Troy Joseph Maguire, Abraham Mitchell Leov, Stephen John Ward charged with $3.4m drug ring
Three men allegedly in control of 47kg of ice, heroin, and cannabis, and more than $400,000 cash, can be identified for the first time after appearing in court at Southport. What we know so far.
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Three men allegedly behind a significant Gold Coast drug trafficking ring have faced court for the first time after a series of search warrants earlier this week uncovered 47kg of ice, heroin, and cannabis, and more than $400,000 cash.
Park Ridge man Troy Joseph Maguire, 52, Spring Creek man Abraham Mitchell Leov, 36, and Arundel man Stephen John Ward, 44, all faced Southport Magistrates Court on Wednesday, with Mr Maguire returning on Thursday for a bail application.
The men are facing a combined 22 charges, predominantly drug-related, most seriously trafficking in dangerous drugs.
They were arrested on Tuesday after police executed search warrants at the trio’s residences, and a storage facility at Nerang.
According to police, they allegedly uncovered about 1.5kg of heroin, 21kg of methamphetamine, 24.5kg of cannabis, $411,205 cash, mobile phones and two money counters.
The total estimated combined value of the drugs was $3.47m, police added.
On Wednesday, Messrs Leov and Ward were granted bail, to reappear on March 6 and March 11, respectively.
Mr Maguire made his bail application on Thursday.
Arguing against a grant of bail, police prosecutor Tamara Dawood told the court Mr Maguire had a prior history of drug offending, his alleged offending was escalating, and, should he be convicted, he could expect a long stint behind bars, heightening the risk of his failing to appear.
She further submitted there was a “strong evidentiary link” between Mr Maguire and the alleged trafficking ring, a point disputed by the defendant’s lawyer Mark Butler.
Mr Butler said the charge of trafficking against his client was particularly shaky.
“The [police] material just doesn’t make out any substantial evidence to support trafficking, it refers only to possession, there are no messages to support trafficking, no lawfully intercepted information,” he said.
Magistrate Joan White conceded it was not the “strongest” of allegations.
According to Mr Butler, one of the storage units that allegedly contained a significant quantity of drugs – the meth was allegedly found in a van being driven by a co-accused, while the cash was allegedly located in a caretaker’s facility – was listed as being under the control of both his client and another person known as ‘Mick’.
This opened up the possibility his client knew nothing of the alleged illicit cargo, Mr Butler argued.
However, Ms White pointed out the owner of the storage facility had attested to the fact the disputed unit was controlled by Mr Maguire and no others, to their knowledge.
She denied the defendant’s bail.
She found there was a “strong” prosecution case Mr Maguire controlled the two storage sheds in which a significant portion of the contraband was allegedly found.
Mr Maguire was remanded in custody to reappear on February 18.
Originally published as Troy Joseph Maguire, Abraham Mitchell Leov, Stephen John Ward charged with $3.4m drug ring
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