Craig Heinecke sentenced for Sunshine Coast to Brisbane drug running operation

Covert surveillance on a Sunshine Coast man with a criminal past has led to police uncovering a drug courier operation and a huge meth haul worth a street value of $140,000.

Craig Lawrence Heinecke was sentenced in the Supreme Court of Queensland at Brisbane. Picture: NCA Newswire / Dan Peled

A Golden Beach man will be eligible for parole next year after a police sting uncovered his drug running business from the Sunshine Coast to Brisbane.

Court documents published this week revealed how Craig Lawrence Heinecke ferried drugs between the two cities through a meth courier business in mid 2022.

The 35-year-old was sentenced by Justice Tom Sullivan in the Supreme Court of Queensland at Brisbane after Heinecke pleaded guilty to 10 charges including trafficking in dangerous drugs, possessing a dangerous drug in excess of 200 grams and possessing property obtained from trafficking.

Heinecke first came into the crosshairs of police in May 2022 where he was suspected of being involved in the drug trade.

Sentencing remarks reveal the 35-year-old was traced to a drug phone found in a raid on another person’s home on August 17, 2022.

In these messages Heinecke planned to sell meth on two dates.

Over the following weeks covert surveillance was undertaken at irregular intervals, however it was on October 10, 2022 when things kicked off for detectives.

Court documents state police teams watched Heinecke drive from his Golden Beach home to Brady Bushland Park at Runcorn.

It was here Heinecke walked into the park with a black backpack before he returned and began “tinkering” under the bonnet of his car before he drove off.

Craig Lawrence Heinecke. Picture: Facebook

The police surveillance team watched as an accomplice walked into the park with his own bag before he returned, with police noting the bag “looked fuller” than it had been when he arrived. Police suspected the second man was involved in the drug trade.

Court documents state Heinecke then drove to Eight Mile Plains where he parked and walked into Conondale Park from Mothar St.

He returned to his vehicle minutes later and conducted the same ritual by lifting the bonnet of his car and “fidgeting” under the right side of his engine.

Heinecke was intercepted by police shortly after along Logan Rd at Eight Mile Plains, where police drove his car to a nearby service station for a search.

The meth seized by police during the operation to take down Heinecke. Picture: QPS

When police lifted the bonnet they found a blue and yellow battery case which contained a heat sealed bag with 227g of pure meth inside 299g of substance.

A search of Heinecke uncovered almost 3g of pure meth in clip seal bags along with $1670 cash in his wallet. The 35-year-old then refused to unlock his phone for police.

Police raided Heinecke’s Golden Beach home and also the property of his earlier accomplice.

Court documents state officers found drug related items including syringes, rubber bands, spoon, scales, a phone, and clip seal bags in the 35-year-old’s room, including varying amounts of cocaine, meth and marijuana.

Justice Sullivan said Heinecke was found with a total of 241g of pure ice in 317g of substance, which had a rough street value of $140,000.

The Supreme Court Justice said messages between Heinecke and two others implicated him in the meth trade between August 14, 2022 and October 11, 2022.

Court documents say texts on the Golden Beach man’s phone found 27 occasions where he supplied meth to 11 different customers.

Heinecke was sentenced at the Supreme Court of Queensland in Brisbane.

The deals ranged from between $400 to $6200, where on one occasion the Golden Beach man sold an ounce or 28g for $6200. Another time he offered to sell 18.5g for $4000.

Heinecke was remanded in custody following his brief appearance in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on October 11 and has been in jail since.

Justice Sullivan said available evidence did not show what his profits were but how Heinecke had “significant resources and network connections” to enable him to buy 300g of substance containing meth at one time.

The court was told Heinecke committed the offences while he was on parole for drug dealing offences. Heinecke had however completed the majority of his parole and made efforts to rehabilitate.

The Supreme Court Justice acknowledged Heinecke came from a good family but struggled with drug addiction following the breakdown of a relationship.

Justice Sullivan said the 35-year-old had made steps to better himself while on remand, including a course which could lead him to employment once he’s released.

Heinecke was given a head sentence of seven years’ jail, with a parole eligibility date of March 12, 2025.

Part of Heinecke’s time on remand, 232 days, was taken as time served.