David John Byrnes is being held in custody in a Kempsey prison but did not appear in Tamworth Local Court when his case was called on Wednesday.

Solicitor Stephen O’Reilly asked for the the case to be adjourned said he needed time “with Mr Byrnes [to] get some instructions”.

“He’s in Kempsey, it’s a fairly extensive brief,” he told the court.

“There is a lot of CD’s with intercepts and things.

“I’ve only just been served with the brief.”

Byrnes was arrested by police from Strike Force Orison – a secret operation to home in on the supply of methamphetamine in the Tamworth, Gunnedah and Narrabri areas.

Police allege Byrnes was an upper level supplier and the 52-year-old faces a maximum of 20 years behind bars if convicted of dealing drugs on an ongoing basis.

Byrnes appeared again in Tamworth Local Court on Monday facing six charges including acquiring a firearm without a permit, supplying a pistol and supplying a firearm to a person unauthorised to possess it.

Mr O’Reilly said there was no application for bail, but he would need to travel to meet with his client.

“A complex brief requires a lot of consideration,” he said.

DPP solicitor Mark Ferguson didn’t oppose the application and said an adjournment was needed because “there is a lot of material”.

Byrnes is facing six charges including supplying drugs, attempting to acquire a firearm and attempting to supplying a firearm as well as a pistol.

Co-accused Teegan Wortley did not appear with the court told a family member “is in hospital”.

The 18-year-old is charged with supplying a pistol to a person unauthorised to possess it and was arrested in the police sting in January, which has seen six people charged.

“Given the fact she’s on bail, bail is to continue,” Magistrate Roger Prowse said, ordering the pair to return to court in April.