Mele Lineti Cross breaches bail just days after release on drug trafficking, supply charges

Police say texts from an alleged drug trafficker to her husband described her operation as ‘no different from any other work’, with claims firearms including AK rifles were bartered for meth.

A Mundubbera mum has been hauled back before the courts, just days after being granted bail on serious drug trafficking and supply charges.

Mele Lineti Sanipepa Cross was granted bail on Tuesday, November 2, after being charged with more than 140 offences, including 139 counts of supplying dangerous drugs and one count of trafficking drugs.

Police alleged Cross supplied more than 60g of meth between June 2020 and August 2021, which police believed netted her approximately $100,000.

After being granted bail on strict conditions including that she reside at her aunt’s Mt Gravatt property, which her lawyer at the time told the court she was welcome to stay at.

According to lawyer Travis George, this quickly changed after media reports naming Cross and her alleged offending were published.

“Various family and friends of her aunt have seen the article and then made contact with my client’s aunt and convinced (her) that it would not be appropriate or in her interest for Ms Cross to be able to say there,” Mr George said.

“(Cross) was then told she would have to leave.”

He told the court Cross made contact with his office and attempted to contact the Murgon CIB in regards to her changed conditions, before travelling back to Mundubbera.

Upon arrival in the town she went to the police station and was taken into custody and charged.

Cross pleaded guilty to the breach of bail and acting magistrate John Milburn fined her $250 and did not record a conviction.

Police also applied to revoke her bail, with prosecutor Barry Stevens telling the court since the initial bail hearing, further details had come to light.

Sgt Stevens rejected earlier suggestions by Mr George that his client’s trafficking was “of need, not greed”.

“Detective Johnson has asserted … this is a more highly developed drug network, because of information received,” Sgt Stevens said.

He also told the court text messages between Cross and her husband had been analysed and alleged they showed pictures of a revolver and AK-style rifle police believed was exchanged for meth.

Sgt Stevens said Cross told her husband in the text exchange “I haven’t done this before, but it’s no different to any other anyone does for money”.

The prosecutor stressed the weapons pictured in the texts had not been recovered.

He also noted there were serious bail condition concerns relating to the operation of an ankle bracelet due to reception issues in the Mundubbera area, as well as concerns for the safety of children, given the case could involve firearms.

Mr George however submitted that Cross could remain in Mundubbera with similar conditions to her original bail.

“I accept … that because my client’s drug trafficking did relate to the North Burnett area, that the likelihood of her coming in contact with persons is obviously increased,” he said.

“However it because a matter for my client to avoid those contacts and ensure that she abides by her bail conditions.”

Acting Magistrate Milburn agreed with Mr George’s submissions and granted Cross a variation to her bail to allow her to reside at Mundubbera.