30 southeast Qld drug traffickers sentenced in 2021 | Listed
Southeast Qld drug traffickers come before judges every day of the year. They could be your neighbour, coworker, brother or daughter. Here is how our courts have dealt with them
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Drug-related offending comes before southeast Queensland courts every single day of the year.
Defendants come from a cross-section of society, bisecting every single social category we have: old and young, rural and urban, white collar and blue collar.
But there is a particular category of drug offending for which courts reserve their sternest judgments.
By trafficking in dangerous drugs, users – and they are almost always using the drugs they sell en masse – spread the misery of addiction throughout society, judges note time and time again during sentences.
The below list features 30 drug traffickers who southeast Queensland courts have dealt with in 2021 for poisoning our neighbourhoods.
It includes where they live, what drugs they were trafficking, and whether they were locked up or allowed to rehabilitate in the community.
LACHLAN JOHN BAXTER, COORPAROO – MDMA, COCAINE
What 21-year-old Baxter, a Coorparoo resident who attended prestigious Anglican Church Grammar School, didn’t know when he was selling MDMA was that some of his customers were undercover cops waiting for the right time to pounce.
Baxter was sentenced in the Brisbane Supreme Court in October this year to four years’ imprisonment, wholly suspended for an operational period of four years, for trafficking in dangerous drugs.
The court heard his MDMA and cocaine operation occurred over a seven-week period between October 26 and December 13, 2020.
It was submitted on Baxter’s behalf that he began abusing dangerous drugs following the breakdown of a relationship and his parents’ marriage.
He had submitted 10 months of clean drug tests and attended 23 psychology sessions, the court was told.
LILY RHIANNA RYAN, LOGANHOLME – MDMA
Ryan was sentenced in October this year to two years’ imprisonment, wholly suspended for an operational period of three years, for drug offences which included trafficking in MDMA.
Ryan, a student nurse aged 19, trafficked in the drug for three months between November 27, 2019 and her arrest on February 27 last year.
It was submitted on Ryan’s behalf that she was in an abusive relationship with a man whose drug and alcohol abuse was the “catalyst” for Ryan’s offending.
Messages seized by police showed Ryan was motivated by greed.
At one point, she messaged, “I want money, not feelings,” and on another she stressed how hard she worked to get paid her drug money.
AMANDA JANE STURTRIDGE, CABOOLTURE – CANNABIS
Sturtridge was sentenced in Brisbane District Court in October 2021 to two years’ imprisonment, cumulative on an existing sentence she was serving, and set her parole-eligibility at January 11, 2022.
She pleaded guilty to four drug offences including trafficking.
Sturtridge trafficked cannabis in company with two others, who cannot legally be named as charges against them are still pending, between April 11 – August 31, 2020 at an address in Caboolture South.
During that period, Sturtridge was sentenced for a previous stint of cannabis trafficking, which aggravated her sentence as she was not deterred by previous orders.
JAY OWEN MORONEY, WYNNUM – DIAZEPAM, CLONAZEPAM
Moroney was sentenced in Brisbane District Court in November 2021 to three years’ imprisonment with immediate parole after he pleaded guilty to six drug offences relating to his trafficking of prescription pills, in concert with an doctor who allegedly sold the medication on the side.
The court heard Moroney made multiple purchases from the doctor, captured by surveillance and, combined with video evidence on Moroney’s mobile phone, allowed the Crown to deduce he had purchased 41,500 Diazepam and 3000 Clonazepam tablets from the doctor over a period between March 22 and September 11, 2020.
In addition to selling the pills, Moroney was also a “raging” addict, the court was told.
On April 19, about a month after he commenced his trafficking operation, Moroney overdosed on 97 Diazepam and nine Tramadol tablets, requiring hospitalisation, the court heard.
He had since rehabilitated himself, his defence counsel told the court.
TRISTAN JEFFREY KAMP, THORNLANDS – MDMA
Kamp was sentenced in October 2021 after pleading guilty to 17 drug offences, which included trafficking in MDMA between March 31 – July 3, 2020, when he was arrested and charged following a search warrant on a Wakerley address which uncovered a variety of dangerous drugs and drug paraphernalia.
