Jamil Hopoate: Details emerge about attempted cocaine supply
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A kilo of cocaine, $7,000 and a ‘long-term’ alcohol addiction: In the case against John Hopoate’s son – as he goes to jail for attempted coke delivery
- Jamil Hopoate’s legal team said he was a courier and knew little about drug gangs
- Former NRL star’s troubled son is convicted of attempted delivery
- Lawyer downplayed his role in the syndicate in NSW court on Tuesday
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The attempted drug purveyor and former NRL player Jamil Hopoate was just a courier picking up eight one-kilogram records and may have known little of his involvement in a cocaine ring, a court has said.
Hopoate, 27, has been convicted by the Sydney court of attempted delivery of a large commercial quantity of cocaine.
The son of former Manly winger John Hopoate and brother of former Canterbury star Will was arrested in 2021 after federal police found 514kg of cocaine in a consignment of toolboxes.
Ex-NRL bad boy Jamil Hopoate (right) with his father John
The cocaine, with an estimated street value of $155 million, was replaced with a harmless powder and then tracked as it was spread across Sydney, leading police to a van Hopoate was driving.
Greg James KC downplayed his client’s role, saying the prosecution did not show that Hopoate knew or wanted to have cocaine in his possession.
“All he does is pick up what he’s been told to pick up and pass it on to or toward whoever got it,” Mr. James said.
Hopoate was paid $7,000 to move the plates, but had no profit interest in the cocaine supply, the court was told.
He was initially charged with large commercial drug supply and held in pre-trial detention for two months. But that was withdrawn after it was clear that he had never had cocaine at any time.
Hopoate pleaded guilty in local court to the lesser felony of attempted delivery in May, entitling him to a 25 percent discount.
“Under the circumstances, it is believed that he had at least the minimal knowledge necessary to form such a vital awareness that the records contain or could contain cocaine or another illegal drug,” Mr James said.
The 27-year-old has had several clashes with the law and has been banned from the match
The Crown expressed concern that Hopoate’s addictions to gambling, alcohol and other drugs would return once he was released from prison.
Since July 2021, due to his strict bail conditions, he is not allowed to touch or gamble alcohol or other drugs.
“What will stare him in the face is that when Mr. Hopoate gets out of prison and is not subject to strict bail conditions, he will have those skills to (make sure he doesn’t) relapse into his very important, long-term addiction to alcohol.” ‘ said the prosecutor.
The sentencing continues.