Byron Falkner pleads guilty to supplying cocaine on Threema application

A Qld miner tried to set up two cocaine deals including one with a man masquerading as a fairytale character via an encrypted messaging service.

Byron Campbell Falkner faced Maroochydore District Court on Monday. Picture: Patrick Woods

A fly in fly out worker has been found to have tried to facilitate two cocaine deals on encrypted applications.

Messages on the phone application Threema unravelled Byron Campbell Falkner’s secret facilitations following a targeted search warrant at his Alexandra Headland home on August 29, 2023.

Maroochydore District Court heard on Monday how the 52-year-old volunteered the code to his phone to police after it was seized during the raid.

During their analysis of his device, they uncovered messages about two drug deals to users on the encrypted messaging system.

Legal officer Laura Moffatt said Falkner spoke to a user named “Peter Pan” on June 1, 2023, and connected them to his supplier.

Falkner arranged to pay “Peter Pan” $600 for half of the 3.5g which was $1200 all up.

The court heard there was no evidence the drug was actually supplied.

Detectives found messages about another drug supply on July 28, 2023, where he exchanged messages with another contact “Christo” and arranged to sell a “half ball” which was 1.75g of cocaine.

This was for between $650 to $780 however there was no evidence before the court the deal took place either.

Falkner pleaded guilty. Picture: Patrick Woods

Police also allegedly found three vials “in the nature of steroids” along with scales, clip seal bags and a glass pipe, the court heard.

These allegations related to five charges which were still before the Maroochydore Magistrates Court, Ms Moffat said.

Defence solicitor Ash Knopp said there was no evidence the deals were commercial and submitted his client only acted as an “intermediary” to facilitate the first deal.

He also claimed the 52-year-old wanted to split the cocaine with “Peter Pan” to fuel his own drug addiction.

The other was only an offer.

Mr Knopp said the miner wanted to address his underlying issues on why he self-medicated with drugs and recently undertook rehabilitation.

He told the court the New Zealand born man was abstinent from narcotics, with the messages taking place during a time where there was turmoil in Falkner’s personal life.

The court also heard the father wanted to move to Gympie for a new relationship and accepted the facilitating was a “stupid” thing to do.

Falkner pleaded guilty to two counts of supplying a dangerous drug and was placed on a two-year probation order.

A conviction was recorded.