‘Be ultra careful’: Texts from Dr Octopuss88 predicted downfall

We’re sorry, this feature is currently unavailable. We’re working to restore it. Please try again later.

Advertisement

This was published 5 years ago

‘Be ultra careful’: Texts from Dr Octopuss88 predicted downfall

By Georgina Mitchell

"We have a massive problem."

It was the afternoon of September 12, 2016, and Roberto Zalapa was expecting a package to be delivered to a home at Adamstown Heights, near Newcastle.

The 33-year-old was tracking 16 kilograms of cocaine, which was sent to the address from Los Angeles. Personal trainer Craig Phelps, 31, of Wamberal, was waiting outside with a fake ID ready to collect the package.

Cocaine seized as part of the investigation.

Cocaine seized as part of the investigation. Credit: AFP

The men did not know the shipment had been intercepted by Australian Federal Police, who swapped the cocaine worth $3.8 million for an "inert substance" and were ready to pounce once the package was delivered.

More than a week earlier, police had arrested another man involved in the importation, Bennet Schwartz, and had used his Blackberry to message Zalapa - who used the name Dr Octopuss88 - for days as he organised the delivery.

On September 9, Zalapa sent a tracking number for the delivery to the police-controlled phone, urging "be ultra careful".

"Will do," officers responded.

As the package worked its way from a courier company to Australia Post, an anxious Zalapa repeatedly checked to see where it was, and complained Phelps had been sitting outside the home for several days.

At 4.49pm on September 12, Zalapa messaged Schwartz's phone to say things had gone "pear shaped".

Advertisement

Phelps had been arrested by police after he loaded the package into the boot of his car and drove a short distance down the road.

"Something f---en pear shaped is going on ... this is very bad," Zalapa said.

"Best case scenario ... someone called cops on random guy sitting in car all day.

"Worst case cops delivered the parcel he got out to sign and cops got him.

"I've been calling all day from burner so they'd have my location too ... going for a walk no[w] to ditch burner."

After what would be his final message, Zalapa threw his "burner" phone into a bin at Potts Point. He was arrested by police minutes later.

On Thursday, a sentencing hearing heard the 33-year-old has pleaded guilty to importing a commercial quantity of cocaine and dealing with money more than $10,000 intending it to become an instrument of crime.

While police had Schwartz's phone, they also arranged a meeting where Zalapa, of Potts Point, left $40,000 in an unlocked Toyota Corolla at a shopping centre in Sydney's east.

Family members, including Zalapa's uncle, told the hearing they were shocked to hear what he had done, describing his behaviour as out of character.

His mother, Leanne Zalapa, said her son suffers from depression and anxiety, had problems with drugs and alcohol, and had a gambling addiction.

He will be sentenced in May.

Phelps was this month sentenced to a maximum of four years and six months behind bars after he pleaded guilty to attempting to possess a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug.

Schwartz was jailed for a maximum of eight years after pleading guilty to importing a commercial quantity of cocaine.

Most Viewed in National

Loading