Whyalla ex-bikie Duane Barry Wade jailed role in drug trafficking meth and cocaine

A former patched Rebels bikie has been jailed after pleading guilty to his role in a major drug trafficking ring.

A former bikie who no longer wishes to “engage in that lifestyle” has been jailed for his role in a multistate drug operation uncovered by a specialised police investigation.

Duane Barry Wade, a former fully patched member of the Rebels Outlaw Motorcycle gang, was involved in dealing tens of thousands of dollars worth of cocaine and methamphetamine.

During sentencing, Judge Anne Barnett explained Wade had been dealing in small amounts of cocaine worth up to close to $15,000 as part of a larger drug network during November 2023.

But during a traffic stop on December 15, police located more than 30g of cocaine within his vehicle – alongside 110g of methamphetamine, worth up to $92,250 alone.

The 57-year-old from Whyalla Stuart was arrested after investigations conducted by SA Police’s Operation Stonewall into a multi-state drug operation.

The operation uncovered large amounts of illicit substances including cannabis, methamphetamine, cocaine, MDMA, and ecstasy.

Eight other people were arrested following the investigation, and are proceeding through the courts.

The court heard that, during the investigation, multiple surveillance devices were placed in vehicles and inside a Pooraka chicken shop that recorded conversations between Wade and his alleged supplier.

The conversations pertained to drug prices, competitors in Whyalla and the need to source a phone to allow for ease of communication and fewer trips to Adelaide.

Wade pleaded guilty to three counts of trafficking in a controlled drug, one count of contriving a firearms prohibition order by possessing a firearm.

Judge Barnett said the firearms offence related to a loaded air rifle owned by Wade’s step son-in-law and left at his Whyalla Stuart property that Wade had admitted touching two years ago.

The court heard Wade had told an expert psychologist after his history of drug and alcohol abuse he was looking to moving past his “impatient” youth and had been clean since before his April 2024 arrest.

“You said that you’re are approaching 60 years of age and do not wish to engage in that lifestyle anymore, in the sense that you do not wish to return to drug use or continue associating with anti-social peers,” Judge Barnett said.

The court heard after years of hanging around the club, Wade became a patched member in his 40s prior to leaving the club in his mid-50s.

Judge Barnett sentenced Wade to six years, 11 months and 14 days’ jail with a non-parole period of five years, six months and 24 days.

Her Honour backdated the sentence to Wade’s arrest in April 2024, meaning he will be eligible for parole in November 2029.