It was a water leak at an empty unit in Ryde that undid accused drug dealer Bektash Keshavarzi.

Police were aware of "suspicious" comings and goings from the unit on Watts Street, and they were able to enter when residents reported water dripping into a downstairs unit in July.

Police seized buckets full of ice from the Gladesville apartment. Credit:NSW Police

According to police allegations summarised in the NSW Supreme Court on Tuesday, investigators discovered the unit was leased to Mr Keshavarzi – an unemployed bodybuilder – under a false name, and they found nothing but several safes inside.

From there, police began to monitor his movements to other units in Sydney's north.