Police operation Sierra Decompress: Gracemere drug trafficker Darren Steven Burnell, 42, busted with meth, cocaine, marijuana and cash

A Central Qld man at the centre of a major police operation was busted with more than $40,000 cash of drug trafficking proceeds, along with large amounts of drugs. WATCH THE MOMENT POLICE TOOK HIM DOWN.

A drug trafficker who tried to flee police on a motorcycle, crashed into a car and tried to outrun officers before being tackled, was busted with $25,560 cash and drugs in his backpack, a court has heard.

He also made a deal with a relative to take the fall for him over 23.45g of meth and 0ne gram of cocaine found in his car by offering the relative $10,000 cash, a car and drugs.

Darren Steven Burnell, 42, was found with $45,560 total between November 2020 and February 2021.

He was one of two main targets of 12-month police operation Sierra Decompress, which targeted drug trafficking in the Rockhampton region.

His trafficking business started 12 days after being intercepted by police while driving on November 6, 2020 with 11.566g of pure meth in 23.451g of substance and one gram of cocaine plus a cutting agent in the glovebox of his car.

He pleaded guilty on May 18 in the Supreme Court in Rockhampton to one count of trafficking dangerous drugs, three counts of possessing a dangerous drug in excess of two grams, three counts of possessing a dangerous drug, two charges of possessing utensils, two charges of possession of a knife in a public place, one charge of possess utensils or pipes etc. that had been used, one charge of assault police officer and one charge of obstructing police officer.

Drug trafficker Darren Steven Burnell, 42, tried to flee police on a motorcycle, crashed into a police car and tried to out run officers before being busted with $25,560 cash of drug proceeds and drugs in his backpack.

Crown prosecutor Alana Murray said Burnell enlisted a family member to lie on an affidavit and say the drugs were theirs and in return, Burnell would give them $10,000 cash, a motor vehicle and 3.5g of meth.

She said police searched Burnell’s vehicle on January 8 and found $15,000 of drug proceeds, 423g of marijuana, three knives, a tick sheet, clip seal bags, scales and a taser.

Ms Murray said police carried out two searches on February 2 – on Burnell’s residence and his former wife’s residence.

She said Burnell wasn’t at his residence during that search but was at his former wife’s when police arrived.

“He tried to escape by riding his motorcycle, but he ultimately crashed into a vehicle and tried to run away,” Ms Murray said.

In his backpack, police located $25,560 cash – the proceeds of trafficking – along with one round of ammunition, a glass pipe, a mobile phone, two knives and 36.530g of substance containing 18.732g of pure meth.

Burnell was also found in possession of 134 MDMA tablets that day.

Drug trafficker Darren Steven Burnell, 42.

Police found 1.379 grams of meth at Burnell’s house, along with mobile phones, four glass pipes and three sets of digital scales.

Ms Murray said his trafficking business ran for 2.5 months with 24 customers identified and evidence of 34 sales supplying 51.85g and accumulated $22,600 of debts owed by his customers.

Defence barrister Simon Lewis said his client had managed to “keep out of trouble for a lengthy period of time”.

He pointed to Burnell’s criminal record where the last entry for a significant crime was when he was 28 and busted possessing 4.097 grams of methamphetamine.

“During that period of time, he got his life on track,” Mr Lewis said.

He said Burnell worked at the mines as a haul truck driver and operating heavy machinery, earning $140,000 per year at the end of the 2017/18 financial year.

Mr Lewis said before that, Burnell had a significant work cover payout for a hand injury.

He said Burnell would be able to go back to driving employment when released from prison.

Mr Lewis said this offending was a domino-effect of Burnell and his current partner having issues and both turning to drugs.

Drug trafficker Darren Steven Burnell, 42.

“Drugs became a large issue in life,” he said.

Mr Lewis said Burnell’s young daughter lived with Burnell’s current partner and went to a private school.

Justice Peter Davis said the gap in serious offending between 2010 and 2020/2021 demonstrated Burnell’s ability to live a law abiding life when he put his mind to it.

He sentenced Burnell to five years prison, suspended after serving two years and operational for five years.

Justice Davis declared 470 days presentence custody as time served.

Originally published as Police operation Sierra Decompress: Gracemere drug trafficker Darren Steven Burnell, 42, busted with meth, cocaine, marijuana and cash