Joshua Thomas Smith one of six people who trafficked meth and marijuana in Central Highlands

A major drug operation – which resulted in six people being charged with trafficking drugs and another 34 people charged with related offences – was undone by a series of anonymous, hand written notes. See how it went down.

A Central Highlands drug trafficker who was able to source drugs in Bundaberg and Emu Park was a member of a drug syndicate, of which two members are dead, that operated out of Clermont, Moranbah, Capella, Dysart and Mackay.

The whole operation – which resulted in six people being charged with trafficking drugs and another 34 people charged with related offences – was undone by a series of anonymous, hand written notes supplied to Clermont police in April 2018, raising concerns about drug activity in the Central Highlands community, naming Trevor Masih as a drug dealer.

Masih, who is now deceased, was supplied 450g of marijuana by Joshua Thomas Smith, which was located in Masih’s unit on May 3, 2020.

Smith, 38, pleaded guilty on March 10 in the Supreme Court in Rockhampton to one count of trafficking drugs, one of possessing items obtained from trafficking, one of possessing a phone used in the trafficking business and one of possessing drugs.

Joshua Thomas Smith, 38.

The court heard Smith and Masih were identified as members of the drug syndicate from telephone intercepts carried out as part of Operation Romeo Cyber, launched in September 2019 and which ran for 10-months.

Police arrested 40 people on 209 charges varying from alleged drug trafficking, unlawful possession of weapons and the production of methylamphetamine in a clandestine drug laboratory.

During the closure of the operation, police executed a total of 20 search warrants in 14 days in Clermont, Moranbah, Dysart, Emerald, Capella and Bundaberg.

Police also seized, as part of the operation, 1.972 kgs of methamphetamine, 4.676 kgs of marijuana, five firearms, a large sum of money, a stolen motorcycle and a stolen all-terrain buggy.

The stolen motorbike – a Suzuki – was located in Smith’s possession.

Smith primarily supplied marijuana in the Clermont, Capella and Dysart areas, but also supplied meth six times and acted as a conduit between Masih and his customers.

Justice Graeme Crow said Masih trafficked meth.

He said Masih and Smith would pool their money together to buy supplies of marijuana and meth through a chain which started with Paul David Roberts (who is now deceased), on to Stephen Frederick Brandenburg and then an unknown drug supplier in Emu Park.

As part of Operation Romeo Cyber which targetted drug trafficking in the Moranbah and Clermont region, police seized 1.972 kgs of methamphetamine, 4.676 kgs of marijuana, five firearms, a large sum of money, a stolen motorcycle and a stolen all-terrain buggy.

Smith purchased 450g of marijuana for $4000 per fortnight from Brandenburg between 10-15 times, starting in October 2019, selling about half which covered the purchase of the next supply and expenses.

Justice Crow said that through his own admissions, Smith claimed he sold between $36,000 and $101,000 during the trafficking operation.

But Brandenburg wasn’t Smith’s only supplier, with the court hearing Smith sourced up to 4.5kg 0r $120,000 of marijuana during his drug trafficking period and he knew of a supplier in Bundaberg.

Partner using more than a kilo of marijuana a week

Smith told police, after they raided his Monash Court, Clermont, residence on May 14, 2020, that he had started selling marijuana to fund his partner’s – Elizabeth Maureen Guymer – marijuana habit.

The court heard Guymer was using more than a kilogram of marijuana a week while Smith was using 450g per month.

Justice Crow said police detected Guymer as being part of Smith’s trafficking business which operated from October 1, 2019 to May 15, 2020 with at least 71 supplies to at least 17 customers and $2950 of meth to six customers in 10 supplies.

During the search in May, police located two grams of marijuana, 0.62g of marijuana seeds, a gel blaster, the stolen Suzuki motorcycle, an iPhone, coffee grinder with marijuana residue, glass bowl, straws, clip seal bags and syringes.

Crown prosecutor Harriet Hall-Pearce said Smith was involved in discussions with Masih about drug debt enforcement, but did not directly threaten any customers.

