Kyle Robinson: Avatara Media videographer’s massive drug sting

A Brisbane business owner’s backpack was found stuffed full of commercial quantities of MDMA, coke and cannabis, a court has heard.

A Brisbane wedding videographer who co-owns a fast-rising company which has shot more than 50 weddings tried his hand as a drug baron when he bought commercial quantities of cannabis, cocaine and MDMA to sell at a party, a court has heard.

Newstead man Kyle Aaron Robinson, 28, who the court heard co-owns Avatara Media with his ex-partner, against whom there is no allegation of wrongdoing, pleaded guilty in Brisbane Supreme Court on Tuesday to six drug-related offences.

They included three counts each of supplying a dangerous drug and possessing a commercial quantity of a dangerous drug.

The court heard Robinson, an estimator when he is not engaged with Avatara work, was busted at Kedron on May 20 last year following a traffic stop.

Police searched Robinson’s backpack as part of the stop and uncovered a bewildering illicit booty, which included more than half a kilogram of cannabis, as well as 18.7g pure MDMA in 25.9g of substance and 11.57g pure cocaine in 22.48g of substance.

Newstead wedding videographer Kyle Aaron Robinson, 28. Picture: Facebook

Robinson told police he had already made two cannabis and one cocaine sale from his enormous stash and was on his way to a party to sell more, the court heard.

Defence lawyer Shane McDowell told the court his client had had a lifelong addiction to cannabis, using at least daily, and believed his being charged with offences was the wake-up call which “saved his life”.

He said Robinson, who also dabbled in other drugs including MDMA, cocaine and ice, came upon the drugs opportunistically, whereby he was informed by his regular cannabis dealer he could have significant quantities of drugs on credit.

“He had no means or method” of engaging in a drug-selling business, Mr McDowell said, noting Robinson’s attendance at the party was simply to “see what he could do” with his stash.

He noted his client had taken significant steps towards rehabilitation, including submitting multiple clean drug screens.

Mr McDowell said Robinson’s business Avatara had begun to take off, with about 50 weddings which had engaged the business and the promise of many more in the future as Robinson and his business partner began to “proactively” market it.

Justice Thomas Bradley sentenced Robinson to three years’ imprisonment with immediate court-ordered parole.

Originally published as Kyle Robinson: Avatara Media videographer’s massive drug sting