Accused crime syndicate head bailed despite ‘risks’

A Gold Coast crane operator caught in the “sting of the century” has been accused of being a senior crime syndicate figure as he was bailed against the wishes of prosecutors.

A Gold Coast crane operator who police allege was a senior player in a Brisbane crime syndicate trafficking drugs and firearms has been granted bail.

Benjamin Joseph Haylock, 42, of Mermaid Waters, was charged earlier this month as a result of the Australian Federal Police’s “sting of the century” crackdown.

The nationwide Operation Ironside used AFP hacked phones distributed to alleged criminals.

Haylock faces charges of trafficking in dangerous drugs (serious organised crime), unlawful trafficking in weapons, possessing property suspected of being the proceeds of a drug offence, possessing dangerous drugs and contravening an order necessary to access information stored electronically.

A lawyer for the Director of Public Prosecutions told the Supreme Court Haylock was one of the most senior members of the syndicate and had access to fraudulent licences and documents.

The court was told the Crown opposed bail because of Haylock’s risk of reoffending, failing to appear or interfering with witnesses.

There also was concern about the scale of the alleged offending.

The court was told in intercepted communications Haylock and another accused discussed how $700,000 had been lost as a result of police raids.

After his arrest Brisbane Magistrates Court heard police alleged they had information from encrypted devices suggesting Haylock sent a list of available firearms and sourcing 1kg of MDMA.

According to court documents Haylock is accused of trafficking cannabis and methamphetamine as part of an alleged criminal syndicate involving Christopher James Spurling, 33, Cody John Albert Kirby, 33, and Ernesto Antonio Silva, 33.

Police allege Haylock was also trafficking category H, C and D firearms in Brisbane from April to June this year.

When police raided his waterfront home they allegedly discovered a small amount of testosterone, an encrypted device and a watch and luxury items suspected of being the proceeds of a drug offence.

The Supreme Court heard some members of the syndicate had not been arrested and were yet to be identified by police who were still analysing stores of encrypted communications.

Haylock was granted bail on a range of conditions, including a $200,000 surety and $50,000 cash bond, offered by his parents.

He has to notify the Passport Office of the loss of his passport and will not be allowed contact with witnesses.