Pair charged after alleged discovery of old Marulan drug lab refused bail

Officers raided properties at Marulan and Sydney during the investigation. Photo: NSW Police.

Two men arrested after police allegedly uncovered an inactive drug laboratory near Goulburn during their investigation into the Sydney drug supply have had their cases heard in court.

Dennis Cesar, a 49-year-old from Narellan Vale in Sydney, and Francesco Messina, a 49-year-old from Rossmore in Sydney, were arrested after police raided a property at Marulan earlier this year.

The cases against the pair were heard in the Goulburn Local Court on Wednesday (27 September).

Mr Cesar faces seven charges, including participating in a criminal group contributing to criminal activity as well as manufacturing and supplying a large commercial quantity of a prohibited drug.

He made no bail application and it was formally refused before his matter was adjourned to 15 November for a mention.

Mr Messina faces nine charges, including knowingly directing the activities of a criminal group as well as manufacturing and supplying a large commercial quantity of a prohibited drug.

He also did not apply for bail and it was formally refused in court, then adjourned for a mention on 15 November.

The arrests were a result of Strike Force Crear, which had been established to investigate the alleged supply of prohibited drugs, in particular methylamphetamine, throughout the NSW capital, police originally said.

Police raided the property at Marulan on 17 August 2023 where they arrested Mr Cesar and Mr Messina.

Officers allegedly found a large, inactive clandestine laboratory in an industrial shed at the back of the property as well as items initially thought to be used in the manufacturing of drugs, such as about 16 kg of methylamphetamine oil.

Specialist police from the Chemical Operations Team were deployed and dismantled the lab.

Police also raided a home in the southwestern Sydney suburb of Rossmore, where they allegedly seized 10 kgs of meth as well as electronic devices and documents relevant to their investigation.

“The total value of the methylamphetamine seized is estimated to be $6.5 million,” police alleged at the time.