Hollie-Maree Eggleston-Burton pleads guilty to aggravated drug possession

When a Central Queensland woman agreed to do her alleged drug dealer a favour, she had no idea officers in a large police operation were watching and listening to her every move.

Hollie Maree Eggleston-Burton is facing a number of drugs charges following a police operation targeting trafficking and supplying dangerous drugs in Central Queensland.

A Moranbah woman has avoided a jail term for stashing a large amount of meth for an alleged Central Queensland kingpin as “a favour” that would wipe her drug debt.

Hollie-Maree Eggleston-Burton was picked up on phone taps when detectives were targeting an alleged dealer as part of Tango Gismo, a joint agency operation tracking methylamphetamine and marijuana trafficking and supply throughout the Central Highlands in 2021.

Mackay Supreme Court was told the 39-year-old bought drugs off the man and when he asked her the next day to drive him somewhere to clear the debt, she agreed.

Eggleston-Burton drove him to Mackay, went into the home with him and saw money exchanged for meth.

The court heard soon after they had arrived back in Moranbah he asked for “a favour”, which involved her storing a backpack full of drugs. It was accepted she did not know of the contents, and did not look inside or ask what she was stashing.

“But you suspected it was something unlawful,” Justice David North said.

Police searched her home in November 2021 as part of sweeping raids across Central Queensland, where officers found 21.604g of pure meth in 30.25g substance in a cryovac bag in the backpack.

They also found 67g of marijuana, a smaller amount of meth in the home, and drug utensils.

Tango Gismo search warrants were carried out with the help of Moranbah, Clermont and Nebo police, Mackay Tactical Crime Squad, specialist drug detection dogs and officers from other agencies resulting in the seizure of evidence and the arrest of a number of people.

Police charged 20 people with a combined 117 offences.

Eggleston-Burton pleaded guilty to a number of charges including aggravated drug possession.

Justice North accepted Eggleston-Burton had co-operated with the administration of justice, which set her apart from other drug cases.

The court heard she had a good work history and her current job required regular drug screens, and she had been drug-free for some time.

“You are not drug-dependent,” Justice North said.

He added that in the particular circumstances, it was warranted he take a lenient view to assist in her rehabilitation.

Eggleston-Burton was placed on 12 months’ probation and no convictions were recorded.