Nicholas James Soles: Brisbane musician guilty of drug trafficking

A Brisbane guitar technician in his 20s has been sentenced for drug trafficking, weapons offences, and other drug charges.

A Brisbane musician and an associate were involved in a plan to purchase one kilogram of methamphetamine on behalf of a third party, with police discovering them in possession of a shopping bag containing $140,000, a court has heard.

Sunnybank Hills man Nicholas James Soles, 27, understood to have since relocated to Brisbane’s northside near his work at Virginia as a guitar technician for a musical instrument wholesaler, pleaded guilty in Brisbane Supreme Court to six drug and weapons offences.

They included, most seriously, trafficking in a dangerous drug and two counts of possessing tainted property.

The court heard the offending came to light following a traffic stop at Richlands on May 5 last year about 11am.

A search of the vehicle, in which Soles was a passenger, revealed a shopping bag in the rear passenger footwell containing $140,000 cash, and also three mobile phones located elsewhere in the vehicle.

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA – NewsWire Photos JULY 23, 2021: 27-year-old Brisbane northside man Nicholas James Soles leaves Brisbane Supreme court after pleading guilty to drug trafficking. Picture: NCA NewsWire / John Gass

It was accepted by Soles’ defence that this was to purchase one kilogram of ice, which retails for between $135,000-$140,000.

A subsequent search of Soles’ former Sunnybank Hills residence later that day uncovered a further $2550 cash, accepted as being the proceeds of a drug offence, a butterfly knife, and a variety a drug-related paraphernalia including bongs, scissors, electric grinder, containers and rolling papers.

The court heard Soles and his associate were merely couriering the cash and were not to take possession of the drug.

It was accepted by the Crown Soles did not know the exact quantity of the cash nor how much ice was to be purchased, but the defence conceded he knew it would be a “significant” exchange.

It was submitted on Soles’ behalf his offending was driven by a significant addiction to methamphetamine and cannabis but that he had a “good work history” and had worked hard on his rehabilitation, attending a number of courses and submitting clean drug screens.

Justice Elizabeth Wilson sentenced Soles to four years’ imprisonment, wholly suspended for four years.

Soles was also placed on three years’ probation.