Twist in $1.1M meth bust that rocked suburban footy: Ex-Diamond Creek player Keahn Jeremaia’s bleak future after guilty plea – and the saga isn’t over yet
A former Diamond Creek footballer has pleaded guilty to his role in a million-dollar drug trafficking racket.
Keahn Jeremaia, 25, admitted in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Thursday to trafficking a large commercial quantity of methamphetamine and other substances.
Jeremaia, who ran a concreting business, was busted with the haul at a Diamond Creek property in Melbourne’s north-east on March 26 this year.
The well-known Melbourne party boy, who regularly showcased his jet-setting lifestyle on social media, now faces a possible life sentence.
Police allegedly seized 11kg of meth from the property, with an estimated street value of $1.1 million, along with a money counter and multiple sets of scales.
Jeremaia, who was remanded days before his 25th birthday, was alleged to be a key part of the trafficking operation after police uncovered a second suspected syndicate on April 2.
Investigators from Victoria Police’s North West Metro Regional Crime Squad – one of the state’s leading drug enforcement teams – arrested members of both syndicates within days, describing the dual arrests as a ‘huge effort’.
Police allege the two suspected syndicates pushed just over a combined $6million worth of illicit drugs throughout Melbourne.
Keahn Jeremaia, 25, (right) pleaded guilty to trafficking a large commercial quantity of meth and other substances
Jeremaia (pictured) was a local footballer and concreter before his arrest
Jeremaia (right) was a known Melbourne party boy
In the April 2 drug bust, officers raided an address at Williams Landing in Melbourne’s south-west where they allegedly seized 25kg of meth, 11kg of MDMA, 11kg of ketamine and a small amount of cocaine and cannabis.
The suspected haul had a combined street value of $5million.
Police also allegedly seized $500,000 in cash, a machete, electronic devices and steroids.
The Daily Mail revealed in June that several suspects were arrested after the Williams Landing bust and charged with an array of offences.
Investigators also arrested a 28-year-old woman from Minto, in Sydney’s outer south-west, but she was released pending further inquiries.
Jeremaia, a familiar face on Melbourne’s party scene, was a regular at the city’s trendiest bars and nightclubs before his arrest.
The tattooed tradesman enjoyed surfing overseas and interstate, as well as fishing trips and exotic beach holidays.
Jeremaia was also a prominent suburban footballer who most recently played for the Diamond Creek Football and Netball Club in the Northern Football League.
Jeremaia (right) was caught with drugs worth more than $1million
Jeremaia (centre) now faces a potential life sentence
North West Metro Regional Crime Squad Inspector Geoff Owen said in April that the dual syndicate busts were a ‘huge effort by our investigators to seize over 35 kilograms of harmful substances, worth an estimated $6million’.
‘These investigations highlight our commitment to pursuing drug traffickers and those profiting off the sale of these harmful substances,’ he added.
‘By removing drugs before they can be on-sold, we are not only reducing the direct harm, such as overdoses, but drug-fuelled crimes and further criminal offending.
‘The consequences of this lifestyle are truly life-changing, with significant jail time attached to a drug trafficking charge.’
Jeremaia was remanded in custody to face a pre-sentence hearing at the County Court at a later date.
Meanwhile, the saga is far from over for the Williams Landing four, who will face court again in August.
