Crime and Corruption Commission cocaine probe which heard allegations against Suns and Titans players finalised

GOLD Coast football stars are breathing easier after the closure of a cocaine probe by the Crime and Corruption Commission that snared some big names in Australian sport.

Generic photo of cocaine. Picture: iStock

GOLD Coast football stars are breathing easier after the closure of a cocaine probe by the Crime and Corruption Commission that snared some big names in Australian sport.

The operation, which nabbed code-hopper Karmichael Hunt and resulted in allegations being made against eight past and present Gold Coast Titans stars, officially ended this week with no more players charged.

This is despite at least seven other Titans and Gold Coast Suns players being implicated.

Karmichael Hunt pleaded guilty last March to possession after agreeing to help CCC investigators.

Hunt, who was originally charged with supplying cocaine but pleaded guilty last March to possession after agreeing to help CCC investigators, named several former Suns teammates in a witness statement. A police report also detailed allegations that Suns players were supplying and using cocaine among themselves dating back to 2012.

No Suns players were charged.

The CCC announced its two-year investigation, codenamed Operation Quaker, had closed, with 31 people charged with more than 300 offences and $1.5m in drugs seized.

Four past and present ­Titans players, including State of Origin stars Greg Bird and Ashley Harrison, had cocaine supply charges dismissed last October. Three other ex-­Titans – former Maroon Dave Taylor as well as Jamie Dowling and Joe Vickery – consented to going to trial in cases expected to be heard this year.

Alleged key players in the cocaine syndicate, including accused “Mr Big” and former Sydney Roosters player John Touma and ex-Queensland State of Origin star Jason Smith, are still before the courts. All the accused are ­defending their charges.

Originally published as Crime and Corruption Commission cocaine probe which heard allegations against Suns and Titans players finalised