Sunshine Coast’s drug dealers of 2022 exposed
In the past 12 months there have been thousands of drug offences recorded on the Sunshine Coast, with offenders continuing to be arrested for trafficking and supplying.
Police & Courts
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In the past 12 months there have 2551 drug offences recorded across the Sunshine Coast alone, with dealers continually being arrested for peddling misery.
According to Queensland Police data, some of the biggest hot spots include Caloundra with 590 offences and the Maroochydore catchment with 515 drug-related crimes.
National drug survey findings paint a disturbing picture of the illicit drug markets across Queensland, where it’s revealed meth had been dominating consumption, which continues to increase at an alarming rate in the state’s regional towns.
The National Wastewater Drug Monitoring report, published by the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission in October, found meth use rose nationally after strict 2020 Covid-19 lockdowns.
Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Peter Hocken said the closure of several drug operations in the past 12 months had stemmed the flow of narcotics into the Sunshine Coast.
“The information we receive from the public greatly benefits us and we use that to target drug traffickers,” Sergeant Hocken said.
“We’re seeing more serious crimes that occur on the Coast will often have a drug aspect to it as well.
“But we’re always actively looking to target drug traffickers to reduce harm on the general public.”
Here are some of the drug dealers sentenced in Sunshine Coast Courts for trafficking or supplying dangerous drugs in 2022.
Cameron Robert Goode
A former Noosa real estate agent pleaded guilty to a dozen counts of supplying cocaine after he assisted a dealer with sales and potential customers’ contact details.
Maroochydore District Court heard on November 28, 2022, Cameron Robert Goode had already served 356 days of a six-year sentence for dangerous operation causing death while intoxicated.
Goode came back before the court for 12 counts of supplying cocaine which he pleaded guilty to.
The court heard on 12 occasions over a six-month period, Goode committed acts preparatory to the supply of cocaine by attempting to arrange sales of cocaine and providing prospective customers’ contact details.
Three of the sale arrangements involved the sale of cocaine in quantities ranging from 1-3g at $350 per gram.
Judge Cash said Goode’s current parole eligibility date was set at June 7, 2023, and it would remain the same after he imposed 12 months prison for the offending.
A conviction was recorded.
Morgan Luke McCurley
A relationship breakdown has left a FIFO-working father-of-two on the cusp of a stint behind bars after his spiral into drug dealing was uncovered by police.
Yandina boilermaker Morgan Luke McCurley had his home searched on June 16, 2021, led to McCurley being busted with 1.52g methamphetamine, 3g marijuana, scales, a hand grinder and a glass pipe.
Crown prosecutor Nicola Hamilton said texts on McCurley’s mobile phone revealed he supplied methamphetamine to people on six occasions, with five being actual supplies and one being an offer to supply.
The 36-year-old also supplied 108 strips of LSD for $1000.
McCurley pleaded guilty to seven counts of supplying dangerous drugs, two counts of possessing a dangerous drug, fraud, possessing property having been used in connection with the commission of a drug offence, possessing utensils and receiving tainted property.
He was sentenced to 12 months’ jail but was released on immediate parole.
A conviction was recorded.
Marc Jeffery Sutherland
A magistrate warned a Coolum kitchen-hand he should have his “bags packed” and be ready for prison if he offends again after the 37-year-old was busted for dealing drugs and evading police.
The court heard Marc Jeffery Sutherland, who works at Tandoori Flames in Coolum Beach, was driving on the wrong side of the road on Eumundi-Noosa Rd towards an oncoming police car at 1:10am on June 3, 2021.
Police prosecutor Nick Nitschke said the Mitsubishi sedan did not have its headlights on and police had to slam on the brakes to avoid a collision with Sutherland’s vehicle.
“The defendant failed to stop and was located a short distance away after crashing, which damaged the front passenger wheel,” Sergeant Nitschke said.
Police then searched his car and found a black sports bag with $1600 worth of marijuana “bud” inside, along with a small amount of methamphetamine, scissors and a pipe.
They also discovered a mobile phone with multiple messages revealing Sutherland had been supplying marijuana to others.
Mr McLaughlin fined Sutherland $6850 for the evasion offence and handed him three months’ prison suspended for two years for the other charges.
Convictions were recorded.
Troy Andrew Cannon
A father-of-three and FIFO worker was found with more than $100,000 worth of marijuana at his Mooloolah Valley home that he was dealing and offering in exchange for sexual favours, a court has heard.
