Drug kingpin’s links exposed

THE kingpin of a wide-reaching Bundaberg-based drug syndicate had assigned multiple couriers and suppliers to distribute and buy drugs.

DRUG LORD: The links between Mathew Sam Bost and his supply chain.

THE kingpin of a wide-reaching Bundaberg-based drug syndicate had assigned multiple couriers and suppliers to distribute and buy drugs along the Queensland coast and as far away as Sydney and Darwin.

The controller of a drug ring that took police several months to unravel, Mathew Sam Bost fronted the Supreme Court on Thursday where the details of his illegal business venture were revealed.

Bost, 29, was the target of a covert operation between 2010-11 into large-scale trafficking of methamphetamines from Bundaberg.

The Supreme Court, where Bost's sentencing began, heard the father of two orchestrated the supply and control of drugs to couriers and suppliers.

His activity extended to Rockhampton, Townsville, Sarina and interstate.

After closing the covert drug operation in February 2011, police raided Bost's Moorland home and found 22.3g of liquid steroid, $7600 in cash, 19 mobile phones and multi-ethnic laptops.

Crown prosecutor Clare Kelly said the Crown's evidence of Bost's drug trafficking came from what a number of his associates had confessed.

"Distribution manager" Gregory Alfred Wheat moved in with Bost in July 2009 and sold between one and two ounces of methamphetamine per week.

Ms Clare also identified Bost's other main players including Henry Stefankowski, who couriered bricks of cash and received steroids in return.

Police in Rockhampton caught Stefankowski, who was sentenced last year to four years' jail, with $150,000 cash in his car in December, 2010.

Ms Clare said police intercepted another man who was returning from a meeting with Stefankowski in Townsville with methamphetamine.

Ms Clare said a financial analysis discovered Bost had $621,912.03 in unsourced income between June 1, 2008 and February 10, 2011.

"The value of the business is in excess of that figure," Ms Clare said.

Defence barrister Anthony Glynn said Bost grew up in Canberra, where he left school at 16 and worked in the public service.

Mr Glynn said Bost was responsible for three children, including one from a previous relationship, one with his current long-term partner and another from his partner's previous relationship.

Bost was a long-time user of amphetamines and steroids, the court heard.

His sentencing was adjourned to April 11.

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Mathew Sam Bost's criminal history:

2002 - Amphetamine and marijuana supply in NSW

2006 - Receives suspended jail term for discharging a firearm

2007 - Police raid uncovers amphetamine, ecstasy, handgun and stun gun

2007 - Convicted for bringing stolen projector from a college into Queensland