Bribes drug dealer jailed for eight years

By Sarah Crichton
May 31 2002

A heroin dealer who once said he gave corrupt police "so much money that I really can't remember" was sentenced to a maximum eight years' jail yesterday.

Judge David Shillington said he would have sentenced Vincent Caccamo to 15 years for the charges of drug supplying were it not for the assistance he had offered and would continue to offer to police.

As a result Caccamo, 45, would face hardship in prison, where he would be in protective custody. His family - in court for his sentencing - was also at risk, the judge remarked.

Caccamo pleaded guilty to charges of supplying a large commercial quantity of heroin, 1.22 kilograms, and supplying 1.28 kilograms of cannabis in 2000. He also pleaded guilty to supplying a commercial quantity of heroin in 1999.

Caccamo's daughter wept quietly in court as the judge ruled that her father would not be eligible for parole before September 30, 2006.

A heroin user and seller since 1985, Caccamo gave evidence to the Police Integrity Commission last year at the end of the long-running Operation Florida into corrupt police on Sydney's northern beaches.

His evidence was instrumental in charges being brought against three Manly detectives - former crime manager detective sergeant Ray Peattie, who was jailed earlier this month for accepting bribes from other corrupt police, and detectives Matthew Jasper and David Patison. Both Jasper and Patison face charges as a result of the investigation but have yet to enter pleas.

Caccamo told the PIC of the tens of thousands of dollars he had paid police to protect his business since 1989, when Peattie claimed payment for charging him with only minor drug possession instead of a more serious supply charge.

He told the commission he knew of other dealers who had paid police, including one who had been "dealing for 20 years open house - you can't do that without protection".

NSW District Court heard yesterday that Jasper and Patison had stolen cash after arresting Caccamo and had been bribed to have the charges dropped.