Troy Andrew Cannon, now 45, was given 15 months’ imprisonment suspended for three years in Maroochydore District Court on July 18, 2022.
The court heard Cannon had his Mooloolah Valley home searched on March 16 and an examination of his mobile phone revealed he had on 16 occasions supplied or offered to supply marijuana to seven different people.
Cannon pleaded guilty to 19 offences including 16 counts of supplying dangerous drugs, producing dangerous drugs, possessing dangerous drugs and possessing anything used in the commission of a drug offence.
A conviction was recorded.
Jacinta Maree Hyland
A Maroochydore woman’s “profit-driven” marijuana business came to a sudden halt after she was jailed for five months in court.
Jacinta Maree Hyland, who works as a carer, cried in court as she was given two and half years prison to be released on parole after serving five months.
The 57-year-old pleaded guilty to trafficking dangerous drugs and possessing dangerous drugs in Maroochydore District Court.
Crown prosecutor Samantha O’Rourke said police searched Hyland’s Maroochydore home on February 5, 2021, where they found 75g of marijuana and seized her phone which had evidence of trafficking.
Police also found a tick sheet with 27 customers who owed her money and more than $9000 in cash.
It was later revealed Hyland had a total of 93 customers and 101 transactions, with the largest quantity she sold weighing up to 0.5kg.
A conviction was recorded.
Paul Keith Makin
A Sunshine Coast surveyor who acted as a one-stop shop for marijuana and weed cookies after successfully dealing drugs for almost two years until a routine traffic stop has been jailed.
Maroochydore District Court heard Paul Keith Makin, 43, had more than 40 customers while selling street-level marijuana and weed cookies, keeping track of his sales through tick sheets on post-it notes.
The Mountain Creek dad’s operation was busted open at a routine traffic stop in Coochin Creek by police on March 2, 2021, which revealed incriminating drug dealing messages on his phone.
Makin pleaded guilty to three counts of possessing drugs, two of possessing anything used in the commission of crime, two possessing property obtained from trafficking, and one of drug trafficking, possessing anything for use in the commission of crime and possessing a weapon.
The Mountain Creek dad was sentenced to three years’ jail, to be suspended after serving six months.
Convictions were recorded.
Andrew Leonard Robert Carl Vernon
A Tewantin drug dealer had his mobile meth lab exposed after police found him asleep in his car with his entire drug operation in his back seat.
Andrew Leonard Robert Carl Vernon received immediate parole after his Breaking Bad-style set-up was uncovered by police on the side of the road in Maroochydore on August 26, 2020.
Maroochydore District Court heard the 33-year-old woke up when approached by police who saw him asleep in the driver’s seat
Public prosecutor Elle Bolam told the court a search of his car found “clandestine laboratory” along with an Apple iPad littered with drug dealing messages.
The court was told Vernon offered to sell 3.5g of cocaine for $1000, another to offload ketamine and other offers on tick and to settle a debt.
Vernon pleaded guilty to four counts of supplying drugs, two of possessing drugs, two of possessing anything for use in the commission of crime and two of unlawfully possessing a relevant substance.
He was sentenced to 12 months’ jail but given immediate parole with 46 days of pre sentence custody declared as time served.
Convictions were recorded.
Tarquin Vincent Grott
A Cooroy man has been jailed for his ties to a drug dealing operation in Brisbane, where he offered “protection”.
Tarquin Vincent Grott, 28, was given four years’ jail in the Brisbane Supreme Court in late-July for trafficking meth, MDMA, GHB and marijuana from November 1, 2020 to December 21, 2020.
The Cooroy man’s street level drug dealing came to police attention after he was searched by officers on December 21, 2022 in Fortitude Valley in Brisbane.
The court was told Grott dealt in ice, MDMA, GHB and marijuana with police finding evidence of 26 supplies to 17 customers.
Court documents said further analysis of his phone revealed the 28-year-old’s role in the scheme where he sent messages offering drugs for sale or arranging supplies.
Grott pleaded guilty in the Brisbane Supreme Court to 11 charges including drug trafficking, possessing drugs, possessing a weapon and possessing utensils.
Convictions were recorded.
Zachary Bartlett
A 42-year-old Caloundra dad has had his drug deal fail retold in court after he unknowingly bought half a kilo of fake meth.
