Paul Anthony Friswell: Alleged drug trafficker taken into custody

A South Ripley man, accused of drug trafficking, has been taken into custody after blaming his dog for missing court failed to impress the magistrate. Find out what happened.

File photo of Ipswich Court. Picture: David Clark

A South Ripley man has faced court accused of running a drug dealing operation, dishing out methamphetamine, cannabis, MDMA and “unknown dangerous drugs”.

Paul Anthony Friswell, 42, appeared before the Ipswich Magistrates’ Court on Monday on 49 charges including drug trafficking, drug possession and unlawful possession of a weapon.

Crown prosecutor Jessica Beckman told the court police became aware of the alleged operation when they searched his home for an unrelated reason in April 2021.

They allegedly found quantities of various drugs stashed at the South Ripley address and located text messages on his phone detailing 34 transactions between May and December 2020.

Ms Beckman said the messages allegedly used vague words like “green”, “HB” and “$300 gram” but police “inferred” they were related to drug deals based on knowledge of “pricing in the community”.

In court, prosecutors successfully argued Mr Friswell’s bail should be revoked after allegedly failing to appear in court or report to police on multiple occasions.

Mr Friswell argued he was working long hours in his job and his alleged bail breaches were not because he was doing something “criminal”.

He told the court he was late to appear on Monday after his dog “peed” on his pants.

Mr Friswell was remanded into custody by Magistrate Dennis Kinsella and will return on Tuesday for a bail application.