Share this @internewscast.com
Olympian Scott Miller (pictured) is facing life in prison if convicted of supplying a large commercial quantity of a prohibited drug
A fourth member of swimming great Scott Miller’s alleged $2.2million drug ring has been charged, weeks after the Olympian’s dramatic arrest.
Unlike Miller and two other co-accused, Luke Matthew Peake is not facing a potential life sentence if convicted over his alleged role in the syndicate.
Peake was arrested at Junee prison, where he was in custody for other unrelated alleged offences.
The 40-year-old was one of two men who allegedly collected 4kg of meth from Miller after the Olympic silver medallist drove the consignment from Sydney halfway to the Victorian border.
Peake has so far been charged only with possessing a prohibited drug, which has a maximum penalty of two years in prison.
The other alleged courier, Justin Szabolics, has been charged with supplying a large commercial quantity of a prohibited drug and participating in a criminal group.
Both Szabolics and Peake are from Albury-Wodonga, which police say was the intended destination for the drugs.
Police will allege Miller drove the 4kg of meth about 280km from Sydney to Yass, where he was met by Peake and Szabolics.
The drugs were allegedly ditched more than 200km further south after Peake and Szabolics were involved in a high-speed pursuit with police.
Accused drug runner Scott Miller won a silver medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics in the 100m butterfly. He was married to TV personality Charlotte Dawson from 1999 to 2000. Dawson took her own life In 2014. The couple is pictured in August 1999
Police will allege Scott Miller drove this Toyota Camry from Sydney about 280km to Yass with 4kg of meth hidden in a secret compartment. The car and drugs were allegedly then handed to Justin Szabolics and Luke Peake who headed down the Hume Highway towards Albury
A highway patrol unit unsuccessfully tried to pull over the Camry and allegedly gave chase as it reached high speeds. The chase was allegedly terminated shortly before midnight when it became too dangerous, according to sources. Miller is pictured inset top and bottom
Miller had allegedly collected a white Toyota Camry from the Balmain area on January 11 after a man wearing high-vis clothing left a red, white and blue striped bag in the car’s footwell.
The 45-year-old retired athlete allegedly hid the bag, which held eight candles containing meth worth $2.2million, in a secret compartment and left the vehicle in the area overnight.
The next day Miller picked up Wayne Allan Johnson and the pair drove the Camry, which had Western Australian plates, to Yass, according to police.
The Camry was then allegedly handed over to Szabolics and Peake who drove down the Hume Highway towards Albury.
During the journey, a highway patrol unit unsuccessfully tried to pull over the Camry and allegedly gave chase as it reached high speeds.
The pursuit was allegedly terminated shortly before midnight when it became too dangerous, according to sources.
The next day police found the bag allegedly containing the drugs in long grass near an intersection at Cookardinia, 230km south-west of Yass and just 75km from Albury.
It was more than a month before Miller was arrested just after 6am on February 16 at his home at Rozelle, in Sydney’s inner-west, and charged with drug supply.
Miller sat slumped and shirtless in a chair as police searched his apartment at Rozelle, in Sydney’s inner west, just after dawn on February 16
The meth, worth $2.2million, was allegedly concealed in eight candles which were put in a red, white and blue striped bag that was stashed in this hidden compartment
This image shows one of the candles allegedly used to smuggle the $2.2million worth of meth. Police claim the drug was moulded into the candle’s glass shell
Dramatic footage showed police busting down the door of Miller’s unit where they allegedly seized 910g of heroin and $75,000 in cash, as well as the white Camry.
Miller was photographed shirtless and slumped on a chair while investigators scoured the unit for evidence.
Justin Szabolics (pictured) is accused of being part of Olympic swimmer Scott Miller’s alleged $2.2million drug syndicate
More than a dozen police were seen at Miller’s apartment block, meticulously sorting through his possessions. One policeman was pictured carrying a set of scales out of the property.
Officers were seen lifting Miller’s mattress and inspecting a packet of anti-inflammatory medication as his pet pug waddled excitedly around the unit.
Mobile phones, documents, encrypted electronic devices and smaller amounts of allegedly prohibited drugs were taken away for forensic testing.
Miller was charged with supplying a large commercial quantity of drugs, knowingly directing a criminal group and dealing with the proceeds of crime.
Police allege the 100m butterfly silver medalist at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics was the head a syndicate which sought to traffic meth into Albury-Wodonga.
Miller, who is being represented by high-profile solicitor Greg Goold, has refused to be interviewed by police and is on remand at Parklea jail.
On the march: Miller was allowed to put on a striped polo shirt before he was handcuffed and taken to Newtown police station to be charged
Bundles of $50 and $100 notes were clearly visible through in police evidence bags
Wayne Johnson, 47, who was arrested at Balmain, was charged with supplying a large commercial quantity of drugs, and participating in a criminal group. He has also not applied for bail.
Miller, Johnson and Szabloics, 44, face a maximum term of life in prison if convicted.
Peake was arrested on March 16 and faced Wagga Wagga Local Court the next day. Szabolics, who was already in jail accused of unrelated offences, appeared before Albury Local Court on February 24.
The investigation into Miller began earlier this year after police discovered a shipment of candles which each allegedly contained half a kilogram of high-quality methylamphetamine. The substance was moulded into glass containers.
The NSW State Crime Command’s Drug and Firearms Squad and NSW Crime Commission have been involved in the investigation under Strike Force Tarrawilla.
A NSW Police spokesman said investigations were continuing.
About a dozen officers participated in the raid on Miller’s home. Above, two officers carry regulation cardboard evidence bags out to waiting police cars
Police will allege that about a kilogram of heroin and $75,000 in cash were found in Miller’s property (in bags on left). On right, an officer carries out a set of scales
Miller has admitted having troubles in his personal life in recent years.
During an interview with 60 Minutes in 2014 he admitted he was battling a drug addiction.
He worked as a drug awareness and prevention speaker with the Church of Scientology’s Narconon program, according to his LinkedIn profile.
Miller is also known for his brief marriage to Sydney socialite and TV presenter Charlotte Dawson between 1999 and 2000. Dawson took her own life in 2014.
A source close to Miller said he had been working for a trucking company company until shortly before his arrest.
Miller, Johnson and Szabolics return to Newtown Local Court on April 13. Peake is to appear at Albury Local Court for a hearing on August 5.
Miller is one of the country’s most accomplished butterfly athletes but his troubled private life has been well documented
Source: DailyMail AU
