Inside alleged cocaine syndicate investigation allegedly involving Tyren Wiggins, Jayden Soanes
Overseas holidays, unexplained wealth, and standover tactics are what police allege were involved in a drug syndicate they say was peddling cocaine, MDMA and marijuana on the Sunshine Coast. SEE THE INSIDE STORY
Police & Courts
Don't miss out on the headlines from Police & Courts. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Overseas holidays, unexplained wealth, and standover tactics are what police allege were involved in a drug syndicate they say was peddling cocaine, MDMA and marijuana on the Sunshine Coast.
Tyren Luke Wiggins, 19, and Jayden James Soanes, 23, found themselves in the crosshairs of the Sunshine Coast Drug and Serious Taskforce following simultaneous raids at their homes on March 7.
Exclusive details recounted in court documents tendered at the Rosemount and Maroochy River men’s bail applications reveal what police alleged about the inner working by a suspected drug syndicate and its accused supplier which led to them being charged with serious drug offences.
Wiggins faces 14 charges including seven counts of aggravated supply of dangerous drugs to a minor 16 years and over and two of trafficking dangerous drugs.
Soanes faces seven charges including three counts of trafficking in dangerous drugs.
Below is what police allege as revealed by court documents tendered during their bail hearings.
THE ALLEGED OPERATION
Police investigations began in February 2023 through the establishment of Operation Victor Ignite.
Police used covert and overt methodologies to gather sufficient evidence to allegedly implicate a number of people they say were involved in sourcing and supplying dangerous drugs.
These tactics included the interception of telecommunication services, covert surveillance and tactical intercepts.
Court documents allege their main target was Wiggins, who police identified was the head of the “discrete drug syndicate”.
Detectives alleged the 19-year-old worked with two other co-accused who were part of the “core component” of the syndicate and worked in conjunction with one another but had separate roles, suppliers and customer base.
Telephone intercepts began for Wiggins’ phone on June 1, 2023, where lawfully intercepted information alleged the teen was responsible for sourcing and communicating with drug suppliers.
Police allege Wiggins also purchased commercial amounts of cocaine and marijuana and arranged the supply of drugs to two co-accused along with his own customers.
Through wire taps, it’s alleged Wiggins was primarily dealing in multiple pound amounts of marijuana and ounce quantities of cocaine at a time.
Police allege in Soane’s bail objection affidavit he was identified as Wiggins’ supplier through these telephone intercepts.
THE INTERCEPTS
Wiggins would sell pounds of marijuana, or “pounds” and “P’s” for between $2600 to $3000 plus, making more than $200 profit per pound depending on the quality and amount bought, police allege according to court documents.
Police allege half pounds were sold from $1600 to $1750 while quarter pounds or “QP’s” were auctioned off between $800 to $1000 each.
The wire taps allegedly identified the Maroochy River teen advising customers he “doesn’t sell small amounts”, only quarter pounds and up.
Detectives further alleged Wiggins sourced cocaine or “rack”, “pearl rack” and “bags” in ounce amounts for $8000 but would on supply this for between $9500 to $12,000.
“Balls”, or 3.5 ounces were allegedly sold for $800 while grams were sold for $350.
Detectives allege the co-accused were “runners” for Wiggins, who would allegedly collect or receive amounts of marijuana from the alleged syndicate head at locations determined by Wiggins.
Police allege they would also deliver drugs to customers, collect cash and repay Wiggins for outstanding amounts.
Both co-accused were known to each other and allegedly involved in the selection of marijuana from Wiggins which they would on supply.
Telephone intercepts allegedly identified a number of conversations about financial transactions between the trio and others involved in their drug dealing business, relating to the transfer for drugs supplied, according to court documents.
Intercepted telephone information alleged Soanes used his phone to have contact with Wiggins, self identifying as “Jayden” or “ranga”.
On September 7, 2023 police were granted a warrant for Soanes’ phone number which allegedly revealed he was selling commercial quantities of cocaine, and to a lesser extent MDMA and marijuana through a drug trafficking business.
The intercepts allegedly showed Soanes had in excess of 20 regular customers who would purchase varying amounts of cocaine from “eight ball” amounts of 3.5g of cocaine to multiple ounce quantities.
Another wire tap granted on December 5, 2023 showed Soanes allegedly carried on his drug trafficking business during this time, however stopped using the phone number on December 8, 2023 for regular calls.
Police allege he still travelled around the Sunshine Coast with that mobile phone handset and used it as a “data only” phone to use encrypted phone applications.
Detectives then say they identified Soanes was using a second mobile phone number after this.
Investigations revealed Soanes allegedly reduced his call volume on his mobile phone number for regular calls and messages. Metadata on the intercepted devices however allegedly showed Soanes using encrypted applications such as Threema, Signal, Snapchat and WhatsApp.
“However, there were still numerous lawfully intercepted phone calls where the defendant would overtly discuss drug dealers with certain customers,” court documents allege.
