal MacPherson ordered Hansen to post $10,000 in surety, surrender his passport and report to police daily.

He’s also prohibited from taking drugs and consuming alcohol, must not contact three co-accused and is subjected to an overnight curfew.

Mr MacPherson said “given the nature of the offences” ... “there is a flight risk”, and “any release is going to be by the way of a surety”.

“They are drug matters, they are supply, there is a sort of danger to the community in the use of these drugs,” he told the court, adding the alleged quantities were “substantial” but the strength of the case could be called into question.

He said Hansen was “a young man with a limited record” and there is a concern the “delays in relation to the district court … are now 18 months to two years”. 

On Monday, Matthew Raymond Hill was charged by detectives from the strike force with supplying and using cocaine. He was granted bail after posting $10,000 surety.

Fellow co-accused Dylan Rutter and Mark McDonald are bail refused on charges of commercial drug supply.