Ipswich 2022 drug busts: Full list of dealers, users named and shamed
The year has just begun and already more than 130 people in Ipswich have been slapped with drug charges. It comes as the region’s newest drug dealers have been named. Full list.
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Drug offences significantly dropped across the Ipswich region in 2021 with just 3182 charges being laid in the year, down from 4,447 in 2020.
In the first month of 2022 police laid just 132 drug charges and if that trajectory continues, this year may report lower numbers than usual.
Although state wide, Queensland police arrested 49,071 people for drug offences in 2021 which was far higher than neighbouring states.
Over the past two decades Ipswich police laid about 1,300 drug charges per year until a three year rise resulted in Ipswich’s recording a peak of 6,100 in 2017.
Ipswich police continue to carry out drug busts in their fight to limit the amount of dangerous drugs across the district, with a raft of offenders nabbed in raids and traffic stops.
From methamphetamine to cocaine here’s a list of people who were recently sentenced for drug crimes at the Ipswich Courthouse:
DEALERS:
Shannan Patricia Arneil
Boonah mum Shannan Patricia Arneil pleaded guilty to six drug charges on Tuesday, February 15, after police busted the small-time dealer.
The 36-year-old had been selling marijuana to fund her own addiction and was fully cooperative with police during a raid on July 16.
The court heard Arneil sold to at least 16 customers between January and July in 2021, and when police raided her home they found 36g of weed.
Magistrate Virginia Sturgess sentenced Arneil to 15 months parole and disqualified her licence for four months for drug driving, supplying and possessing drugs, and possessing multiple drug related items.
Tor Viking Gunnar Stromberg
A police investigation into an Ipswich meth trafficking ring named middle man, Tor Viking Gunnar Stromberg, after a raid uncovered he was selling meth.
The 52-year-old tradie pleaded guilty to two charges of supplying drugs at the Ipswich District Court on Thursday, February 10.
The court heard Stromberg was contacted by his dealer in September 2020 and asked to use his personal stash for a drug deal – resulting in the sale of six points of meth for $500 and three points for $100.
The Crown noted Stromberg’s history was littered with drug offences and the supply of drugs showed his offending had escalated.
Judge Rinaudo sentenced Stromberg to an 18 months prison sentence which was suspended for two years.
Stromberg was released on immediate parole.
USERS:
Gary Hodgkins and Rupert Peter Wilson
Police raided an Ipswich home on August 9, 2021, and charged Gary Hodgkins and Rupert Peter Wilson with multiple drug offences relating to meth and marijuana.
On February 21, 2022, both men pleaded guilty to failing to dispose of a needle/syringe, possessing drugs/utensils, and drug related property.
Hodgkins, 37, and Wilson, 47, were both fined $1000.
Joshua Kenneth Burwell
During a raid at Joshua Kenneth Burwell’s North Ipswich home, police uncovered marijuana and a used bong.
The 33-year-old dad pleaded guilty to possessing dangerous drugs, a drug utensil, and was fined $300.
Burwell’s duty lawyer told the court he used weed to help him sleep and was in the process of legally obtaining the drug.
Chad Barry Evans
On two occasions police raided Chad Barry Evans’ Redbank Plains home and located small amounts of methamphetamine.
At the time of the raid, the court heard 36-year-old committed a spate of minor crimes spanning from August 2020 to September 2021, which was fuelled by his drug use.
On January 17, Evans pleaded guilty to 13 crimes including drug possession, drug driving, stealing, breaching bail, and was sentenced to 18 months’ probation and disqualified from driving for one month.
Brendon Zaclon Timothy Cahill
When police raided Brendon Zaclon Timothy Cahill’s home they located marijuana, a pipe, grinder, and chop bowl.
The 22-year-old was on probation and parole at the time and had also raked up a number of stealing charges.
Cahill pleaded guilty to possessing drugs, possessing drug utensils, five counts of stealing, failing to appear at court, contravening the direction of police and a probation order.
On Tuesday, January 18, magistrate Walker sentenced Cahill to a seven month intensive corrections order.
FIRST TIME OFFENDER
Jayden Litfin
An Ipswich court heard Jayden Litfin, 21, was driving in Raceview with his cocaine stash when police pulled him over for a routine licence check.
During a search of his Nissan Patrol on December 17, 2021, officers located 2g of coke in his centre console.
On Wednesday, February 9, Litfin pleaded guilty to possessing dangerous drugs, possessing a drug related item, and was fined $400.
No conviction was recorded.
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