Kamp was sentenced to two years and eight months’ imprisonment with immediate release on parole.
The court heard Kamp had faced “significant difficulties” in his life thus far.
They included being raised by his mother only since the age of three, losing his manufacturing job due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the grief of losing a sibling, battling undiagnosed mental health conditions, and becoming addicted to dangerous drugs.
KYLE ANTONY EICHMANN, DECEPTION BAY – CANNABIS, MDMA, METH
Concrete pumper Eichmann was blowing up to $150 a day on methamphetamine with his then-partner in the lead-up to his decision to commence an 11-month drug trafficking operation, Brisbane Supreme Court heard when he was sentenced in December.
He pleaded guilty to 28 counts of supplying a dangerous drug and one count of trafficking in dangerous drugs.
The court heard the drug supplies occurred between June 19, 2018 and November 21, 2019, with his drug trafficking operation lasting 11 months between January 4, 2020 and his arrest on November 1.
Eichmann trafficked in street-level quantities of cannabis, MDMA and methamphetamine to a customer base of about 36 users, the court was told.
He had a severe meth addiction at the time of his offending.
He was sentenced to four-and-a-half years’ imprisonment, with parole-eligibility at 12 months.
MICAH DAVID IVORY, NAMBOUR – METH, GHB, CANNABIS
Nambour man Micah David Ivory was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment, suspended for an operational period of four years after serving 12 months, and three years’ probation, after he pleaded in October 2021 to offences which included trafficking.
The court heard Ivory’s drug trafficking operation occurred between February 2018 and June 2019, at Pacific Paradise and elsewhere.
Ivory was arrested and charged on June 24, 2019, following an analysis of his mobile phone.
The analysis revealed a street-level operation in cannabis, GHB and ice.
Defence counsel Daniel Caruana told the court his client only ever used drugs recreationally until 2015, when he fell off a roof while on a job for his family’s roofing business.
Up until that point, he had a good work history and had remained out of trouble, but following his back injury sustained in the fall, Ivory “fell in with the wrong crowd” and became horribly addicted to ice.
JACOB JOHN VIVIAN, DIDDILLIBAH AND KALE-ANTHONY ZERAFA, TANAWHA – METH
Sunshine Coast duo Vivian and Zerafa were sentenced in Brisbane Supreme Court in October 2021 on a raft of drug offences.
Both men pleaded guilty to trafficking in meth and possessing mobile phones used to conduct the business of trafficking, with Zerafa pleading guilty to the additional charge of possessing a small amount of meth.
The court heard both men acted as agents of Buderim meth wholesaler Christopher William Peace, 33, who was sentenced on August 11.
Both Zerafa and Vivian were long-term ice addicts for whom Peace was one of their wholesale suppliers.
In the case of Vivian, who trafficked in ice between November 12, 2018 and October 28, 2020, Peace was his “main supplier” to whom Vivian at times owed “large debts” to.
Vivian, who had since moved home to Middlemount in the Isaac region of Queensland, received bank transfers worth $140,000 throughout his trafficking period.
Zerafa, meanwhile, only trafficked for a shorter period of time, between June 11 – August 19, 2019.
However, Zerafa acted more as a right-hand man to Peace, helping him to source large amounts of supply, advising him on how to chase drug debts, and discussing acquiring new suppliers.
Zerafa was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment, wholly suspended for an operational period of four years, and three years’ probation.
Vivian was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment, suspended for a period of five years after serving eight months.
ZACH PAULO LOKENI, SPRINGFIELD – CANNABIS
Lokeni’s cannabis trafficking operation occurred between December 30, 2015 – December 26, 2016, at Springfield and elsewhere, Ipswich District Court heard October 2021 when Lokeni was arraigned.
He also pleaded guilty to four other drug offences, which were detected on October 26, 2017.
