THE man who police long claimed was the kingpin of ice supply across Gunnedah and Tamworth has finally admitted to dealing the drug almost two years on from his arrest.

Already behind bars, Mark Lee Wortley is now staring down the barrel of up to 20 years in a prison cell for the commercial supply of methylamphetamine.

He appeared via video link in Gunnedah Local Court from prison, where he has been since he was arrested in March in Western Sydney after two months on the run.

The Leader revealed Wortley was captured after absconding from a rehab in the Mudgee area , which police prosecutors later said "disappeared as well".

Wortley was the primary target, or "head honcho" of Strike Force Pinkerton, a secret police operation by Oxley detectives to crack a drug supply ring officers

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