The Facts
6 In November 2005, a joint investigation including the New South Wales Crime Commission identified the respondent Gao as "Doggy" in the course of a number of legally intercepted telephone calls, wherein coded language was used by the respondent and his associates to refer to prohibited drugs and their supply.
7 On 22 December 2005, the respondent Gao met with an undercover police operative at Darling Harbour. Gao and the police officer discussed the supply of 1000 MDMA or ecstasy tablets. Gao agreed to supply that quantity for $15 per tablet. At a further meeting later that night, Gao supplied the police officer with that quantity of tablets and was given $15,000 cash in return. Analysis of these tablets revealed that they contained 26.5% 3,4-methylenedioxy-methylamphetamine. The weight of the tablets, being 284 g, was more than twice the commercial quantity applicable to that prohibited drug. This constituted the offence of Supply Commercial Quantity committed by Gao.
8 On 4 January 2006, Gao again met with the police officer at Darling Harbour. During this meeting Gao and the officer discussed the supply of 2000 ecstasy tablets. Once again, Gao agreed to supply the police with that quantity for $15 per tablet. Later that evening, Gao supplied the police officer with that quantity of tablets in return for the sum of $30,000 in cash. Analysis of those tablets revealed a 26% purity of MDMA. The weight of the tablets was 568.94 g, exceeding the large commercial quantity applicable to that drug by 68 g. This constituted the offence of Supply Large Commercial Quantity committed by Gao.
9 On 20 January 2006 the police officer again contacted Gao and commenced negotiations with him for the purchase of 10,000 ecstasy tablets. Gao informed the police officer that his usual supplier was unavailable and that he would have to source the tablets from another associate. The police officer requested a sample of between 50 and 100 tablets.
10 As a result of this negotiation, Gao contacted Lim, who informed Gao that the police officer would have to pay $30-$35 per tablet. The police officer rejected that price. There were further discussions between Gao and Lim. Later that day, Lim contacted Gao and indicated that he had 50 tablets for supply to the police officer. However, the supply did not proceed. This constituted one of the charges against Gao (Agree to Supply) on the Form One.
11 On 24 January 2006, Gao contacted the police officer to negotiate the supply of between 8,000 and 10,000 tablets for the following day. Gao then contacted Lim to arrange a meeting at Lim's residence to discuss the negotiated purchase. The following day, the police officer contacted Gao and confirmed that he wished to purchase 10,000 tablets. Arrangements were made to meet at 4 p.m. that day. Gao contacted Lim and confirmed that he wanted "ten" for 4 p.m. However, the meeting did not occur until 8 p.m. that evening. This constituted a further charge of Agree to Supply against Gao on the Form One.
12 At 8 p.m. the police officer met with Gao at Darling Harbour where Gao was shown the sum of $160,000 in cash. Gao then left Darling Harbour in order to meet with Lim at a hotel in the Sydney CBD. They separated and met later at a hotel on Broadway, Ultimo before walking to Lim's residence in Mountain St, Ultimo. Following further negotiations between the police officer and Gao by way of telephone, the transaction was ultimately terminated by the police officer.
13 On 26 January 2006, Lim contacted Gao and asked for an explanation for the failure of the transaction the previous evening. Gao indicated that the police officer had gone elsewhere. Lim urged Gao to contact the proposed purchaser with a view to supplying 5000 tablets. In the afternoon of that day, the police officer contacted Gao and negotiated for the purchase of 5000 tablets the following day.
14 On 27 January 2006, the police officer contacted Gao and confirmed that the transaction was to go ahead that evening. The police officer met with Gao in Darling Harbour, then both men walked to Quay St, Ultimo. The police officer left the area a short time later. Gao was seen to enter the premises occupied by Lim in Mountain St, Ultimo. The police officer cancelled the supply when Gao was unable to produce the tablets that day. This constituted the further charge of Agree to Supply against Gao on the Form One.
15 Lim was charged and pleaded guilty to the offence of Supply Large Commercial Quantity on the basis that he had agreed to supply not less than 500g of ecstasy (at least 5,000 tablets, weighing between 1kg and 2.5 kg) between 19 and 28 January 2006. On 9 February 2006, police executed search warrants on Lim's premises and found 3.8 g of MDMA and 7.76 g of methylamphetamine. These amounts founded two charges of deemed supply that were dealt with on the Form One.