Scots couple face life in jail after they were hit by major new charges over a huge ketamine haul allegedly found stuffed in the boot of their Sydney rental car
A Scottish couple allegedly caught with 60kg of ketamine at a Sydney hotel have now been charged with directing and taking part in a criminal group, as they face a potential penalty of life in jail if found guilty.
Mother-of-two Demi McDaid, 23, and her partner Jack Farrelly, 30, had been staying in Room 1202 of Rydges North Sydney when they were arrested on June 29.
Following an investigation into drug supply on Sydney's north shore, police had attended a unit on Hampden Road at Artarmon three days earlier, acting on a tip-off.
Officers searched the property and allegedly found 1kg of ketamine, as well as clear resealable bags containing white crystallised residue, scales and luggage.
Police will allege McDaid and Farrelly rented the apartment as a short-term stay, after travelling to Australia 'for the sole purpose of taking part in the distribution and supply of large commercial quantities of prohibited drugs'.
Inquiries led detectives to Rydges North Sydney, where McDaid and Farrelly were allegedly found in their room, along with mobile phones, more than $2,000 in cash and drug ledgers.
Police allege they also found 60kg of ketamine inside the boot of a vehicle which had been rented by Farrelly and left in the hotel car park.
Photographs released to the media show shopping bags filled with packages of white powder in the boot of the car and wads of $50 notes.
Scottish couple Demi McDaid and Jack Farrelly, who were allegedly caught with 60kg of ketamine at a Sydney hotel, have been charged with directing and taking part in a criminal group, as they remain behind bars. They are pictured
Mother-of-two McDaid (above) and her partner Farrelly had been staying in Room 1202 of Rydges North Sydney when they were arrested on June 29
Police allege they found 60kg of ketamine (above) inside the boot of a vehicle which had been rented by Farrelly and left in the hotel car park
McDaid and Farrelly were taken to Chatswood police station where they were charged with supplying a large commercial quantity of ketamine and supplying prohibited drugs.
The Edinburgh couple faced Manly Local Court the following day when they were refused bail, while detectives continued their investigations.
McDaid and Farrelly were not required to appear when their case was briefly mentioned in Downing Centre Local Court on Friday.
The maximum penalty for large commercial supply of a prohibited drug in NSW is life imprisonment. The offence attracts a 'standard non-parole' period of 15 years.
Daily Mail can reveal McDaid and Farrelly have both been hit with additional charges since their arrest, according to court documents.
McDaid is accused of participating in a criminal group between 12pm on May 15 and 8.10pm on June 29 at Artarmon.
It is alleged she 'did participate in a criminal group, knowing that it was a criminal group and knew that her participation in that group contributed to the occurrence of a criminal activity, to wit, drug supply'.
Farrelly is accused of knowingly or recklessly directing that criminal group between 7pm on June 5 and 8.10pm on June 29.
Police will allege McDaid and Farrelly (above) travelled to Australia 'for the sole purpose of taking part in the distribution and supply of large commercial quantities of prohibited drugs'
Inquiries led detectives to Rydges North Sydney, where McDaid and Farrelly were allegedly found in their room. A room at the hotel is pictured
Photographs released to the media show shopping bags filled with packages of white powder in the boot (above) of the car and wads of $50 notes
He allegedly 'did knowingly participate in a criminal group by directing the activities of the group, knowing or being reckless as to whether that participation contributes to the occurrence of criminal activity'.
McDaid and Farrelly were both represented on Friday by solicitor Matthew Fernandez as their matters were adjourned until October 22. Until then, they will remain in jail.
Asked outside court if he was in a position to discuss his clients' situation, Mr Fernandez said: 'Not at this stage.'
The weight of the drugs allegedly found at Artarmon and North Sydney was originally estimated at 2kg and 107kg, respectively, but that had been revised to 1kg and 60kg.
Detective Acting Inspector Alison Dixon, of North Shore Police Area Command, previously said drug syndicates were relying on the high turnover of temporary accommodation rentals to escape detection.
'We have seen this before and encourage property owners to be wary,' she said.
'People staying in hotels and Airbnbs, we see a lot of illegal activities come and go through those places.'
Residents who live near the Artarmon property where McDaid and Farrelly had allegedly been staying alerted police that the couple were not behaving like tourists.
The neighbours reportedly became suspicious there was none of the usual luggage inside the holiday rental.
It is believed items left by McDaid and Farrelly at the apartment helped police trace them to the hotel where they were apprehended.
A spokesman for the British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said: 'We are supporting two British nationals detained in Australia and are in contact with local authorities.'
Farrelly and McDaid posed for a date night photograph in an Australian restaurant just weeks before they were arrested.
McDaid updated the picture on social media with the caption, 'My love, always'.
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