Mark John McDonald, Dylan Rutter, Nicholas Hansen and Matthew Raymond Hill have charges adjourned in Tamworth Local Court

Nicholas Hansen was flanked by family as he walked into Tamworth Local Court on Wednesday, while co-accused Dylan Rutter and Matthew Raymond Hill, who are also on bail, did not need to appear.

Co-accused Mark John McDonald remains bail refused and the court heard he’s being held in Cessnock jail on a raft of drug supply and possession charges.

“There has been some ongoing negotiations, an offer has been made,” McDonald’s solicitor Amanda Gaw said, confirming she had “instructions today to enter pleas, but after discussions” agreed to an adjournment.

“We'll agree the facts will be finalised before the matter is committed.”

McDonald made no application for bail and it was refused.

"He’s in custody in maximum security, and those conditions are onerous,” Ms Gaw said.

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Rutter’s solicitor Peter Schmidt said he needed more time to brief a barrister in the case, who was overseas but “has some background” on the case.

“We’ve had an offer from the DPP,” he said, asking for a lengthy adjournment to seek “counsel’s advice”.

Hansen’s solicitor Garry Johnston said the matter was complex involving several co-accused and time was needed “as far as considering the plea on the brief”.

“An offer only fell from the DPP [on Tuesday], about lunchtime,” he told the court. 

“They require very careful consideration."

He said an “expert certificate was served on me this morning” at court.

Hill’s solicitor Greg Birtles confirmed his client’s offer was received at the same time but “I’m also told expert statements are still outstanding from the DPP”.

Magistrate Julie Soars noted “negotiations are taking place” and granted a one-month adjournment.

Rutter will return to court in August, while the other trio will appear in July.

The four men were arrested as part of Strike Force Kotzur - a secret operation set-up by Oxley detectives to investigate drug supply in the Tamworth area.

Detectives allege McDonald was supplying steroids, cocaine, MDMA and methylamphetamine in varying amounts to numerous persons and dealing with large amounts of cash.

McDonald faces a maximum of 20 years behind bars if found guilty, accused of supplying 910 MDMA, or ecstasy, tablets – a commercial quantity of the drug between early-November and December 8 in Calala.

Detectives will allege Rutter supplied 350 MDMA tablets between August 17 and midnight on December 8, last year, in Calala. 

Hansen faces three charges including using cocaine and commercial drug supply of MDMA.

Detectives allege he supplied more than 400 ecstasy tablets in Tamworth.

Hill is accused of supplying 14g of the drug cocaine in the Tamworth area between September 27 and November 17, last year.

Hill is also accused of possessing cocaine and self-administering it on two occasions last year after police surveillance allegedly caught him consuming the prohibited drug in Calala.