Trafficking, supply dangerous drugs charges dropped against Karl Robert Bailey

Crown prosecutions has dropped serious drug charges against a Queensland man police alleged was a chapter president of an international street gang.

Karl Bailey was arrested as part of a police operation targeting the Mongrel Mob in Mackay.

Drug trafficking and supply charges have been dropped against a man police alleged was the president of an international street gang’s Mackay chapter.

Blacks Beach man Karl Robert Bailey, 34, had been indicted in the supreme court on serious drug offending with a maximum penalty of 25 years imprisonment.

He was arrested on a string of charges in January 2022 under police operation Sierra Asteroid which targeted alleged organised crime and drug trafficking in Mackay by Outlawed Motorcycle Gang (OMCG) The Mongrel Mob.

Police alleged Mr Bailey, who was one of 17 people arrested on 122 offences, was the Mackay chapter president.

Karl Bailey was arrested as part of a police operation targeting the Mongrel Mob in Mackay.

He was charged with three counts of trafficking between April and September 2021 and 10 counts of supplying a dangerous drug, as well as recruiting a person to become participant in a criminal organisation and possessing anything for use in the commission of a crime.

Mr Bailey was granted bail after a $30,000 surety was paid on his behalf.

These matters were committed to the supreme court where in October 2023 Mr Bailey was onto indicted on two counts of supplying dangerous drugs, and one count each of trafficking and possessing anything for use in the commission of a crime.

Mr Bailey’s barrister Saul Holt had pushed for the matter to be listed for pretrial hearing regarding the exclusion of evidence and it was set for a date later this year.

Crown prosecution has dropped the case against Mackay man Karl Robert Bailey, who was charged as part of a police sting targeting an alleged drug network linked to the Mackay chapter of the Mongrel Mob street gang.

However in late June crown prosecutions indicated it would not be proceeding on the four charges before the supreme court.

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions “entered a nolle prosequi in relation to all offences against Karl Bailey”, an ODPP spokesman said.

This came “after a further review of all admissible evidence and further evidence provided”.

Mr Bailey is still facing four charges in Mackay Magistrates Court including possessing/acquiring restricted items, fraud - dishonestly gian benefit/advantage, possessing of property suspected of being the proceeds of an offence under drugs misuse act and possession of property suspended of being acquired with proceeds of an offence under the drugs misuse act.

These matters are listed for mention in November.

Originally published as Trafficking, supply dangerous drugs charges dropped against Karl Robert Bailey