Mark Gary Sloan, 51, of Victoria Point charged over cocaine bust

A bayside court has refused bail for a man accused of playing a role in Australia’s biggest ever cocaine bust, with allegations police had intercepted calls involving the man.

Drugs allegedly seized by the AFP off the Queensland coast. Picture: NewsWire / John Gass

A Victoria Point man charged in relation to one of Australia’s largest drug importations has been refused bail.

Mark Gary Sloan, 51, appeared via video link in Cleveland Magistrates Court before Magistrate Deborah Vasta, on charges of conspiracy to import or export commercial quantities of border-controlled drugs or border-controlled plants.

Magistrate Vasta refused bail, saying there was a possibility of him interfering with witnesses.

The court heard Mr Sloan held a number of meetings at his Victoria Point residence including one on November 30 attended by young men, many in their 20s, before a group left the residence in two cars with two tinnies.

Police intercepted a number of phone calls involving Mr Sloan with conversations about meeting at “the old fellow’s house” and concerns of hiring a car that could be easily identified.

A group went to the boat ramp at Burnett Heads, near where a larger boat was intercepted on Sunday with more than 2000kg of cocaine, which the AFP said was valued at more than $760 million.

Magistrate Vasta refused bail saying the operation was planned and the syndicate large enough to be able to buy a $150,000 boat the day after another boat had broken down.

“We have seven or eight young men in their early twenties, who have been caught up in this very big operation,” she said.

“I think there is a risk of interfering with witnesses.

Supporters of the man as he appeared via videolink in Cleveland Magistrates Court.

“I understand you have got an ill wife and an ill mother-in-law but my concern is really the risk of flight and the risk of interference with witnesses.

“As the prosecutor says, he’s staring down the barrel of a very, very long period of time in jail if convicted.”

Defence lawyer Jarrod Bell for Mr Sloan said his client needed bail because he had to look after a sick wife, his daughter and two granddaughters and his mother-in-law.

He said his client had some dated drug “history with the court” for which there had been no breach of bail.

Mr Bell said this client once worked as an excavator and later as a brick layer but an injury had left him unable to work and living on his compensation package.

“I appreciate that there is an allegation that people met there (at his house) but there’s nothing in particular about that address that stands out,” Mr Bell said.

“… I think that my client has conceded that he is certainly not at the top of any chain and there’s reference within the material that he’s talking to people above him.”

The court also heard Mr Sloan had bought a $4000, 20-horsepower engine which his lawyer argued was not a large engine and not suited for open waters.

“When you read the facts, it’s not as a sophisticated as you would think,” Mr Bell said.

“The first boat that was supposed to go out broke down.

“A second boat that was purchased ultimately broke down on the way back.

“Then the two smaller boats didn’t actually get launched.

“I can’t say this is a weak case but I can’t say that it is a strong case - it must be examined,” Mr Bell said.

The court was told that intercepted phone calls included conversations in which Mr Sloan allegedly spoke about pushing someone overboard.

His lawyer said those conversations had to be assessed in context.

Mr Sloan has not entered a plea.

The matter has been referred to the Brisbane Magistrates Court for February 7.