Mele Cross, Kirsty Mcleish: Women accused of dealing meth in Mundubbera

Two North Burnett women have faced court to apply for bail after being accused of running a major drug dealing operation in the region, with one also charged with drug trafficking.

Two Mundubbera women have been charged with more than 140 counts of supplying drugs between them.

Mele Lineti Sanipepa Cross and Kirsty Evelyn Mcleish stand accused of more than 150 charges in total, with the vast majority being supply charges.

McLeish did not appear in Kingaroy Magistrates Court on Tuesday, instead the duty lawyer requested the matter be adjourned to Murgon Court on November 9 to allow her to engage her own representative.

Cross however appeared and applied for bail – which was opposed by police who told the court the case against her was serious and strong.

Prosecutor Barry Stevens said police would allege Cross supplied more than 60 grams of meth between June 2020 and August 2021.

“(The case) involves the monitoring of the defendant’s texts and bank accounts,” Sgt Stevens said.

“The way she was conducting herself – she was conducting a business and selling unlawful drugs.”

Mele Lineti Sanipepa Cross was granted bail after being charged with drug trafficking and 139 counts of supplying drugs.

In addition to 139 counts of supplying dangerous drugs, Cross also faces charges of trafficking dangerous drugs as well as one count of stealing.

During the hearing, Sgt Steven revealed the Mundubbera mother-of-two had been travelling to Brisbane and other areas to obtain drugs and was often doing so at times when less police were on the roads to avoid being intercepted.

He also revealed police believed her drug activities had netted her approximately $100,000.

“This is not a bag and a bong operation – this is profitable for this defendant,” he said.

However Cross’ lawyer Travis George told the court his clients actions were “trafficking of need not greed” and described her as a “subsistence trafficker”.

“When you take out the Centrelink payments and the money being received from her husband who is gainfully employed … she has spent more money on drugs than she had coming in by about $10,000,” Mr George said.

Acting magistrate John Milburn granted cross bail on strict conditions, including that she wearing a tracking device, live in with her aunt in Mt Gravatt and not contact Ms Mcleish.

Her matter was adjourned for committal mention in Maryborough Magistrates Court on January 24 next year.

Originally published as Mele Cross, Kirsty Mcleish: Women accused of dealing meth in Mundubbera