Ricki Tawiti Pourau in court for trafficking, possessing, supplying drugs

A young Sunshine Coast father was surrounded by family and friends as he faced court over a months-long drug dealing business. But the reason for the illegal enterprise was tragic.

Ricki Pourau. Photo: Social Media

A 27-year-old Kings Beach man busted over a months-long drug dealing operation had a heartbreaking reason for turning to the illegal activity, a court has been told.

Ricki Tawiti Pourau was surrounded by family and friends when he appeared in the Maroochydore District Court on Thursday, January 25.

The court was told police uncovered Pourau’s illegal business after they were called to his Kings Beach home for an unrelated matter on June 8, 2022 and searched the house after smelling marijuana.

Pourau, who was between 24 and 25 at the time, was not home.

Crown prosecutor Michael Andronicus said police found bongs, scissors and a grinder as well as a bag with 96g of marijuana hidden in a laundry cupboard.

Several smaller bags with different amounts of the drug were found nearby also.

Mr Andronicus told the court 159g of drugs were found altogether.

Pourau came home mid-search and had his phone seized by police, which revealed Pourau had trafficked drugs at street-level over an 18 month period.

This included one offer to sell “one pound” of marijuana for $5300, the court was told.

Text messages on his phone revealed Mr Pourau had planned to expand the business, and revealed he had attempted to sell LSD and MDMA.

Mr Pourau was arrested and taken to the Caloundra police station, but repeatedly threw his head back and forth, obstructing officers.

Barrister Tracy Thorp told the court her client had later told a psychiatrist he started the business as an additional source of income to help support his family, and other messages in his phone showed several unsuccessful loan applications, applications for rental inspections and revealed he had been staying at various holiday homes.

Ms Thorp said there were also messages about overdue fees for a storage shed and afterpay payments, along with a message from someone about a social worker helping them find housing and recommending a homeless hotline.

She said her client had not reoffended for almost 18 months and had been employed full time for 10 months.

Pourau pleaded guilty to drug trafficking, obstructing police, two charges of possessing property suspected of being used in the commission of a drug offence, possessing drug utensils, possessing drugs and two charges of supplying drugs.

Judge Glen Cash sentenced him to two and a half years jail, with an immediate parole release.

Convictions were recorded.