Brisbane carpenter Christopher John Spurling charged with drug trafficking

A Brisbane carpenter arrested during an international police sting, allegedly taped talking about moving large amounts of cocaine, has been described as a ‘serious player’ and refused bail.

A Brisbane carpenter has been charged with serious drug trafficking after allegedly being caught in an international police sting.

Wilston’s Christopher John Spurling, 33, has been charged with trafficking in dangerous drugs (serious organised crime), unlawful trafficking in weapons and possessing anything used in the commission of a crime.

He was one of 38 Queenslanders, including a Ninja Warrior contestant and former Bandidos bikies, charged with a total of 152 charges after being arrested following Australia’s largest ever crime bust.

Magistrate Judith Daley said Spurling was alleged to be a “serious player” in a criminal enterprise.

“They’ve got exchanges for him to purchase firearms, transporting two kilos of cocaine,” she said.

“He’s been told they can supply up to 10 kilograms.

“He lost $700,000 in one raid, he’s caught on the encrypted. There’s serious trading in drugs and money in relation to it.”

His lawyer Corey Cullen applied for bail saying his client had absolutely no criminal history and could provide a substantial surety.

Mr Cullen said Spurling was willing to surrender his passport to address any concerns of flight risk.

“His partner works at a top tier law firm and they own their house at Wilston … they reside there with their six-month-old daughter and all of my client’s immediate family reside in Queensland,” he said.

Spurling earnt about $100,000 a year as a carpenter and owned a carpentry business CS Build, he said.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Mark Hughes opposed bail saying the evidence was high including

telecommunication intercepts of Spurling and his co-offenders allegedly trafficking in drugs.

“Communication about large amounts of money for drugs … and also the unlawful trafficking in weapons,” he said.

Ms Daley said the allegations were too serious and refused bail. A clean cut Spurling was devastated at the decision.

He was remanded in custody and the case adjourned to July 5.

The AFPs Operation Ironside has seen more than 100 people across the country on charges, the seizure of 3.7 tonnes of drugs confiscated and $45 million in dirty cash seized after a three-year investigation in conjunction with the FBI.

The sophisticated sting involved police planting mobile phones into alleged criminal syndicates loaded with compromised encrypted apps.

Alleged drug traffickers used the app, AN0M, to conduct business, not knowing the AFP was capturing every message, photograph and phone call.

Originally published as Brisbane carpenter Christopher John Spurling charged with drug trafficking