They included possessing cannabis and MDMA, possessing a quantity of Australian currency, and possessing a variety of drug paraphernalia including clipseal bags, digital scales and notebooks containing tick sheets.
Lokeni was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment, wholly suspended for an operational period of five years.
ASHLEY JAMES VELS, ELIMBAH – METH, GHB, MDMA
Vels pleaded guilty in Brisbane Supreme Court in September 2021 to five serious drug offences including trafficking.
A search was performed on Vels’ residence on February 13, 2020, which uncovered Vels in possession of a variety of drug paraphernalia, weapons and cash for which he was dealt with in the Caboolture Magistrates Court on March 12, 2020, receiving 12 months’ imprisonment with immediate parole release
However, during that same search, police also discovered Vels in possession of two mobile phones, the contents of which revealed he had trafficked in ice, MDMA and GHB at a street level between January 8 – February 27, 2019, and also supplied dangerous drugs twice in circumstances which were not captured by the trafficking charge.
The court heard Vels had at least 10 customers but the true extent of his business was unable to be determined.
Defence counsel John Cook told the court his client had a “good work history”, working in the aviation logistics and baggage handling industry most recently.
He said his client was unemployed, though, at the time of the drug trafficking and was in a “tumultuous” relationship with a partner which featured heavy meth use of up to a gram a day each.
Vels was sentenced to three years and nine months’ imprisonment, wholly suspended for an operational period of four years, and two-and-a-half years’ imprisonment with immediate parole release, taking into account three months of pre-sentence custody.
REECE LIAM EVEANS, MOUNTAIN CREEK – METH
Eveans, who moved to Sandgate after his offending, pleaded guilty in November to seven serious drug offences including trafficking in ice between June 15 and August 7, 2019, and again from September 26 to October 16, 2019, when he was arrested and charged.
During his first period of trafficking, police were able to ascertain Eveans purchased four ounces of ice from his main supplier, some for his personal use but mostly to sell.
When police executed a search warrant on Eveans’ Sandgate residence following his second period of ice trafficking, officers were forced to confiscate a hammer Eveans was using to smash his phone in the mistaken belief it would help hide the evidence of his business.
Justice David Boddice sentenced Eveans to four years’ imprisonment, suspended after serving 12 months, for an operational period of four years.
KIERAN PETER BROUGH, GYMPIE – CANNABIS, MDMA
Investigations into a wild public melee and bashing uncovered Stafford Height man Brough’s six-month drug trafficking operation, Brisbane Supreme Court heard in December 2021.
The drug trafficking was committed at his former hometown between June 1 – December 15, 2019, when Brough was arrested and charged.
Brough trafficked in street-level quantities of cannabis and MDMA, providing drugs on credit in the early stages of his operation, sending out bulk messages to his customers, threatening customers in debt to recoup funds, and even hatching a plan with an associate to bash a debtor.
It was submitted on Brough’s behalf he had mental health issues which led him to his drug offending.
The court heard he had found employment in an EB Games distribution warehouse following his move to Brisbane.
Brough was sentenced to 30 months’ imprisonment with immediate release on parole.
JESSEY STEVEN BELL, MURARRIE – MDMA
23-year-old Bell, who has since moved to Toowoomba on the Darling Downs, pleaded guilty in December 2021 to four drug-related offences.
They included two counts of supplying a Schedule 1 dangerous drug and one each of possessing a dangerous drug and drug trafficking.
The two drug supply offences occurred in Fortitude Valley in November 2019, with the MDMA trafficking business in operation between December 13, 2019 and January 4, 2020.
The court heard the trafficking offence was uncovered following the commission of Bell’s fourth offence, possessing 19 MDMA pills, which occurred at a music festival at RNA Showgrounds at Bowen Hills on January 4 last year.
Police witnessed Ipswich-born Bell adjusting something in his crotch area which ultimately turned out to be a bag of capsules.
Analysis of his mobile phone uncovered the trafficking operation, which the court heard was typically based at one of three Fortitude Valley nightclubs.
