Michael John Christopher Anderson jailed for drug trafficking

A businessman who trafficked a half million dollar haul of cannabis, as well as cocaine, across state borders to Rockhampton, has been sentenced. SEE THE DRUG HAUL.

A Victorian businessman has been sentenced after he trafficked a “massive” amount of cannabis across state borders to Rockhampton.

Michael John Christopher Anderson, 47, pleaded guilty in the Supreme Court at Rockhampton on March 17 to drug trafficking, possessing cocaine and cannabis, as well as possessing something used to traffick dangerous drugs.

The court heard that sometime before December 6, 2021, Anderson, a Victorian resident, sourced cannabis and cocaine and arranged for his co-accused Brett John Gundry, 57, to transport the drugs from Anderson’s home state to Koongal, North Rockhampton, in Queensland.

The court was told the drugs were couriered by a tow truck registered to Anderson’s towing company which was loaded with a caravan registered in Anderson’s partner’s name. The partner is not accused of any wrongdoing, or having had knowledge of this.

The court heard that at 5.17pm on December 6, 2021, police allegedly saw Mr Gundry reverse the tow truck into a driveway on Saunders Street, Koongal.

It was told the caravan was unloaded from the tow truck tray into a carport at the residence.

Victorian businessman Michael John Christopher Anderson has been sentenced after he trafficked a “massive” amount of cannabis across state borders to Rockhampton.

Minutes later, police swooped, executing a search warrant at the property with the engine of the tow truck still running.

The court heard Mr Gundry was allegedly standing close to the caravan and appeared nervous. Mr Gundry’s court matters are still to be finalised.

He was also charged with one count of trafficking dangerous drugs, two counts of possessing dangerous drugs and one count of possessing anything used in the commission of a crime. He has not entered a plea.

Inside the caravan and hidden in different storage compartments, police found 169 cryovac bags which contained a total of 76.03kg of cannabis, the court was told.

Police also seized a clip-seal bag containing 6.497g of pure cocaine in 27.188g of substance (23.9 per cent purity).

The court was told the approximate street value of the cannabis was $586,635 and there was about $8000 worth of cocaine.

The court heard police allege payment for transporting the drugs, a $20,000 sum, was to be split between Anderson ($12,000) and Mr Gundry ($8000).

Brett John Gundry, 56. Picture: Facebook

In terms of recent background, the court was told that in late 2019, Anderson had an $87,000 Tatts Lotto windfall and used the money to set up his own tow truck business because he wanted to move away from the very hard job of re-stumping houses.

But during Covid lockdowns, Anderson’s business, which predominantly involved towing caravans and boats, hit difficulties particularly in Victoria with state border closures.

The court heard financial stresses coupled with a number of deaths in his family caused Anderson to relapse into “quite significant drug use”.

It was during that time Anderson made the decision to traffick the drugs and allegedly involve Mr Gundry, a person he had known for 30 years.

In relation to Anderson’s criminal history, Justice Graeme Crow said: “Yours isn’t as bad as many that I see.”

The court heard Anderson had drug possession offending on his criminal history (methamphetamine and cannabis) as well as burglary and property offences, but the crimes for which he was being sentenced were a “serious escalation” in offending.

The cannabis haul found hidden in the caravan.

As for Anderson’s early background, the court heard that at the age of 16 he started drinking alcohol and using marijuana with the drug developing into a habit.

Anderson went on to use other drugs including cocaine, ice, ecstasy and heroin, and he stopped using marijuana post his arrest in 2022.

The court heard that since his latest offending, Anderson had undergone drug rehabilitation and had been working for a former employer, six to seven days per week.

It was told he had also forfeited the tow truck (worth more than $90,000) and caravan ($6000-$8000) involved in the crime - a significant financial loss to him and his family.

The cannabis haul found hidden in the caravan.

Before handing down sentence, Justice Crow described the amount of cannabis trafficked in this case as “massive.”

Justice Crow said many people in society were in difficult financial positions but if they took the opportunity to get involved in transporting or trafficking drugs “there needs to be a clear message it’s not worth it”.

Justice Crow noted the “local trafficker” the haul was delivered to in North Rockhampton was sentenced to six years in jail.

“People like him cannot operate unless people like you (Anderson) get involved in the supply chain,” Justice Crow said.

Justice Crow said in Anderson’s favour, his early guilty plea demonstrated remorse but more importantly the remorse was demonstrated by the early agreement to forfeit the items of significant value.

“In your favour, you have a good work history - you’re clearly a hard working man, at least at times when drugs haven’t got the better of you,” Justice Crow added, before noting Anderson’s prospects of going back to employment were good.

Justice Crow further stated the rehabilitation Anderson had undertaken was “particularly impressive” but there was “some way to go”.

Justice Crow sentenced Anderson to six years’ jail with parole eligibility after he serves 12 months.