CCC bug allegedly reveals lawyer Campbell MacCallum’s cocaine deal in Range Rover

A secret recording by the CCC allegedly captures high-profile Gold Coast lawyer Campbell MacCallum laughing and cutting lines with a drug dealing client.

GOLD Coast lawyer Campbell MacCallum laughed and joked with a drug dealing client as they cut lines of cocaine in his Range Rover – not realising it had been bugged by the Crime and Corruption Commission.

New details have emerged of the shocking alleged conduct of one of Queensland’s highest profile defence solicitors – including a conversation where he bought $1100 of cocaine on “tick” from a client he was driving home from court.

Court documents accessed by The Courier-Mail reveal police will claim that MacCallum was caught on a listening device telling his client, Mitchell Armstrong, how to beat a urine test with his parole officer, as well as which mobile phone apps he should use to hide his drug dealing activities from police.

Campbell MacCallum with the Range Rover CCC detectives bugged.

The documents, which included submissions from the defence and the statement of facts, were tendered as part of Armstrong’s sentencing hearing.

Armstrong was sentenced to four and a half years in prison for cocaine trafficking late last month after his activities were discovered by investigators from the CCC during an operation targeting a Gold Coast law firm.

The investigation, code named Operation Jackal, began in 2019 and looked into alleged fraud and money laundering by Campbell MacCallum and another lawyer from his firm, Shaune Irving.

Both lawyers are currently facing fraud and money laundering charges as a result. They are yet to enter pleas.

During the investigation, CCC detectives hid a listening device in MacCallum’s Range Rover, which the lawyer used to drive Armstrong home from court when he was given immediate parole for drug offences on May 18, 2020.

“It appears that Mr Armstrong had expected to be imprisoned and had not brought transport to Brisbane,” a document filed by his new solicitor said.

“Over coffee, immediately after the sentence, Mr MacCallum offered Mr Armstrong a lift back to the Gold Coast. It was part of that conversation that Mr MacCallum made the request for cocaine.”

Campbell MacCallum outside court. Picture: Annette Dew

The documents reveal MacCallum drove Armstrong to the parole office and collected him again afterwards.

“As they continued to drive to the Gold Coast they discussed the use of the Signal app as being one that police couldn’t intercept and that the defendant makes sure he always has a pin or fingerprint access on his phone,” a court document filed by police said.

“MacCallum gave the defendant further advice on how to avoid being caught, including that it was an offence not to give police the code to the phone but told him to say that he had had conversations with his lawyer and that would be a reasonable excuse.

“They discussed techniques on how to give a `clean’ urine (sample) to parole officers.”

While MacCallum drove, Armstrong called a friend to ask if they could stop in and buy cocaine, promising to pay him at a later date.

“Ah, yeah can we get a ball? Can we get a ball? Right now? Are you gonna be home all afternoon?” court documents state Armstrong said on the listening device.

At the friend’s house, the lawyer waited in the car while Armstrong went inside.

“How’d you go, did you have a bump up there?” MacCallum asked when he returned to the car.

“Nah,” Armstrong replied. “I will now.”

“Ah well, we’ll enjoy the trip to Labrador,” MacCallum said.

“The nose is ready,” Armstrong continued.

An image from lawyer Campbell MacCallum’s Instagram page.

Detectives arrested Armstrong after hearing the recording and seized his phone, determining he had used various social media apps to sell cocaine to 11 clients.

According to the court documents, in an interview with police on July 16, 2020 – the day of his arrest – a detective appeared incredulous that Armstrong reoffended within hours of being granted parole.

“Alright, so let me get this straight,” the officer said.

“You’ve just been in court. You’ve been given immediate parole for a drug related offence – first thing you do, or pretty soon after court, is organise an eight ball of cocaine.

“Your lawyer takes you there – your lawyer. You pick up the stuff and then you supply your lawyer – who’s just represented you in court – with cocaine.”

Armstrong replied: “I’ve got an addiction to it … and that’s my problem, you know.”

The documents detail code names Armstrong used when messaging potential clients, including “nose beers”, “chasing Christmas” and “snow gear”.

The document submitted by Armstrong’s lawyers claim any chance he had of rehabilitation was “drastically reduced by Mr MacCallum’s intervention”.

“Mr MacCallum (is) an officer of the court and an important part of the administration of justice in Queensland,” the document states.

“Mr Armstrong (and all others) were entitled to expect better conduct from him.”

MacCallum is also facing cocaine possession charges.

FROM THE BUGGED CAR

Mitchell Armstrong (on phone to dealer):
“Ah, yeah, can we get a ball? Can we get a ball? Right now? Are you gonna be home all afternoon?”

(They drive to dealer’s house. Campbell MacCallum waits in the car)

MacCallum: “How’d you go, did you have a bump up there?”

Armstrong: “Nah, I will now.”

MacCallum: “Ah well, we’ll enjoy the trip to Labrador.”

Armstrong: “The nose is ready.”

FROM THE POLICE INTERVIEW

Police officer (to Armstrong): “Alright, so let me get this straight. You’ve just been in court. You’ve been given immediate parole for a drug-related offence. First thing you do, or pretty soon after court, is organise an eight ball of cocaine. Your lawyer takes you there … You pick up the stuff and then you supply your lawyer – who’s just represented you in court – with cocaine.”