Reubhan Ralph pleads guilty to drug trafficking between Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast

Court documents have revealed an aspiring FIFO worker’s role in a Sunshine Coast drug ring where he acted as a delivery driver and debt collector while “indebted” to his higher ups.

Reubhan Mickeal Gary Ralph was sentenced in the Brisbane Supreme Court earlier this year.

An aspiring fly in fly out worker’s involvement as a courier in a Sunshine Coast drug syndicate has been revealed in court documents.

Reubhan Mickeal Gary Ralph, 27, was regarded as an “employee” in the cocaine enterprise between November 21, 2021 and May 14, 2022 where he would conduct deliveries and debt collection.

Remarks on Ralph’s sentence in the Supreme Court in Brisbane published this month stated the Peregian Springs man’s patch stretched from the Sunshine Coast down to the Gold Coast, where he would complete jobs in exchange for money or drugs.

The details of his drug dealing career can be revealed following Ralph’s pleas of guilty to trafficking in dangerous drugs and two counts of possessing dangerous drugs.

Justice Elizabeth Wilson said the 27-year-old’s offending came to light following a police operation in 2021 and 2022 targeting drug dealing on the Sunshine Coast.

Ralph was not the primary target, however his two co-accused were.

Ralph pleaded guilty to three charges.

Police allege the two co-accused predominantly ran a cocaine trafficking syndicate and to a lesser extent, supplied steroids, marijuana, MDMA and prescription drugs, documents stated. Justice Wilson said the pair had not had their matters finalised, according to the sentence remarks.

Court documents state the business allegedly operated as a “low to high end retail level” which supplied in amounts from one gram to multiple ounces.

The Peregian Springs man was identified as an “employee” in this hierarchy, with reviews of his telephone data allegedly revealing seven drug related transactions for his co-accused, and one drug delivery for the second co-accused.

Justice Wilson said this came crashing down in May 2022 following a search warrant on his Little Mountain home which found three grams of cannabis, two pipes, a grinder and an iPhone.

Officers scoured Ralph’s phone where they saw a text to his girlfriend on May 13, 2022. In the message he spoke about driving to the Tugun Tavern for a delivery. The girlfriend is not accused of wrongdoing.

“Being sneaky bumping into their package,” the text read, which was partnered with a video of him with white powder on his clothes.

Police say Ralph acted as a drug courier.

He was taken to the Maroochydore watch house where 0.41g of cocaine was found in his wallet.

In an interview with police, Ralph downplayed his involvement, stating he collected and delivered drug money but denied transporting drugs.

Ralph also told police he referred customers to others in exchange for drugs.

Sentencing remarks state Ralph collected cocaine from a supplier three times over six months, which included one pick up of one and a half ounces of “product” and another collection which was taken to a safe house.

He then either collected money or delivered drugs, or did both, four more times.

The Peregian Springs man was sentenced in the Brisbane Supreme Court.

The court was told Ralph was also “indebted” to two co-accused to pay down his drug debts.

Ralph’s defence counsel characterised his involvement as “minimal” where he did not profit and only couriered for other alleged syndicate members, and had no actual customers himself.

The court heard the 27-year-old spent five months in custody leading up to his sentence on other charges, and also completed time in a residential rehabilitation program.

Justice Wilson said from the material before her, Ralph lost direction in his life after a breakdown of a relationship with his daughter’s mother, which led to a decline in his mental health.

The court heard Ralph wanted to move to Rockhampton to work in the mining industry. Ralph also penned an apology letter to the court which spoke of how his time in custody was a “blessing in disguise”. It also spoke of his desire to be rehabilitated.

Ralph was jailed for three and a half years which was immediately suspended. He was also placed on a two and a half year probation order.

Originally published as Reubhan Ralph pleads guilty to drug trafficking between Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast