Tristina Hay, Samuel Cross: Gold Coast pair face drug import charges

A Gold Coast couple were living in Casino where police allege they attempted to smuggle in cocaine from the United Kingdom.

A couple accused of attempting to import drugs into Australia had several major charges dropped this week.

Gold Coast couple Tristina Hay, 31, and Samuel David Cross, 33, were mentioned before Lismore Local Court on Wednesday.

Each faces two charges of attempting to import a marketable quantity of a border controlled drug.

However, on Wednesday, both Ms Hay and Mr Cross saw several charges withdrawn including: importing a marketable quantity of border controlled drugs, attempting to possess a marketable quantity of unlawfully imported border control drugs, dealing with the proceeds of indictable crime and directing activities of criminal organisation.

Both were not required to appear in court.

Police allege the Tallebudgera couple were seeking refuge in NSW after becoming aware they were wanted by Queensland police.

Police allege Ms Hay and Mr Cross attempted to evade arrest at a Barkers Vale address last December by fleeing out a bedroom window.

Police will allege the couple were based in Casino when they attempted to import and possess a marketable quantity of cocaine from the United Kingdom between August 8 and October 12, 2021.

In a previous court date, the pair’s solicitor said police were relying on the same person to share the content of encrypted messages sent on the Signal app however the app was not found on a number of devices seized from Ms Hay and Mr Cross.

The court heard the pair would reappear for committal mention in Lismore Local Court on July 13.

No pleas have been entered for either of the accused at this stage.

Originally published as Tristina Hay, Samuel Cross: Gold Coast pair face drug import charges