Bell was sentenced to 30 months’ imprisonment with immediate release on parole.
PACEY JAMAINE HASSELL-MEAD, KIPPA-RING – CANNABIS, COCAINE, MDMA
Hassell-Mead pleaded guilty in Brisbane Supreme Court in December 2021 to nine offences which included trafficking in five different dangerous drugs between January 1, 2019 and his arrest on June 2, 2020.
Hassell-Mead made 203 transactions in the 18-month period, with the Crown able to prove 61 of those actually occurred.
It was submitted on Hassell-Mead’s behalf he had completely changed his life after hitting rock bottom following his arrest in June.
He had “cut off negative friendships”, commenced full-time work as a fabrication labourer at his uncle’s business, where he hoped to take up an apprenticeship, undertaken rehabilitation for his cannabis dependency with organisation Lives Lived Well, and not committed further offences.
Hassell-Mead was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment with immediate release on parole.
MEGAN LOUISE MCINNES, BARINGA – METH, GHB
McInnes, 31, pleaded guilty in Brisbane Supreme Court in October 2021 to 11 drug-related offences, most seriously three counts of trafficking and one each of possessing a commercial quantity of GHB and money laundering.
McInnes was arrested on October 16, 2019, following a search warrant that uncovered the extent of her empire.
She trafficked meth and GHB between January 28 – May 9, 2019, meth and GHB between May 6 – July 17, 2019, and GHB only between July 21 – October 16, 2019.
Much of her trafficking was in wholesale amounts.
Defence counsel James Godbolt told the court his client intended to move to Caloundra upon her release from custody to live with her mother and two children, and wanted to secure work as a veterinary assistant.
He said character references tendered on behalf of McInnes showed that, “Ordinarily, when free of drugs, she acts with kindness and consideration.”
Justice Glenn Martin sentenced McInnes to seven-and-a-half years’ imprisonment, with immediate parole eligibility, taking into account 726 days of pre-sentence custody.
JACK PHILLIP ZELLER, BURPENGARY EAST – METH, MDMA, CANNABIS
A stint in the concreting industry with drug-using co-workers caused 28-year-old Zeller to relapse into ice addiction, leading to his conviction on 12 serious drug charges in September 2021.
Zeller was first busted at Sandstone Point on September 20, 2019, when he was busted with a commercial quantity of meth, as well as cannabis, MDMA, and a variety of drug paraphernalia.
Then on July 31, 2020, a search of his former Deception Bay residence uncovered Zeller in possession of small quantities of cannabis, methamphetamine and MDMA, as well as more drug paraphernalia.
Analysis of his mobile phone revealed he had been trafficking in those three drugs over the previous month, conducting at least 26 sales with 13 customers, the court heard.
Zeller was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment with immediate release on parole, taking into account 59 days of pre-sentence custody.
HARLEY JAMES PEARSON, RICHLANDS – CANNABIS
Scaffolder Pearson, 24, set up a drug-trafficking operation to help pay for his rent after an injury prevented him from working, Brisbane District Court heard in December 2021.
He pleaded guilty to offences of trafficking cannabis and supplying a Schedule 2 dangerous drug.
The trafficking was detected following a police search warrant executed on August 21, 2020.
Pearson was discovered in possession of 86g of cannabis, a bong, other drug paraphernalia and a point of methamphetamine, for which he has already been dealt with by the courts.
Analysis of his mobile phone uncovered the trafficking, which occurred between July 10 and his arrest, and a discrete cannabis supply earlier on April 28.
In the 42-day trafficking period, Pearson supplied cannabis 83 times to 48 customers.
Pearson was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment with immediate release on parole.
JOSHUA LAMAN BRAID, BIRKDALE AND CAMILLA JANE THOMAS, CAPALABA – METH, GHB, CANNABIS
Braid, 33, assisted housemate Thomas, 38, traffic in ice, GHB (i.e. liquid fantasy) and cannabis, which was detected following the launch of police operation Romeo Togo, which specifically targeted Thomas’ drug activities.
