Accused KTM drug syndicate member bailed despite alleged cocaine deal texts found on iphone

An accused member of the KTM gang syndicate has been granted bail despite police finding a long string of text messages referencing an alleged drug deal.

The alleged KTM gang. Supplied QLD Police

• What we know about alleged KTM gang

An alleged junior member of the KTM drug syndicate has been bailed despite a court hearing that an apparent cocaine deal was mentioned in a text on his phone.

The court heard that despite the seriousness of the charges facing Abdullahi Ahmed Adan, 24, he was a “lower level’’ player in the group and probably had no idea of the scale of its operations.

He was alleged to have been involved in “dead drops’’ but did not have access to the large sums of cash, cars and drugs the syndicate dealt in and did not lead a lavish lifestyle, Brisbane Magistrates Court was told.

Magistrate Julian Noud said it was very concerning to him that Adan twice refused police orders to give them the passcode for his iphone, which he said suggested Adan had “something to hide’’.

But defence lawyer Danielle Heable said all police found in a long string of text messages was a reference to an alleged drug deal involving one gram of cocaine, worth about $400.

Mr Noud’s decision to bail Adan, subject to strict conditions, came a day after two co-accused had their bail applications refused, largely due to phone calls they made on remand after arrest.

Abdirahman Aden Warsame, 24, alleged to be in “second tier of management” in KTM, and Yusuf Yusuf, 20, brother of accused ring leader Shirwac Abdi Yusuf, had their applications refused in Brisbane’s Supreme Court on Thursday.

Parents of Abdullahi Ahmed Adan leaving the Brisbane Magistrates Court. Picture: David Clark

But Ms Heable said her client had no serious criminal history and had never been in jail before, which would have been a shock to him and strong incentive to comply with bail conditions.

His parents, who were in court, agreed to hand in their son’s passport.

She said police were able to get into Adan’s phone despite him refusing to give them the passcode, because it was not encrypted, and he might have misunderstood the request.

Mr Noud said it was still very concerning that Adan had twice refused a direction.

“I’ve seen those (phone access) orders. They’re pretty clear,’’ Mr Noud said.

Cash seized by police after busting the alleged KTM gang members.

The court heard other KTM members were found with secret compartments in their vehicles and drug stashes in their homes, but not Adan.

“He had no part in concealing of drugs or money. It was unsophisticated offending,’’ Ms Heable said.

“He also can’t be said to have any knowledge of the scale of operation.

“There were no expensive watches, overseas trips or lavish lifestyle.

“More than one (drug) transaction would have been revealed given he was surveilled for a year.’’

Mr Heable opposed wearing of an ankle bracelet, a condition insisted on by prosecutor Nikita Aganoff.

But Mr Noud dismissed her objection and said that, as well as an ankle monitor, Adan must comply with strict residential and reporting conditions and a curfew.

He allowed bail because it could take up to a year for the evidence to be gathered and because of Adan’s low-level role in the group, his relative youth and the support of his family.

One of the vehicles seized by police.

Mr Noud said however that Adan could not associate with any KTM members and banned him from interstate or overseas travel.

He also could have no more than one phone, which must have a passcode consisting entirely of zeros so police could access it.

The matter was adjourned to July 7 in Brisbane Magistrates Court.

Twenty men allegedly linked to the gang were arrested across the southeast in major raids last month, with hauls of drugs, cash and cars seized by police.

Cocaine, meth, cannabis, large amounts of cash, four Mercedes and a Range Rover were seized and two meth labs dismantled after the year-long operation into the group.

The group KTM – also known as K12 and K-Town after the suburb Kuraby – has members involved in the drill rap scene and first came to prominence when music videos emerged online.