Barkly Regional Council Mayor Jeff McLaughlin claims Tennant Creek police abused their powers
The Mayor of a giant slice of the outback has claimed local cops unfairly targeted him as part of a major drug operation, a court has heard.
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An outback mayor has claimed he was unlawfully targeted by cops who were convinced he was a “small fish” in a major remote drug empire, a court has heard.
Barkly Regional Council Mayor Jeff McLaughlin has claimed a roadside breath test was an unlawful attempt by police to implicate him in a cannabis network based out of Tennant Creek.
In six months the 43-year-old was allegedly twice busted driving with THC in his system by police.
On Thursday, Mr McLaughlin appeared in Alice Springs Court to enter a not guilty plea to drug driving, possession and supply, and cultivating cannabis plants.
Defence lawyer Simon Lapinski alleged police abused their powers, conducted unlawful searches and trumped up the charges against his high-profile client.
Mr Lapinski claimed on September 19 police pulled Mr McLaughlin over not due to his intoxicated driving, but because of a dodgy tip-off from their drug investigation.
Detective Sergeant Marek Hutchinson-Goncz told the court when he arrived in Tennant Creek he immediately saw “drug use and selling was rife”.
Sergeant Hutchinson-Goncz was the head of a 100-plus day investigation, known as Operation AMYL, which culminated in the arrest of nine people.
It was alleged more than 21kg of cannabis was sold over 12 months, and the syndicate made more than $500,000 before it was stopped in June 2022.
Judge Carly Ingles heard allegations the Barkly mayor’s business card was found in the wallet of one of the top members of the remote drug empire.
Sergeant Hutchinson-Goncz said he also received a tip-off on the day of the mayor’s first arrest, which alleged Mr McLaughlin was supplying drugs to Ali Curung.
“(But I didn’t believe it to be accurate or credible,” he told the court.
“Mr McLaughlin’s name never came up, was never mentioned in any way shape or form and as such was in no way of interest (to Operation AMYL).”
Mr Lapinski suggested Sergeant Hutchinson-Goncz did believe Mr McLaughlin was a “small fish” in the drug syndicate and used the RBT as a cover to search his car and then home.
Sergeant Hutchinson-Goncz denied this, saying the roadside stop was purely for safety concerns.
He alleged this was not the mayor’s first time behind the wheel with “bloodshot eyes”.
“On several occasions I’ve seen him out at the pub under the influence of cannabis and then drive a motor vehicle,” Sergeant Hutchinson-Goncz alleged.
It was alleged Mr McLaughlin told the officer he had cannabis plants at his home.
A search warrant allegedly uncovered two cannabis plants and under 20g of plant material.
Prosecutor James Moore denied there was an ulterior motive or “any illegality or impropriety” during the roadside stop, or the search warrant for McLaughlin’s home.
Mr Moore withdrew the September DUI charge, as prosecutors could not prove Mr McLaughlin was “incapable of controlling the vehicle”.
The case was adjourned to October 13 for case management.
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Originally published as Barkly Regional Council Mayor Jeff McLaughlin claims Tennant Creek police abused their powers
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