Alleged drug trafficker Brett Blanchard refused bail

A man accused of being a major player in a drug syndicate and trafficking ice was refused bail.

A MAN accused of being a major player in a drug syndicate and trafficking ice was refused bail.

Detectives arrested 42-year-old Kelso man Brett Blanchard in October, charging him with 19 offences including one count of trafficking dangerous drugs and six counts of possessing dangerous drugs.

Officers raided his Kelso property seizing 43g of what’s alleged to be methamphetamine, nearly $5000 in cash and small amounts of cannabis.

Blanchard will remain behind bars after his application for bail in Townsville Supreme Court yesterday was unsuccessful.

Bail was previously refused in Townsville Magistrates Court in late November.

Crown Prosecutor Amanda Payne opposed bail and said Blanchard was a high risk of reoffending if he was released back into the community.

The court heard Blanchard is alleged to have trafficked drugs between May 21 and October 18 this year, after previously being arrested by police and granted bail during that period.

Ms Payne said the offending had “escalated” with a far greater amount of cannabis found by police when conducting search warrants, as well as a money counting machine, five tick sheets, and weapons including a taser and nunchucks.

Defence barrister David James told the court if granted bail, Blanchard would be allowed to engage with rehabilitative programs.

“There seems to clearly be a significant drug problem, and it’s seeking these orders to address that and then provide that information to the court with any sentence,” he said.

Mr James said the risk of reoffending could be mitigated along with mandatory drug testing as a condition.

Justice David North said he wasn’t persuaded Blanchard’s risk of reoffending was “acceptable” and noted his conduct as “concerning”.

The thwarting of alleged drug suppliers in Townsville and North Queensland is being touted as the biggest ice bust detectives have made in more than two decades, seizing close to a million dollars in cash.

Targeted raids were taken out at properties in Brisbane and Townsville in October.

Originally published as Alleged drug trafficker Brett Blanchard refused bail