Logan poker player gambles with prison time after trafficking cannabis

A Logan professional poker player has gambled with prison after incriminating social media messages revealed a drug trafficking network.

Wayde Rickhuss outside Beenleigh Magistrates Court.

A Logan professional poker player has gambled with prison time after being caught with 300g of cannabis and social media messages indicating drug dealing to more than 10 regular customers.

Waterford’s Wayde Rickhuss, 42, pleaded guilty in Beenleigh District Court on December 16 to 13 counts of supplying dangerous drugs and one count of trafficking dangerous drugs.

The court heard that on April 22 last year Rickhuss’ home was raided by police.

They found 307g of cannabis, clip seal bags and a water pipe.

Police executed another search warrant at the property on September 8 last year and found evidence of drug trafficking and supplying, via conversations on an encrypted Facebook Messenger app.

The court heard Rickhuss was selling amounts of cannabis ranging from $50 to $120 to a dozen regular customers. There was evidence of 28 individual transactions.

Judge Craig Chowdhury said cannabis was more dangerous than many people believed.

“Cannabis is not the benign drug some people think it is. It can have serious, dangerous effects,’’ he said.

“There is a reason the Australian Medical Association oppose its legalisation.

“Trafficking dangerous drugs has always been viewed extremely seriously by the courts, that is evident by the maximum penalty of 25 years’ prison.

“I could have easily put you in jail.”

Rickhuss was sentenced to two years’ jail with an immediate parole release date.

Originally published as Logan poker player gambles with prison time after trafficking cannabis