Ketamine, MDMA, 650g of pot: Boilermaker busted

A Logan boilermaker who was busted by police with MDMA, ketamine and more than 650g of cannabis, has faced court after officers intercepted a package that wasn’t what it seemed.

Brandon Bleathman-Harvey, 24, leaving Beenleigh Magistrates Court

A Logan boilermaker who was busted by police with more than 650g of cannabis, along with other drugs, has faced court.

Brandon Bleathman-Harvey, 24, pleaded guilty in Beenleigh District Court on Wednesday to four counts of possession of dangerous drugs schedule one or two.

He also pleaded guilty to possession of anything used in the commission of a crime, possession of dangerous drug exceeding 500g and receiving property from trafficking or supplying.

The court heard that on May 30, 2023, police intercepted a package through the post that contained 160g of cannabis, disguised as food.

They tracked the package to Bleathman-Harvey’s home and then raided the property.

At his home, they found two drawers containing more cannabis as well as MDMA (1.73g) and ketamine.

Overall, Bleathman-Harvey was found with 670g of cannabis, as well as cannabis oils which he showed police were hidden in a safe.

“There were a number of different drugs found at his home”, said Crown Prosecutor Catherine Birkett to the court.

“A head sentence of between 15 and 18 months would be appropriate.”

The court heard Bleathman-Harvey, from Woodridge, had worked as a boilermaker since 2016 and had been working for the same company since 2021.

He had no criminal history and was a father to two young children.

The court heard Bleathman-Harvey started using drugs since 15 years of age but had ceased drug use since his arrest.

He planned to travel overseas to Canada, Alaska and France, as long as a criminal conviction did not prevent this.

Judge Craig Chowdhury said cannabis was not the benign drug a lot of people think it is and supplying it carried a maximum penalty of 15 years prison.

“He had a significant quantity of cannabis, a period of imprisonment should be imposed,” he said.

“He has been making efforts to do the ‘life lived well’ course and has been working hard, as well as being an active member of the community.

“Hopefully he has learnt a valuable lesson from this.”

Bleathman-Harvey was sentenced to 12 months prison, wholly suspended for one year