NT Mongrel Mob: Leonard Crabbe sentenced for cannabis run

After stashing his truck with alcohol and cannabis, an elderly member of an Outlaw Motorcycle Gang paid thousands of dollars to have his vehicle transported by sea to a remote community, only for detectives to foil the operation. Now, the 75 year-old man, who had a heart attack while behind bars, has finally been sentenced.

The NT Supreme Court has heard of how members of Darwin’s Mongrel Mob chapter tried to smuggle cannabis into Galiwinku.

A 75 year-old man has been sentenced for his involvement in a drug smuggling operation aimed at exploiting remote communities.

Leonard Charles Crabbe, a patched member of the Mongrel Mob Motorcycle Gang, learned his fate at the NT Supreme Court after pleading guilty to supplying a commercial supply of cannabis.

On July 11, 2024, Crabbe paid $3151 to have his truck launched from Darwin City to Galiwinku on a barge.

A barge pulling up at Galiwinku, Elcho Island, Northern Territory.

Unbeknown to the workers aboard, 2.27 kgs of cannabis and alcohol had been stashed within the vehicle.

Later that afternoon, detectives obtained a search warrant for the truck and seized the items.

On July 24, Crabbe was arrested by detectives in Galiwinku and has remained in custody since.

The court heard the failed venture had been an “organised enterprise” with a plan for Crabbe’s co-offender, Alfred Campbell, to sell the cannabis for between $50 to $100 per gram.

“(This was) profit driven and relying on the misery of others,” Justice Jenny Blokland said.

“This offending targets vulnerable people for the sake of profits, this is organised crime-meets-pushed communities.”

Justice Jenny Blokland noted Crabbe’s health issues couple with prison conditions have become a problem for him.

The court heard Crabbe had a “record of some concern”, including firearm offences and a “reasonably significant” drug trafficking conviction in 2007.

All convictions were recorded in Victoria.

Justice Blokland noted the death of Crabbe’s son in 2004 had a “profound impact” on him and contributed to his subsequent substance abuse.

The court heard Crabbe suffered from a “chronic and progressive” heart condition first diagnosed in 2018.

“He has expressed to his lawyers an awareness and acceptance of his prognosis and acknowledging that his remaining time is limited,” Justice Blokland said.

On April 26, Crabbe suffered a heart attack while in prison - a month after officials deemed him unfit to work behind bars.

“The court was told (the) custodian environment has become increasingly onerous for him,” Justice Blokland said.

“Particularly in light of the restrictive conditions associated remand status and the impact of his cardiac condition.”

It was previously heard Crabbe wanted to retire in Galiwinku - the same location the seized cannabis was destined for.

In December, it was heard Crabbe’s “retirement plan” was to eventually return to Elcho Island.

However, Justice Blokland dashed those hopes in her sentencing remarks when she revealed corrections were not supportive of his plan after consultation with remote community leaders.

Crabbe was handed three years imprisonment backdated to July 24, 2024.

The sentence will be suspended after one year, allowing Crabbe to leave prison next month.

Alfred Campbell was sentenced to three years and five months imprisonment which is to be served by way of an intensive community corrections order after one year.

The court heard another co-offender, Roberto Spice, was sentenced to three years imprisonment with a non-parole period of 18 months.