Johnathon Neil Griffiths pleads guilty to supplying dangerous drugs and unlawful supply of weapons

Police Operation Romeo Instance was a 12-month investigation into the supply of ice and firearms in rural areas, and it netted one man on multiple charges which he pleaded guilty to this week.

A man caught up in a police sting monitoring illegal drug activities in rural areas by listening in on phone calls has been busted for illegally supplying methamphetamine and a rifle.

A court has heard this week that Johnathon Griffiths was also found with a starter pistol which he bought online not realising it was illegal.

Johnathon Neil Griffiths, 36, from Goondiwindi, pleaded guilty to three counts of supplying dangerous drugs (methylamphetamine); unlawful supply of weapons; not having authority to possess explosives (ammunition); possession of drug utensils; two counts of being in possession of anything used in a crime; unlawful possession of weapons; two counts of driving when drug positive; and failing to attend court.

The court heard the drug offences were committed in 2019 and were apparently detected during a year-long police operation into the supply and distribution of ice, and firearms, codenamed Operation Romeo Instance.

It focused on Toowoomba and regional areas of Warwick, Inglewood and Goondiwindi.

Prosecutor Sergeant Nicholas Turnbull tended Griffiths’ criminal history from the ACT and from the Australian Federal Police.

No detailed agreed facts were read onto the public record in the open court but Sgt Turnbull said one drug charge related to Griffiths agreeing to supply one gram of methylamphetamine (ice).

He said a weapons charge involved the supply of a .303 rifle.

Defence lawyer Mac Gray said Griffiths had dropped out of school to work for his father’s mechanical business, then did a stint driving trucks.

The court heard Griffiths now does lawn maintenance, but it was while truck driving that he started using the drug speed, moving onto methamphetamine, which became an addiction.

“It quickly took hold of his life. As a result of that addiction it cost him his first family and his house on the Gold Coast,” Mr Gray said.

“While living with his mother she encouraged, facilitated his drug use.”

Mr Gray said a starter’s pistol found at Griffiths home was purchased by him at an online auction in Brisbane.

He did not believe it was a weapon and did not know it needed a permit in Queensland.

“He was quite shocked when charged,” Mr Gray said.

“There was no malicious intent. It was advertised as vintage, and a collector’s item.”

Magistrate Andy Cridland said the supply of dangerous drugs and a weapon were the more serious charges, particularly given the fact it involved a .303 rifle.

Mr Cridland said he took note from the material before him that – “it all came about as the result of a major drug investigation with telecommunication intercepts”.

Griffiths was convicted and received a nine-month jail term on each of the two serious charges, and one month jail for failing to appear at court.

The total sentence of 10 months was suspended for a period of 18 months.

He received a supervised 12-month probation order on other charges and must report to authorities at Toowoomba.