Lockyer drug producers have been busted in court and issued fines for their alarming behaviour
One of these drug growers could be your neighbour.
Gatton
Don't miss out on the headlines from Gatton. Followed categories will be added to My News.
This year alone, seven people have been charged with growing drugs at their Lockyer Valley homes.
The Gatton Magistrates Court has heard multiple cases of drug growing cases from a few plants to major sophisticated operations.
Regency Downs trio sells homegrown drugs to fund operation
Despite growing a significant amount of cannabis for their own use, a Lockyer Valley trio have sold their weed in order to keep their personal operation afloat.
Darren Troy McVey, Felicity Maree Moore and Tyesen Matthew Barker had almost 325g of cannabis leaf in their possession along with 58 plants at their Regency Downs property.
In the Gatton Magistrates Court on Monday, April 19, their lawyer Michael McMillan of McMillan Criminal Law, said while it was a “sophisticated” operation, it ”wasn't great”.
Police found numerous grow tents containing 58 cannabis plants ranging from small to adult sized.
They all pleaded guilty to possessing utensils or pipes, two charges of possessing anything used in the commission of a crime, possessing dangerous drugs, producing dangerous drugs and supplying dangerous drugs.
Moore also pleaded guilty to receiving or possessing property obtained from trafficking or supplying.
Barker had no conviction recorded, but a conviction was recorded for Moore and McVey.
Wife leads cops to husband’s drug stash, cannabis plants
The wife of a Lockyer Waters man showed police her husband’s drug stash, cannabis plants and utensils during a raid when he wasn’t home, a court has heard.
Police searched Brendan Karl Jenkins’ home on March 5 just before 11pm, with his wife assisting police in the search.
During the raid, police uncovered eight cannabis plants in pots near the swimming pool, along with fertilisers, herbicides, and hoses.
In a kitchen cupboard, 68 grams of cannabis was found in a jar, along with some seeds, while in the bedroom police found an instruction book on how to grow cannabis.
When police searched the back-patio area, they came across multiple smoking pipes that had a strong smell of cannabis along with an unregistered and unsecured air rifle.
Jenkins pleaded guilty to seven charges, which included possessing explosives, possessing utensils or pipes that had been used, possessing anything used in the commission of a crime, possessing dangerous drugs, producing dangerous drugs, possessing instructions for producing dangerous drugs and unlawful possession of a weapons category A, B or M.
He was fiend $1200 for all offences and a conviction was recorded.
Aspiring disability worker’s drug stash found in freezer
A mum who kept more than 60 grams of marijuana in the freezer asked for no conviction to be recorded so she could travel to see her terminally ill mother-in-law.
Chantelle Maree Dagg, 25, appeared in the Gatton Magistrates Court on Monday, March 29, on four drug-related charges after police raided her Mount Whitestone home.
Two 30cm marijuana plants in pots were found growing outside Dagg‘s bedroom door while another two were found growing in bushland about 50m from the house.
In the freezer, police found a clip seal bag containing 60.8g of cannabis while in the bedroom they found two glass jars with a further 3.8g plus a set of used scissors.
Dagg pleaded guilty to possessing drug utensils, possessing dangerous drugs, and possessing anything used in the commission of a crime.
She was fined $650 for the four offences and no conviction was recorded.
Sophisticated, expensive drug operation destroyed after raid
An expensive and sophisticated cannabis growing operation in the Lockyer Valley has been torn down by police.
A grow tent, multiple fertilisers, exhaust fans and timers were just some of the items seized by police when they raided a Lockrose home earlier this year.
In the garage on Shai Ricky Simpson’s property, police found five cannabis plants and 55 grams of cannabis leaf.
The hydroponic set up included a zipper tent, grow light, various fertilisers, exhaust fans, electric fans and timers.
Simpson pleaded guilty to possessing dangerous drugs, producing dangerous drugs, possessing utensils or pipes and possessing anything used in the commission of a crime.
Simpson was fined $1200 and ordered to pay within six months, or complete 65 hours of community service.
A conviction was recorded
Guns, ammo and 1kg of drugs in Lockyer man’s home
Weapons and ammo stored in the ceiling and almost 1kg of cannabis have been found in the home of a Lockyer Valley man fearful of returning to jail.
Alexander James Lewis had everything he needed to grow marijuana, from a growing guide to grow tents, fertilisers, chemicals and heat lights.
Police found his growing utensils and weapons when they searched his Kensington Grove home on May 20.
They searched his home and found three mature cannabis plants, about 80cm in height along with 12 juvenile cannabis plants growing in a container in the living room.
Six clip seal bags and two ice cream containers with a combined weight of 923 grams were also found.
Lewis pleaded guilty to 10 charges, including authority required to possess explosives, possessing shortened firearms, possessing utensils, possessing anything used in the commission of a crime, possessing dangerous drugs, possessing restricted items, producing dangerous drugs, receiving tainted property, unlawful possession of weapons (x2).
He was sentenced with a total of 30 months imprisonment for all 10 charges, suspended for 18 months.
Cold and wet … but will it snow in Qld this weekend?
Queensland is bracing for a blistering cold snap as meteorologists weigh in on the likelihood of snow in parts of the state’s south this weekend.
Fireys investigating gas leak at Lockyer Valley business
Fire crews are investigating the cause of a gas leak at a Lockyer Valley business that saw one person hospitalised.