Former high-ranking Mongols bikie gang member used home as a ‘warehouse’ for drugs and money
A FORMER high-ranking Mongols bikie gang member used his Gold Coast home as a “warehouse” for drug money, methylamphetamine, cocaine and steroids, the Supreme Court at Southport heard.
Crime and Court
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A FORMER high-ranking Mongols bikie gang member used his Biggera Waters home as a “warehouse” for drug money, methylamphetamine, cocaine and steroids, the Supreme Court at Southport heard.
Brenton Atkinson, 29, was found with more than $106,000 cash and a cache of the drug ice, cocaine and steroids after a long-running police sting to bring down a drug syndicate in June 2015.
Atkinson, the former treasurer for a Gold Coast Mongols branch, will remain behind bars until at least October 19, 2020 after pleading guilty to trafficking dangerous drugs and possessing drugs.
He was sentenced to eight years prison.
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Crown prosecutor Mark Green told the court 72.9g of methylamphetamine, 43g of cocaine and 156 vials of steroids was found in Atkinson’s Biggera Waters home.
“The defendant’s home was a central point for the Mongols,” he said.
Mr Green said police had placed Atkinson’s home under surveillance in April 2015 and tapped his phones.
He said Atkinson and those in the ring used encrypted messaging app Wickr to communicate with each other about the drugs.
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As a part of the operation, police intercepted at least three people leaving Atkinson’s home carrying large amounts of drugs.
One of the people found was carrying a bag with about 1000 ecstasy tablets in his car.
Defence barrister Anthony Kimmins said Atkinson had only started dealing steroids from about December 2014 and it was not until April 2015 that he started dealing the drug ice and cocaine.
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“He was effectively the warehouse for that large quantity of the drugs and money,” Mr Kimmins said.
“He was aware that he was holding large quantities of ill-gotten money as well as the drugs.”
Mr Kimmins said since the bust Atkinson had tried to turn his life around and had not been charged with a criminal conviction in the past three years.
Justice David Boddice said references provided to the court suggested Atkinson was on the road to rehabilitation.
“It was a sophisticated operation you were a part of,” he said.
“You were a willing and active participant.”
Convictions were recorded.
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