Braid pleaded guilty in October 2021 to five offences including trafficking in a dangerous drug and possessing the dangerous drug Diazepam.
Thomas pleaded guilty earlier this year to eight offences including trafficking in dangerous drugs and multiple counts of possessing dangerous drugs.
Thomas trafficked at a street level between October 20, 2019 – July 7, 2020, when she and Braid were arrested and charged, while Braid assisted in the operation from November 29, 2019.
The court heard the trafficking operation was conducted at Finucane Rd, Capalaba, before the duo moved together to MacFarlane St, Birkdale, to continue the business.
Braid was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment, wholly suspended for an operational period of four years, and placed on probation.
Braid had spent 316 remanded in custody and still had another 222 days to serve on a pre-existing sentence, the court heard
Thomas was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment, wholly suspended.
MATHEW PETER CROSS AND ANDREW JOHN CROSS, MORNINGSIDE AND HOWARD NEALE, BIRKDALE – HEROIN, METH, COCAINE
Brothers Cross and their friend Howard Neale were involved in a massive Brisbane bayside trafficking ring which saw drugs buried in bushland and caches of weapons being discovered.
All were charged with trafficking in dangerous drugs over periods ranging from 17 months to seven weeks, while the Cross brothers only were charged with possessing a quantity of cocaine greater than 200g.
The trio were arrested on June 5, 2019, with simultaneous raids at Morningside and Birkdale, after Queensland Police launched Operation Papa Heirarchy in 2017 to smash the ring.
Mathew Cross was the boss, younger brother Andrew was his right-hand man, and Neale a lowly courier, Brisbane Supreme Court heard in November 2021.
The trio used bushland at Mount Cotton and Chelsea Rd, Ransome to bury their drugs, the court heard.
Mathew Cross, as the senior man in the ring, was sentenced to nine years’ imprisonment with parole-eligibility set at June 5 next year, after which he would have served three years behind bars.
Andrew Cross was sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment, with immediate parole eligibility.
Neale was sentenced to five-and-a-half years’ imprisonment, with parole eligibility set at May 1, 2023, after which he would have served 18 months behind bars.
STEPHANIE MAREE SANGSTER, PLAINLAND – METH, GHB
Plainland woman Sangster, 32, trafficked in dangerous drugs between February 29 – April 28, 2020, Brisbane Supreme Court heard in September this year.
Sangster also pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing a commercial quantity of meth, three counts of supplying a dangerous drug, possessing a shortened rifle with ammunition, and myriad summary offences which includes possessing a knife in a public place, unlawful use of a motor vehicle and possessing drug paraphernalia.
The court heard Sangster was arrested and released on bail four times before her ultimate remand in pre-sentence custody after her fifth arrest on August 17, 2020.
Sangster’s trafficking involved sourcing meth in quantities of up to an ounce and dealing it to at least 20 customers in amounts of up to a quarter ounce.
Defence counsel Penny White told the court Sangster had a severe meth addiction at the time of her offending, consuming up to 7g of the drug a day.
Justice Peter Callaghan sentenced Sangster to four years’ imprisonment, wholly suspended after time served for an operational period of four years, taking into account 392 days remanded in pre-sentence custody.
He also placed her on three years’ probation.
ETHAN JOHN DENDLE, FORTITUDE VALLEY – MDMA, CANNABIS
Fortitude Valley man Dendle, 26, pleaded guilty in Brisbane Supreme Court in September 2021 to eight offences.
They included, most seriously, trafficking in mainly MDMA but also cannabis, possessing a commercial quantity of MDMA, and burglary.
The trafficking operation occurred between July 15 – September 4 last year in Fortitude Valley, primarily in the nightclub precinct and especially at popular watering hole Ric’s Bar, the court heard.
Phone records illustrated Dendle supplied MDMA on at least 41 occasions to 20 customers, although the true scale of his operation, including profit gleaned, was not able to be determined.
Dendle sold amounts to end users but also to other dealers in quantities of up to at least 35 capsules, the court heard.
