Teen busted with 68 per cent pure MDMA, 932 grams of weed

A 19-year-old Townsville man was caught in possession of MDMA with a 68 per cent purity level and almost a kilogram of cannabis when police raided a unit.

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A JUDGE has described MDMA with a purity level of 68.2 per cent as “pretty high quality” when sentencing a 20-year-old Townsville man in the Supreme Court.

Jack Michael Ford pleaded guilty to three charges on Wednesday: possessing anything used in the commission of crime, possessing dangerous drugs scheduled 1 drug quantity of or exceeding schedule 3 but less than schedule 4 and possessing dangerous drugs schedule 2 drug quantity of or exceeding schedule 3.

Ford was 19 when on November 1, 2019 police raided a Townsville city apartment and detained him and another man.

Crown Prosecutor Dominique Orr said a search of the unit found a clip seal plastic bag containing a total substance weight of 35.725 grams, which was later tested and confirmed to contain 24.364 grams of 3,4-Methylene​dioxy​amphetamine, commonly known as MDMA.

The drug had a purity of 68.2 per cent.

Justice David North said it was “pretty high quality MDMA”.

The court heard Ford accepted ownership of the drug but told police it was for his personal use only.

Ms Orr said that statement was not accepted by the Crown given the large quantity of the drug and its high purity.

There was also $2300 of cash nearby, Ms Orr said.

Digital scales and unused clip seal bags were also located in the unit.

A 19-year-old Townsville man was caught in possession of MDMA with a 68 per cent purity level. FILE PICTURE.

The estimated street value of the MDMA was between $2700 and $3900 if sold in amounts ranging from 0.1 of a gram up to 7 gram amounts.

Ms Orr alleged it was “possessed in large part for commercial exploitation”.

The prosecution said 932 grams of cannabis was packaged in a variety of amounts including a bag containing one pound of the dangerous drug.

Ms Orr said Ford accepted ownership of the cannabis but told police it was “entirely for his personal use”.

The estimated street values of the cannabis was between $8750 and $23,300 if sold in amounts from 1 gram up to a pound (0.45kg).

A number of glass smoking pipes and bongs and a set of digital scales were also located in the apartment.

Ford was arrested at the completion of the raid and released on bail.

Defence barrister Ross Malcomson said his client was under no misapprehension as to the seriousness of the offending.

Mr Malcomson said Ford struggled socially at school and suffered mental health issues and became heavily dependant on illicit and prescription drugs.

Mr Malcomson asked Justice David North to exercise his discretion in sentencing and grant Ford an immediate parole release.

In sentencing, Justice North said there was “no doubt” Ford was a heavy drug user and described his offending as “very serious”.

“It is plain you still have some maturing to do.”

Ford was sentenced to two years and three months imprisonment for the possession of MDMA charge.

He was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment for the possession of cannabis charge.

He was further sentenced to 14 days imprisonment for the possession of items used in the commission of crime charge.

All sentences are to be served concurrently.

Justice North said it was “not necessary” for Ford to serve time in custody and that he would instead benefit from parole.

Ford was granted an immediate parole release date as at May 12.

Convictions were recorded.

Originally published as Teen busted with 68 per cent pure MDMA, 932 grams of weed