Benjamin Thomas Thomson sentenced in Townsville Supreme Court for drug trafficking meth and GHB

A Townsville man was caught in a ‘well-established’ drug trafficking business which involved runners and vehicles and was stopped just as he attempted to hire his own ‘debt enforcer’.

Benjamin Thomas Thomson sentenced in Townsville Supreme Court for drug trafficking meth and GHB. Picture: istock

A father’s drug trafficking business was ‘well-established’ to the point he was about in the middle of recruiting a ‘debt enforce’ when his plans were foiled by police.

Benjamin Thomas Thomson appeared in Townsville Supreme Court on Friday morning for his almost three-month long drug trafficking operation that saw $58,575 deposited into his bank account.

It was made clear in court that the total sum of money did not reflect a profit margin but a turnover amount.

Crown prosecutor Rana Aldas told the court the 42-year-old man bought and sold methamphetamine and GHB for two months and 21 days, mostly to on-sellers.

“He had what he referred to as four runners, three vehicles which was an intense operation,” she said.

“It was a commercially motivated business and on one occasion he attempted to recruit a debt enforcer.”

She said the father of five sourced the drugs interstate, and supplied methamphetamine on 15 occasions, offering to supply on eight separate times to 10 customers who were mostly “runners not users”.

During one of the occasions, Thomson offered to sell an ounce of methamphetamine for $8500 or less, the court was told.

The man’s business was exposed when he was pulled over by police for driving a car with registration plates that didn’t match and authorities went through his vehicle and mobile where they found the drug-related discussions.

Justice David North sought to clarify the agreed upon facts, as there was some dispute earlier in the proceeding between the crown and defence barrister Harvey Walters who was instructed by Rennick Lawyers.

“The pattern I see is (Thomson) is not a street level trafficker but the use of the term wholesale is problematic as sometimes it denotes impressions of a warehouse stacked full of drugs, large quantities coming in and going out,” Justice North said.

“The important factors such as the regular turnover of drugs, the use of encrypted devices to frustrate police, the amount being charged for the quantities - it’s a significant business.”

Mr Walters advised the court Thomson was originally from South Australia, which is where his mother had travelled from to support her son in court.

“(Thomson) started using drugs again when a relationship broke down, he has instructed he has kept himself occupied while in prison with work,” the defence said.

While Justice North handed down his sentence, Thomson looked to the ground and nodded repeatedly.

The man pleaded guilty to drug trafficking, supplying and possessing items in relation to drug trafficking.

He was sentenced to five years and nine months jail – His Honour declared 427 days spent in pre-sentence custody as time served and he was given a parole eligibility date of February 9, 2025.

Originally published as Benjamin Thomas Thomson sentenced in Townsville Supreme Court for drug trafficking meth and GHB