Analysis of these phone taps relating to Soanes allegedly showed he sold commercial quantities of cocaine but police claim his business also involved the sale of other drugs including MDMA and marijuana.
THE RAIDS
At Wiggins’ home at Maroochy River, police allegedly found an iPhone which the teenager denied was his, along with a large number of clip seal bags, digital scales and a white powder suspected to be creatine.
Police identified the phone number of the mobile seized and cross checked it with residents of the Maroochy River home, and located the number in their contacts as “Tyren”, “T”, and “Big T-ts”. No other members of the home, including Wiggins’ dad, are accused of any wrongdoing.
During the raid police asked Wiggins to unlock his phone however he allegedly failed to provide them the pin and claimed the phone was not in his name.
Coinciding with this, detectives also scoured a Parrearra home where Soanes was staying with two others. They are not accused of any wrongdoing.
In the search, police allegedly found 42g of suspected cocaine, 313g of marijuana, $3010 cash, scales, clip seal bags, an iPhone and the keys to a Holden Statesman which was parked in the street.
Later that morning detectives executed a search warrant at a Rosemount address in relation to Soanes and allegedly seized a 7.5m console boat, scales, clip seal bags, drug items, a small amount of marijuana and a notebook containing a suspected customer “tick sheet”.
THE ALLEGED THREATS
In their objection to bail, police alleged Wiggins used verbal and actual violence towards customers to sell his products and to recoup drug debts.
During multiple telecommunication warrants, a series of comments by Wiggins were intercepted allegedly threatening a person to sell cocaine while another spoke about allegedly threatening an apartment owner to retrieve drugs left in their apartment.
Another intercept allegedly revealed Wiggins talking to another man about collecting a debt, saying “it’s time brother I’m coming over to see you”.
Police allege the man said he wasn’t at home when the 19-year-old allegedly threatened the person to collect a drug debt on behalf of a co-accused.
THE ALLEGED WEALTH
Through their investigations, police claim Soanes had no legitimate income apart from briefly working as a renderers assistant for four weeks, however they allege he financed his entire living expenses and “lavish lifestyle” through his drug dealing operation.
Despite no job, police allege Soanes was given a Toyota HiLux in lieu of a $14,000 drug debt, bought a centre console boat worth $30,000 and went on overseas holidays to Bali and Thailand.
“The investigation showed that the defendant ceased his part time work in late September 2023 and hasn’t worked since,” police allege in court documents.
“The following [telephone intercepts] supports the allegations that the defendant financed his lavish lifestyle through his drug trafficking business.”
In Wiggins’ bail objection, police say the 19-year-old was unemployed and not in receipt of any government payments and sporadically lived with his dad.
Investigators allege his “sole income” was through the sale of drugs.
BAIL APPLICATIONS
In Maroochydore Magistrates Court on March 19, the pair applied for bail through their defence lawyer Kylie Ward.
Ms Ward said Soanes’ 15 days in custody on remand was a “sobering” experience for him and claimed the Rosemount man was “addicted to drugs” during the period to which the charges relate.
Ms Ward proposed strict conditions for Soanes’ bail, including non contact orders for certain people, a curfew and leave to work as a painter.
Wiggins on the other hand could work with his father if released on bail according to Ms Ward, with his choices being get a job or sit in custody.
Mr Stjernqvist granted Soanes’ bail but refused Wiggins’, and adjourned both matters to May 3.
More Coverage
Originally published as Inside alleged cocaine syndicate investigation allegedly involving Tyren Wiggins, Jayden Soanes
Dole dad jailed for taxi cash theft, bottle shop break-in
A man who flogged hundreds of dollars from a Rockhampton taxi driver later left his fingerprints at the scene of a brazen daylight bottle shop break-in, it has been revealed.
Read more
Sheep shearer turns to Bible after meth-fuelled crime spree
Details of how a Central Queensland sheep shearer’s life “spiralled out of control” during his “serious” meth-fuelled crime spree have been laid bare during his sentencing.
Read more
Man flown to hospital after ‘obliterating’ power pole
Two men have been rushed to hospital after crashes in the Rockhampton region overnight. READ THE LATEST.
Read more
Shopping centre worker’s Woolies theft sign of ‘difficult times’: Magistrate
A Central Queensland woman who stole from a store in the same shopping centre where she worked has faced court where a magistrate noted the “prevalence” of cost-of-living crimes.
Read more
Baby ashes burglar also pulled off $20k jewellery heist
A rampant Rockhampton burglar who broke into a couple’s home and stole their baby’s ashes also pulled off a $20k jewellery heist and a pub theft during his crime spree, it has been revealed.
Read more
Pub worker who survived kidnap attempt busted in stolen cars, with cocaine
The victim of terrifying ambush outside a Queensland pub by a man high on meth has fronted court for her own drug-linked crimes after the nightmare near-abduction foreshadowed a series of tragedies.
Read more