Brenden John Casey charged with drug trafficking and supplying dangerous drugs

‘Not how I do business’: A Sunshine Coast man accused of drug trafficking will have to wait before applying for bail after his Gold Coast solicitor couldn’t be contacted.

An Ilkley man accused being involved in a sophisticated drug lab in the Sunshine Coast hinterland will spend the weekend in jail after there was no appearance in court at the scheduled time by his solicitor

Brenden John Casey, 49, appeared via video link in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on July 22, 2022, charged with four counts of supplying dangerous drugs, one count of trafficking in dangerous drugs, two counts of aggravated supply of dangerous drug to a minor aged 16 or older and other drug offences.

Mr Casey was set to apply for bail on Friday.

The court however could not reach Mr Casey’s solicitor, Torik Dib, after calling him multiple times throughout the morning.

When the Gold Coast-based solicitor answered his phone about 10am, he could be heard speaking from his car while driving over loud speaker.

Mr Dib told the court he expected the call later in the day as that was his past experience dealing with “rural courts” before asking to have the matter adjourned to the Brisbane arrests court on Saturday.

This request was denied by Magistrate Rod Madsen.

“I phoned you multiple times this morning to no answer, the prosecutor has gone outside to contact your office so they could send a message to you and we even tried phoning after that message was sent,” Mr Madsen said.

“I didn’t get told you had a lot on and we’d have to wait for you until you were available.

“That’s not how I do business and I’d like to think that’s not how most solicitors do business.”

Police at an Ilkley Rd property in Ilkley on July 20, 2022. Picture: Sam Turner

Mr Madsen said Mr Dibb’s behaviour wouldn’t be tolerated simply because he was inconvenienced.

“If you’ve got too much work to do, get another solicitor to do this,” he said.

The matter was adjourned to July 26, 2022.

Police will allege 28g of meth, $60,000 in cash, a number of firearms and stolen property, including jewellery and power tools, were found at a 4ha property on Ilkley Rd, Ilkley.

Police will allege a speed lab was also found.

Two yachts in Mooloolaba have also been seized as part of Operation Uniform Canterbury, which were allegedly gained from the proceeds of crime.