Cruz Potter applies for bail after drug arrests of Kim White, Marshall White
A teenager who police allege worked for an accused father and son drug syndicate on the Sunshine Coast has been caught on wire taps discussing cocaine and debt collections.
Police & Courts
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A Birtinya teenager has been allegedly caught up in an “organised drug syndicate” on the Sunshine Coast as more details of the discrete operation emerge.
Court documents tendered to Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Wednesday allege Cruz Adam Potter, 18, worked closely with Meridan Plains father and son duo Kim Andrew White, 48, and Marshall Andrew White, 48, and helped with their drug trafficking activities on the Sunshine Coast.
Both Kim and Marshall White were charged with multiple offences including trafficking in dangerous drugs and remain before the courts.
Potter came firmly under the microscope of the Sunshine Coast Drug and Serious Crime Taskforce during Operation Victor Ignite following a series of phone intercepts on the Whites’ mobiles.
Court documents allege Potter spoke to Marshall White on more than 218 phone calls and texts since October 19, 2023 and spoke to Kim White on more than a dozen calls and SMS messages since December 5, 2023.
Police allege in these documents Potter was used by the Whites as a “drug distributor and debt collector”.
Excerpts of these phone calls reveal multiple occasions where the Birtinya teen spoke to Marshall White about drugs and debts.
Detectives allege in the above conversation between Marshall White and Potter related to the 20-year-old picking up half a gram to one gram of cocaine from the 18-year-old.
Police allege this above phone call between Marshall White and Potter discussed money owed to the Meridan Plains son, where money was referred to as “coin” or proceeds from drug trafficking previously owed.
Police allege this above conversation was about Potter discussing a customer who owed $13,750 in lieu of drugs previously supplied. It’s further alleged the customer asked for a further one and a half ounces of cocaine for $12,000 which police say is a “consistent price” for this drug commodity.
Detectives allege when Marshall White said he needed “a new forby” this meant if the customer didn’t pay, the 20-year-old would take his four wheel drive in lieu of money.
Police allege this above call related to the Potter sourcing meth from Marshall White, where the reference to “rock” related to two and a half ounces of meth, commonly referred to as rock.
Detectives pounced on Potter’s Birtinya home simultaneously with the White’s Meridan Plains residence on May 21 in relation to the current drug investigation.
Court documents state mobile phones, 20g of cocaine, 44g of marijuana, ammunition and digital scales were allegedly seized at Potter’s home.
Police allege Potter declined to open his mobile to police when required due to “privacy”.
Detectives allege in bail objection documents Potter was willing to undertake activities related to cocaine dealing and was linked to an “organised drug syndicate” on the Sunshine Coast.
The Birtinya teen applied for bail in court on Wednesday, where his lawyer Bruce Mumford said Potter was not a “principal” in the alleged network.
“He’s not much more than an (alleged) assistant … to the true principals,” Mr Mumford said.
Acting magistrate Michael Bice granted Potter bail, which prompted a large sigh of relief from the 18-year-old’s supporters in the court’s public gallery.
His charges of trafficking dangerous drugs, possessing anything used in the commission of crime, contravening order about information necessary to access information stored electronically and possessing property suspected of having been used in connection with the commission of a drug offence were adjourned to June 12.
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