Stephen John Halpin refused bail after being charged with drug trafficking and producing marijuana

A man allegedly involved in a “very elaborate” scheme to grow marijuana was on bail for drug offences when police raided a Noosaville warehouse, a court has heard.

Police allege 101 marijuana plants were seized in a Noosaville shed on April 28. Picture: 7 News Sunshine Coast

A Yandina man who allegedly trafficked marijuana through Noosaville and Coolum Beach will remain behind bars after his bail application was refused.

Stephen John Halpin, 54, is charged with two counts of producing a dangerous drug, one count of trafficking a dangerous drug and one count of possessing anything used in the commission of crime.

Police allege in court documents Mr Halpin and three co-accused had organised the production of marijuana in a hydroponic set up in Coolum Beach and Noosaville between September last year and February this year.

They allege Mr Halpin bought four shipping containers for $8788 and had them installed at a Lysaght Street property in Coolum Beach before they were moved in early February to a Noosaville industrial estate.

Police allege 101 marijuana plants were seized in a Noosaville shed on April 28. Picture: 7 News Sunshine Coast

Police raided both properties on April 28 after months of surveillance allegedly showed the four co-accused had been involved in “suspicious activity”, according to court documents.

Police allege the four containers were used to grow the marijuana plants and had been modified to include air conditioners and ventilation.

Court documents show police seized 101 marijuana plants weighing 20.27kg in total and ranging in height from 10cm to half a meter.

Officers also allegedly found 53g of dried marijuana in cryovac bags, water drums, growing chemicals, fertilizer and equipment used in the production and packaging of drugs.

The Noosaville shed where police allege 101 marijuana plants were seized on April 28. Picture: Aisling Brennan

Police will allege Mr Halpin was involved in a “very elaborate” marijuana production scheme while he was on bail for similar drug related offences.

Mr Halpin was in jail for those other offences after he was given an 18-month sentence in Gympie District Court days before the Noosaville raid in April.

He was expecting to have that sentence suspended for 30 months on Tuesday, July 27, after he’d served four months in jail for those separate matters.

Mr Halpin was applying for bail after police charged him with the offences relating to the Noosaville raid.

Police prosecutor Amanda Brewer objected to Mr Halpin’s bail bid on Tuesday in Noosa Magistrates Court.

She said there was surveillance of Mr Halpin at Noosaville and Coolum Beach moving building materials and equipment and he obviously wasn’t “deterred” from allegedly committing these new offences while on bail for similar ones.

The Coolum Beach shed where police allege marijuana plants were moved from to be set up at Noosaville. Picture: Aisling Brennan

The court heard Mr Halpin’s fingerprints were found on one of the shipping containers.

Mr Halpin’s defence lawyer, Brad Hill, said his client had rented the containers to store his belongings while he was in jail.

Mr Hill also indicated Mr Halpin would be challenging the evidence before court and intended to plead not guilty at a later date.

Magistrate Haydn Stjernqvist denied the bail application on Tuesday.

Mr Halpin will next appear for committal mention in Noosa Magistrates Court on September 14.

His co-accused are also due to appear in Noosa Magistrates Court later this year.