Tennant Creek grandparents plead guilty to possessing and selling cannabis

Two Tennant Creek grandparents have pleaded guilty to possessing and supplying commercial quantities of cannabis after a police operation revealed their involvement in a drug syndicate.

Two Tennant Creek grandparents have pleaded guilty to supplying and possessing commercial quantities of cannabis as part of a local drug syndicate.

Linda and Graham Baker appeared in Alice Springs Supreme Court on Monday morning charged with intentionally supplying a commercial quantity of a dangerous drug to known and unknown persons between May 14 2021 and June 14 2022, possessing a trafficable quantity of dangerous drugs, and intentionally receiving or possessing $28,010 knowing it was obtained directly or indirectly from the supply of cannabis.

A group of nine people were arrested and charged in Tennant Creek in June last year after a three-and-a-half month police investigation which aimed to disrupt the supply of commercial cannabis in the Barkly region and associated communities. The cannabis pictured was not seized from the Bakers’ home. Picture: PFES

Both pleaded guilty to all three charges.

The two were part of a group of nine arrested and charged with supplying commercial cannabis, possessing commercial cannabis and possessing tainted property in Tennant Creek in June last year.

The court heard Linda Baker’s older brother Robert Paterson and his son Allen Paterson had allegedly been regularly obtaining “pound quantities” of cannabis “commencing well before May 14 2021” and selling it commercially in Tennant Creek, which the court heard involved frequent collaboration with Linda and Graham Baker who were also suppliers of cannabis.

Robert Paterson pleaded guilty to supplying a commercial quantity of a schedule 2 drug and supplying a commercial quantity of a schedule 2 drug to a child earlier this month, and is expected to appear before the court for submissions on July 27.

Allen Paterson has been charged with supplying a commercial quantity of a schedule 2 drug, and will appear in the Supreme Court on August 12.

The court heard both businesses would allegedly “from time to time” obtain “pounds of cannabis” from Kristy Smith, who allegedly ran a separate drug dealing business with her partner Cory Graham.

Ms Smith and Mr Graham have been charged with supplying a commercial quantity of a schedule 2 drug, possessing a commercial quantity of a schedule 2 drug, and receiving or possessing property commission offence.

They will next appear in the Supreme Court on September 14.

In January 2022 local police commenced an operation, codenamed AMYL to investigate the Patersons and their associates.

The three-and-a-half month operation began on March 3 2022 and involved the surveillance of Robert Paterson’s telephone and physical surveillance of visitors to the Patersons’ residence.

The court heard police ultimately obtained both Ms Smith and Linda Baker’s phones, and interrogated each of them.

On June 14, police intercepted Allen Paterson’s vehicle and 908g of cannabis was seized.

A search of a residence then found 12 1g bags of cannabis made up for sale, 56g of cannabis separated in sandwich bags for sale and large quantities of empty deal bags and scales.

Tennant Creek grandparents Linda and Graham Baker have pleaded guilty to possessing and supplying commercial amounts of cannabis. Picture: Facebook.

On the same day, police executed a search warrant at the home of an associate of the Paterson’s which was being used as a safe house, finding 168g of cannabis material.

Police then executed a search warrant at the Bakers’ home, seizing 28 1g bags of cannabis made up for sale, 84g of cannabis made up for sale, $28,010 concealed in several cases around the house, and a large quantity of empty bags.

Justice Sonia Brownhill ordered a home detention assessment report and supervision report be prepared, with the matter adjourned to September 7.

The Bakers’ bail was extended.