Zachary Bartlett had organised to trade his car for the large amount of ice when he was “duped”, Maroochydore District Court heard.
Crown prosecutor Erin Kelly said the 42-year-old had actually been sold a cutting agent called MSM used to dilute drugs.
Ms Kelly said Bartlett was liable as a party to the supply of the fake drugs on September 4, 2019 in Caloundra West.
The court heard the messaging between Bartlett and his supplier stated Bartlett would deal some of the drugs.
Bartlett pleaded guilty to supplying and possessing drugs and was sentenced to three years’ jail but was given immediate parole.
Convictions were recorded.
Tobias Dyer Hornbuckle
A Bli Bli drug dealer and trafficker revealed his pricing structure to police after his operation was busted by detectives, a court has heard.
Tobias Dyer Hornbuckle gave out discounted deals to his customers when he was dealing and trafficking marijuana after he retired from his job due to a work injury.
The 33-year-old father and fish and chip worker entered a plea of guilty to drug trafficking and possessing property suspected of being proceeds of an offence in Maroochydore District Court.
The court heard his Bli Bli home was raided by police on December 8, 2020 where the then 32-year-old had been found with 350g of marijuana, a mobile phone, clipseal bags, scales and $7153.65 in cash.
In a police interview Hornbuckle said he sold marijuana to support his habit as he smoked up to three ounces of marijuana a week for pain management.
A Queensland Courts spokesman confirmed to this publication Hornbuckle received a jail term of three years and nine months but was given immediate parole.
A conviction was recorded.
Dean James Vanderleest
A Beerwah retail worker who trafficked weed unknown to police for several years decided to have a short break during the pandemic before reviving his booming trade until his arrest.
Dean James Vanderleest, 30, was handed a suspended jail term in Maroochydore District Court on June 3, 2022, for trafficking marijuana for five out of six years over two extended periods.
The court heard Vanderleest was 23 when started his own entrepreneurial business in drugs where he would use cryovac machines to sell weed.
Ms Olivero told the court Vanderleest stopped dealing drugs over the pandemic because supply was hard to source but started again from February 20 2021, where he would deal street-level quantities to five or six regular customers until he was sprung three months later.
Vanderleest pleaded guilty to seven charges including trafficking in dangerous drugs and possessing property obtained from trafficking and was sentenced to four years’ jail, suspended for four years.
He was then ordered to perform 150 hours’ community service.
Convictions were recorded.
Violette Marie Joukhadar
A Sunshine Coast mother has been warned to stay away from drugs after she was sentenced for trafficking cannabis for more than a year from her home.
Violette Marie Joukhadar, 35, of Beerwah, pleaded guilty in Maroochydore District Court on September 5, 2022, to trafficking in dangerous drugs and possessing a mobile phone suspected to have been used in the trafficking offence.
The court heard police had searched Joukhadar’s home on February 5, 2021, and found cannabis, four MDMA tablets, a glass pipe and a mobile phone.
This prompted police to search her phone, where they found evidence Joukhadar had been trafficking cannabis to about 50 customers for more than a year.
The court heard she mostly sold smaller street level quantities but sometimes she would sell up to four pounds and some of her customers would go on to sell the drug to other clients.
Judge Cash Glen agreed sending Joukhadar to jail would be a “burden” to her, instead ordering she be given a two-year suspended sentence.
A conviction was recorded.
Owen James Denning
A Maroochydore father and son duo responsible for a booming meth trade across Maroochydore and Gympie raked in nearly $30,000 over the course of four months.
Owen James Denning, 62, was sentenced to 3.5 years’ jail in the Brisbane Supreme Court for his role in dealing meth and collecting drug money between October, 2019 and February, 2020 for his son Sean Denning, 41.
The operation appeared to go unnoticed until a targeted police operation in the Gympie region in July, 2019 uncovered Denning’s son as a regular supplier of ice and GHB.
Judge Jack Kelly said in court documents Denning’s son had been dealing wholesale amounts of drugs and selling to customers who operated their own trafficking business.
Denning, a 62-year-old fuel worker, teamed up with his son to follow up and collect drug debts while simultaneously dealing meth to customers.
Denning pleaded guilty to four counts of supplying drugs and receiving money from drug trafficking and was sentenced to three and a half years’ jail, suspended for three and a half years.
Convictions were recorded.
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