Threats of ‘getting a Glock out and taking him up bush’

The court heard the threats including “getting a Glock out and taking him up bush”, stomping on someone’s head and they discussed stealing a go-kart as part of drug debt recovery.

Defence barrister Greg McGuire said Masih and Roberts were morphine addicts

He said his client had ended the relationship with Guymer, who had long standing problems with drugs and alcohol, and he had their children in his care.

Mr McGuire said those children would be looked after by his father with Guymer having supervised visits twice a week.

He said Smith had been working at the Bluemac Bakehouse in Clermont, tendering a character reference letter from the bakery to the court.

Justice Crow sentenced Smith to three years prison with parole release on March 9, March 2023.

As part of Operation Romeo Cyber which targetted drug trafficking in the Moranbah and Clermont region,, police seized 1.972 kgs of meth, 4.676 kgs of marijuana, five firearms, a large sum of money, a stolen motorcycle and a stolen all-terrain buggy.

At the end of Operation Romeo Cyber, police advised the following:

• A 27-year-old Moranbah man was charged with two counts of trafficking in dangerous drugs, 22 counts of supplying dangerous drugs, producing dangerous drugs, two counts of unlawful supply of weapons, unlawful possession of weapons, possessing anything used in the commission of crime defined in part two, receiving tainted property and two counts of possessing relevant substances.
• A 31-year-old Moranbah woman was charged with trafficking in dangerous drugs, six counts of supplying dangerous drugs, possessing dangerous drugs, possessing anything used in the commission of crime defined in part two, possess utensils, possession of property suspected of being the proceeds of an offence under Drugs Misuse Act and two counts of possessing relevant substances or things.
• A 36-year-old Clermont man was charged with two counts of trafficking in dangerous drugs, 12 counts of supplying dangerous drugs, receiving or possessing property obtained from trafficking, two counts of possessing dangerous drugs, possessing anything used in the commission of crime defined in part two, possess utensils, stealing and contravention of police protection notice.
• A 60-year-old Eimeo man was charged with trafficking in dangerous drugs, two counts of possessing anything used in the commission of crime defined in part two, possessing dangerous drugs schedule two drug exceeding schedule three, supplying dangerous drugs and possessing of property suspected of being the proceeds of an offence under Drugs Misuse Act.
• A 36-year-old Clermont woman was charged with trafficking in dangerous drugs and three counts of supplying dangerous drugs.
• A 67-year-old Clermont man was charged with trafficking in dangerous drugs.
• A 67-year-old Clermont man was charged with receiving or possessing property obtained from trafficking.
• A 25-year-old Clermont man was charged with securing storage of weapons – registered owner.
• A 23-year-old Clermont man was charged with possessing dangerous drugs and possess utensils.
• A 19-year-old Clermont woman was charged with possessing dangerous drugs.
• A 27-year-old Clermont man was charged with supplying dangerous drugs, two counts of possessing dangerous drugs and possess utensils.
• A 30-year-old Clermont man was charged with unlawful possession of weapons category A/B/M and receiving tainted property.
• A 24-year-old Clermont man was charged with supplying dangerous drugs, possessing dangerous drugs, possession of property suspected of being the proceeds of an offence under Drugs Misuse Act, possessing anything used in the commission of crime defined in part two and possess property suspected of having been used in connection with the commission of a drug offence.
• A 37-year-old Clermont man was charged with possessing dangerous drugs and possess utensils.
• A 28-year-old Clermont woman was charged with 12 counts of supplying dangerous drugs and possess utensils.
• A 28-year-old Clermont man was charged with supplying dangerous drugs, two counts of possessing dangerous drugs, two counts of possessing anything used in the commission of crime defined in part two, two counts of possess utensils and fail to take reasonable care and precautions in respect of syringe or needle.
• A 56-year-old Clermont man was charged with possessing dangerous drugs, possessing anything used in the commission of crime defined in part two and possess utensils.
• A 35-year-old South Bingerra man was charged with unlawful supply of weapons (rifle).
• A 31-year-old Clermont man was charged with possessing dangerous drugs and possess utensils.