Cairns crime: Dylan Ryan Tuckwell-Cvek convicted over Lotus Glen drug smuggling

A man whose foot was severed while he was in the midst of a Townsville shootout has been sentenced for his role in a sophisticated drug smuggling prison operation.

A man whose foot was completely severed when he took part in a drive-by shooting was sentenced in Cairns District Court on Tuesday as the second member of a trio running a sophisticated drug smuggling operation at Lotus Glen Correctional Centre.

The court heard that Dylan Ryan Tuckwell-Cvek, 29, had his foot run over three times and severed during a shootout in Townsville described by the sentencing judge at the time as “an out-take from a lesser Tarantino film”.

Dylan Ryan Tuckwell-Cvek, who is now older and heavier with a heavily tattooed head, was convicted in Cairns District Court on November 14 for smuggling suboxone into Lotus Glen Correctional Centre.

Tuckwell-Cvek was convicted for malicious act with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and arson for his part in torching of a stolen Mercedes Benz, and was sentenced to eight years with 1183 days of presentence custody declared as time served.

He was on remand pending trial when he got involved in the drug smuggling ring.

Tuckwell-Cvek’s solicitor Michael Gatenby told the court on Tuesday his client developed a suboxone habit and significant debt when he was transferred from hospital after two months, following surgery to reattach his foot.

Suboxone is Buprenorphine, an opioid used to treat opioid use disorder, acute pain, and chronic pain.

Detectives charged 12 people as part of a joint investigation between Queensland Police Service and Queensland Corrective Services into the trafficking of dangerous and prescription drugs at the Lotus Glen Correctional Centre.

Mr Gatenby said Tuckwell-Cvek was given Tramadol, which is an opioid but nowhere near as powerful as Endone and fentanyl.

Mr Gatenby said Tuckwell-Cvek’s drug trafficking, for which he pleaded guilty, was motivated more by his habit and his looming debt than by greed.

Cairns District Court heard that Tuckwell-Cyek turned to illicit suboxone when he could not access oxycodone for pain relief after surgery to have his severed foot reattached.

Crown prosecutor Emily Thambya said over 14 months from December 2020 to February 2022 Tuckwell-Cyek was part of a consortium with two others that had its own network and workers to facilitate smuggling suboxone during contact visits.

She said his girlfriend, based in Victoria, played a part recruiting people and setting up bank accounts in fake names.

Joshua Russell Best.

Ms Thambya said Tuckwell-Cyek sourced suboxone 59 times, paying $118,350 for an estimated 11,835 strips which cost about $10 per strip but sold within prison walls for $250 to $300.

She said bank records indicated he had at least 16 customers and those doing the smuggling “were paid a measly $500 for their involvement”.

Tuckwell-Cyek contracted tuberculosis in Lotus Glen and spent many more months in hospital, Mr Gatenby said.

“He was run over, his foot comes off, he is in hospital for two months and prescribed Endone, a fairly powerful drug, three tablets every two hours, plus a drip with fentanyl,” Mr Gatenby said.

Tuckwell-Cyek had access to the powerful pain reliever fentanyl while in hospital but the drug was denied to him when he was transferred to prison and he used suboxone.

“He’s transferred to corrective services, not allowed to take either of those drugs, given Tramadol, suffers significant pain and about that time, he gets suboxone on tick and quickly runs up a habit and a debt,” Mr Gatenby said.

His father, Leslie Gordon Sharp, 51, spent 12 years in jail after being convicted in 1999 of attempting to murder a woman, raping her six times in Mount Isa bushland after abducting her.

Sharp became one of Australia’s most wanted fugitives in 2015 after violating his parole conditions.

In November 2022 he was sentenced following a $2m meth bust.

Sharp was also involved in the Kirwan shootout with his son.

Tuckwell-Cyek’s father Leslie Sharp, who served time for attempted murder, rape and deprivation of liberty, was also involved in the Townsville shootout before being busted with $2 million worth of ice and nearly $200,000 in cash hidden in the spare tyre of a car.

Sentencing Tuckwell-Cyek, Judge Joshua Trevino KC said his conduct was brazen and noted he was operating at a loss.

He sentenced him to five years in jail with a parole eligibility date of November 14, 2023.

“Not only did you corrupt other prisoners, but also their family and friends on the outside, you were not deterred even when given notice to appear, you continued offending,” Judge Trevino said.

Police at the scene of the drive-by shooting in Gould Street, Kirwan, in Townsville. Picture: Evan Morgan

Judge Trevino declined to declare 385 days in pre-sentence custody as time served.

Earlier this month, his accomplice Joshua Russell Best, 32, of Cairns, was sentenced by Judge Trevino to five and a half years with an immediate parole eligibility date for his part in the suboxone operation, using his mother’s bank account and enlisting her help.

Originally published as Cairns crime: Dylan Ryan Tuckwell-Cvek convicted over Lotus Glen drug smuggling