Alleged drug-trafficker arrested outside Earlville shopping centre with a loaded ‘pocket pistol’, drugs and $43,000 cash

Messages analysed on a seized mobile phone have led to a dramatic arrest at an Earlville shopping centre, with police seizing a loaded handgun, meth and $43,000 in cash from a man alleged to have been trafficking methamphetamines in Cairns this year.

An alleged meth trafficker has been arrested at a Cairns shopping centre, with police seizing $43,000 in cash, drugs and a loaded Colt 25 calibre handgun, which he was allegedly carrying in his pocket.

Detective Inspector Kevin Goan said Major and Organised Crime Squad detectives and officers from the Special Emergency Response Team (SERT) arrested two people at separate shopping centres in Cairns on February 11 – a 34-year-old man arrested at Earlville, and a 43-year-old woman at a Manunda shopping centre.

Det Inspector Goan said the arrests were linked to a search and arrest a week earlier, when police who searched a woman’s car on Progress Rd, Earlville, allegedly found methamphetamines and a mobile phone with ‘correspondence’ they believed was related to drug trafficking.

“As a result of investigations on February 5, opportunities investigatively opened up, and the detectives put together a number of strategies, they operationalised it and executed their operation on the 11th of February,” said Det Inspector Goan.

Detective Inspector for the Far North Queensland Crime Group Kevin Goan said police seized drugs, money and a loaded handgun during arrests at two Cairns shopping centres this week. Picture: Brendan Radke

“Our aim is always to push through the supply chain to see that we can get as far as we can to stop the supply of drugs into our community.”

“The relationship between all three is (allegedly) that of nefarious business partners.”

He said the seizure of the weapon was particularly worrying, as it was an uncommon calibre and size of firearm, that can be described as a “pocket model” of gun.

“The Colt .25 calibre, I believe, has seven rounds in the magazine that could be fired before reloading,” Det Insp Goan said.

He said police found “60-odd” rounds of ammunition after later searching the man’s residence.

“It is extremely concerning to us and we are very happy to have the firearm off the street, more concerningly though it was (allegedly) in possession of a person that’s clearly substance affected,” Det Insp Goan said.

It will be alleged the man was involved in trafficking methamphetamine in the Cairns area between January and February of this year.

The drugs methamphetamines, was allegedly found in a man’s possession, who was later charged with trafficking drugs.

Joshua Russell Best, 34, has been charged with one count each of trafficking in dangerous drugs, possessing dangerous drugs, unlawful possession of weapons category D/H/R, firearms to be kept unloaded other than when being used to shoot, unlawful possession of weapons category A, B or M, and possess utensils or pipes.

He made no application for bail and was remanded in custody was due to reappear in the Cairns Magistrates Court on March 17.

The 43-year-old Manunda woman, arrested at the Manunda shopping centre on February 11, where police allegedly located a quantity of methylamphetamine and cannabis in her possession, was charged with two counts of possessing dangerous drugs and one count each of possess utensils and evade police.

She was issued a Notice to Appear in the Cairns Magistrates Court on February 27.

Talisha Lee Addo, 31, was charged with one count each of trafficking in dangerous drugs, and possess property suspected of being used in drug offence.

She appeared in the Cairns Magistrates Court on February 11 and was remanded in custody until April 11.

Major and Organised Crime Squad Far Northern Officer in Charge Detective Senior Sergeant Brad Grace said police are pleased the weapon was removed before it caused harm.

A .25 calibre Colt handgun seized by police when they arrested a man, 34, on a drug trafficking charge.

“There is no excuse for bringing a firearm to a public place, let alone a shopping centre,” Detective Senior Sergeant Grace said.

“If any member of the community has any information at all in relation to the use, supply or trafficking of illicit drugs in the community, I encourage them to report the matter to Police via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 – it doesn’t matter how small or insignificant you believe the information to be, that information may be the piece of the puzzle police need to identify and dismantle a drug offending syndicate.”

Originally published as Alleged drug-trafficker arrested outside Earlville shopping centre with a loaded ‘pocket pistol’, drugs and $43,000 cash