He was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment, wholly suspended for an operational period of five years, and jailed for 30 months with immediate release on parole.
JOSHUA AN VU, BELLBIRD PARK AND JAREN NORIE JOSE FOWKE, FOREST LAKE – CANNABIS
An Vu, 33, and Fowke, 32, acted as couriers for an extraordinary cannabis operation in exchange for a pittance, Brisbane District Court heard in September 2021.
Both men pleaded guilty to trafficking in cannabis, three counts of supplying cannabis, and possessing a commercial quantity of cannabis.
The trafficking period occurred between December 7, 2018 – February 13, 2019, with three drug deals occurring at an address in Caboolture on various dates.
All up, Vu and Fowke couriered 80 pounds, or more than 35kg, of cannabis.
They were ultimately busted at an address in Nathan on February 12, 2019.
The court heard Vu and Fowke received a “rather meagre financial benefit” for their crimes, having to share $1000 per deal.
Fowke was sentenced to two-and-a-half years’ imprisonment, wholly suspended for an operational period of three years, while Vu was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment, wholly suspended for an operational period of three-and-a-half years.
QUAN VAN DAU, INALA – CANNABIS
Inala tiler Van Dau was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment, suspended after 12 months for an operational period of five years, in Ipswich District Court in August 2021 for offences of trafficking in cannabis and two counts of possessing cannabis in excess of 500g.
The court heard the trafficking occurred between December 27, 2019 – April 13, 2020.
Van Dau supplied wholesale amounts of cannabis of up to 11kg and was busted twice in possession of cannabis which weighed a combined 40kg.
Judge Dennis Lynch QC described Dau’s role in the drug racket as “almost daily involvement in the business”.
He helped facilitate distribution, negotiate prices, sought new customers, co-ordinated deliveries and the receipt of payment, inter alia.
“You were motivated by financial profit,” Judge Lynch said.
Van Dau is facing mandatory deportation upon his release from custody.
JACOB SWAIN, WYNNUM WEST – CANNABIS, MDMA, COCAINE
Swain, 22, pleaded guilty in Brisbane District Court in July 2021 to nine offences including
trafficking in a dangerous drug, seven counts of supplying a Schedule 1 dangerous drug, and one count of possessing a mobile phone used in the commission of a drug offence.
The court heard the trafficking occurred between December 1, 2018 and Swain’s arrest following a search warrant executed on June 24, 2019.
The search warrant uncovered a large quantity of cannabis, a bong, digital scales and a grinder.
Analysis of Swain’s mobile phone revealed he had been conducting a street-level trafficking business supplying cannabis to more than 60 customers, as well as occasionally supplying cocaine and MDMA.
In total, Swain transacted about $12,500 worth of cannabis, which he spent on maintaining his own cannabis addiction, smoking up to 7g per day, as well as buying groceries and other items.
Swain was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment, wholly suspended for an operational period of three years, and placed on three years’ probation.
ANNIKA ELIZABETH EDDIE, UPPER MT GRAVATT – METH, GHB, CANNABIS
Eddie, 33, a cleaner who has struggled with a lifelong addiction to multiple substances, was “led astray” by her meth kingpin boyfriend, who tempted her by offering to get her “really high” if she helped run his trafficking empire.
She assisted ex-boyfriend Dale Jay Garratt, 30, of Holland Park, traffic drugs between October 9, 2018 – October 18, 2019.
Eddie assisted Garratt by acting as an intermediary and driver, and also by allowing use of her bank account to facilitate transactions, the court heard.
She also helped Garratt avoid police detection twice.
She and Garratt were ultimately arrested and charged at a Birkdale address on October 17, 2019.
Garratt was sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment in March 2021 on 33 offences.
Garratt will be parole eligible on June 16 next year, taking into account the 508 days he spent remanded in pre-sentence custody.
Eddie spent 184 days remanded in pre-sentence custody before she was granted bail.
She was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment with immediate release on parole.
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