Alleged Mongrel Mob Mackay president Karl Robert Bailey charged with trafficking

Lawyers for the alleged Mackay president of an international street gang have applied to access Australian Border Force documents compiled in relation to the case.

Karl Robert Bailey, who is charged with numerous offences including trafficking and supplying dangerous drugs, and recruiting persons to a criminal organisation, faced Mackay Magistrates Court on January 17, 2021.

Lawyers for the alleged Mackay president of an international street gang arrested during sweeping home raids across the district have applied to access Australian Border Force documents in relation to the case.

Matters against Karl Robert Bailey are bound for the supreme court.

The Blacks Beach man was arrested in January 2022 as police closed two major drug operations codenamed Sierra Asteroid and Tango Radar targeting organised crime and drug trafficking.

Over two days police executed search warrants across Mackay, the Pioneer Valley and Whitsundays seizing huge quantities of cocaine, methylamphetamines, MDMA, LSD, cannabis, fentanyl, steroids and firearms.

Karl Robert Bailey is charged with numerous offences including trafficking and supplying dangerous drugs, and recruiting persons to a criminal organisation as part of a police sting targeting an alleged drug network linked to the Mackay chapter of the Mongrel Mob street gang.

Mr Bailey, 31, was charged as part of Sierra Asteroid, which was conducted between October 2020 and January 2022 and focused on alleged organised crime and drug trafficking in Mackay by OMCG The Mongrel Mob.

Police searched the home of Mr Bailey, who is alleged to be the Mackay chapter president, in January 2022 and as a result seized property including a vehicle.

Mr Bailey, who is charged with 19 offences including trafficking, supplying dangerous drugs and recruiting person to become a participant in a criminal organisation, was granted bail in January 2022 after a $30,000 surety was paid.

Mr Bailey’s matters are bound for the supreme court.

Matters were briefly mentioned on Wednesday in Mackay Magistrates Court, during which town agent Adam Harvey requested access to an Australian Border Force packet that had been delivered to the registry.

Mr Bailey was not in court and his appearance was excused.

Because of the nature of the charges the case must be committed to a higher jurisdiction.

Magistrate Damien Dwyer granted both defence and prosecution leave to inspect the Border Force material.

The matter was adjourned to April 12 for a registry committal to occur.

Mr Bailey’s appearance on that day will be excused.