Dean Delaney: Gold Coast man charged with importing cocaine, attempting to import meth
A Surfers Paradise man charged with importing cocaine was allegedly using his job as a truck driver to distribute drugs, a court has been told. Read full details here.
Police & Courts
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A Gold Coast man charged with importing cocaine was allegedly using his work as an interstate truck driver as a cover for distributing drugs, a court has been told.
Dean Delaney appeared in Southport Magistrates Court on Wednesday facing several serious charges.
They include importing marketable quantities of border-controlled drugs or plants, possessing a border-controlled drug or plant reasonably suspected of having been unlawfully imported, and possessing dangerous drugs.
It is alleged Delaney imported 1kg of cocaine from November last year.
The 56-year-old then allegedly attempted to import methylamphetamine on January 9.
The National Anti-Gangs Squad – comprising of Australian Federal Police and Queensland Police Service members – began an investigation after allegedly finding cocaine in an air cargo consignment in Sydney, sent from the Philippines.
Delaney was allegedly found with 1kg of methylamphetamine, 300g of cocaine, and several sets of scales and plastic scoops along with about $6000 in cash when police raided his Surfers Paradise apartment on Tuesday.
Delaney was held in custody at the Southport watch-house until his application for bail in court on Wednesday.
His bail was opposed only by police prosecutions, with the Commonwealth department not against his release on the more serious charges.
The court was told Delaney was allegedly distributing drugs “under the guise” of his work as an interstate truck driver, and had taken “significant steps” to cover up his phone use with false identities.
Defence lawyer Farshad Sarabi, of Hannay Lawyers, said Delaney had worked full-time as a truckie for the past five months, which sometimes required him to travel to New South Wales.
He said his client had no criminal history or current passport, and that strict bail conditions could mitigate any perceived risk upon his release.
Magistrate Louisa Pink granted Delaney’s bail on several conditions including that he live in Surfers Paradise, report to police several times a week, and not leave Queensland without written approval from the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Delaney had few words for reporters waiting outside the watch-house, but did reveal he would “absolutely” be fighting the serious charges laid against him.
His case will return to court on July 3.
AFP Detective Superintendent Adrain Telfer said disrupting the alleged supply of illicit drugs was vital to combatting organised crime and reducing potential risk to Australians.
“The demand for cocaine in Australia is at the forefront of our battle with organised crime – criminal syndicates see a big dollar sign over Australia and try to profit from that demand,” he said.
“As a community, we need to address the risks associated with illicit drug use (and) reduce the harm, demand, and ultimately the profit going back to organised crime.”
Police say investigations are continuing into the alleged imported drugs and their distribution, with further arrests “not ruled out”.
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