It's probably fair to say Vincent Ardler didn’t get the birthday present he was hoping for when he appeared in Nowra Local Court on Wednesday, facing drug charges.
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Just three days shy of his 52nd birthday, Ardler was placed on a two-year good behaviour bond after pleading guilty to two counts of taking part in the supply of prohibited drugs.
He was one of 44 people arrested as part of the seven-month Strike Force Croci operation, cracking down on illegal drugs in the Shoalhaven.
Magistrate Gabriel Fleming placed Ardler on the good behaviour bond, to be under the supervision of Community Corrections, in Nowra Local Court on Wednesday.
Through his solicitor he has appealed the length of the bond period. It is listed for mention on October 10.
Ardler had pleaded guilty to taking part in the supply of prohibited drugs in Nowra on March 26 last year when he purchased .9 of a gram of methamphetamines and 2.89 grams of cannabis.
The court heard, Ardler, with another man known to police, met at the Nowra wharf before travelling to a Wallace Street home in Nowra.
There, after handing the man $100 to purchase a point of meth or ice, Ardler waited in the car for the delivery.
When the man returned with the drugs, Ardler produced another $500 for the man to get him a further gram of ice, which was also obtained from the home.
They then traveled to Brereton Street, Nowra, where Ardler produced another $100 for the man to get him some cannabis.
Thirty-one, of 44 people charged as part of the operation have either entered guilty pleas or been found guilty, with 29 now sentenced.
Strike Force Croci netted police more than three kilograms or 25,000 street buys of the drug methamphetamine or ice valued at $2 million, three kilograms of cannabis, five firearms, and cash.
