Caleb James Nairn sentenced for drug trafficking in Bundaberg

A trafficking case before the Supreme Court has heard how a budding Bundaberg drug dealer’s sales skills were used for ‘evil’.

A young Bundaberg man, who promoted and advertised his range of MDMA and cannabis to addicts in the region, has been told his actions were “evil”.

Caleb James Nairn pleaded guilty in Bundaberg Supreme Court to drug trafficking.

The court heard Nairn ran a drug business, promoting his products, sending advertisements on instant messaging apps and even seeking customer feedback.

The 21-year-old’s illegal trade tumbled on May 28, 2020, when police carried out a standard check of his car and uncovered several clip-seal bags containing 32.285g of MDMA in crystal form with a purity of 26.05 per cent – or more than 8g of the pure drug.

Police also found meth, Midazolam tablets and 144g of cannabis.

Nairn gave police the passcode to his phone, who uncovered the details of the man’s street-level operation spanning four-and-a-half months.

The court heard Nairn had at least 27 local customers and made 95 sales since starting to traffic drugs.

Barrister Nick Larter told the court his client had depression and anxiety and also suffered the experience of a family tragedy in his youth.

The court also heard Nairn had no prior relevant criminal history and was a first-time serious offender who “should be afforded special leniency” for his young age even though his offending was “on the cusp” of requiring jail time.

Justice Graeme Crow told the court he was concerned Nairn “mass-advertised” his products, actively engaging his clients, one of whom had purchased in wholesale amounts.

In one transaction, Nairn sold 3.5g of MDMA and up to a pound of cannabis in another.

Nairn would message his customers to advertise his stock, networked with other suppliers and sought feedback from customers to “maintain good business relationships”.

“You were supplying on a near-daily basis to your regular customers, you negotiated sale prices, you advertised and promoted your stock,” Justice Crow said in sentencing.

“One of the concerns … is the steps that you took to promote your stock, that is sending out instant picture messages to your customers, essentially a mass advertisement on (three occasions).

“You are promoting, or pushing the drug to those who are probably already addicted, which is evil conduct.

“You promoted your drugs in other ways, you spoke about the quality of your drugs.”

It was noted Nairn had not employed the use of violence in his trafficking operations, which was in contrast to what was often the case in the illicit industry.

Nairn was sentenced to three years’ jail but allowed immediate parole.