Samuel McNeill pleads guilty to major cocaine, marijuana growing bust at Doonan

The low quality of cocaine found during a major police raid on a Noosa property has been detailed during the sentencing of a dad at the centre of the guns and drug drama.

Samuel McNeill outside the Maroochydore Magistrates Court last year.

A Noosa father has been released on parole after a raid on his home discovered a nefarious drug den and weapons including a large amount of low quality cocaine.

Samuel McNeill was at his large acreage block at Doonan on August 22, 2022 when a targeted search warrant conducted by police uncovered the major bust.

The details of this drug raid were detailed in sentencing remarks published following his sentence in the Brisbane Supreme Court in late October following guilty pleas to several charges including two counts of possessing weapons, possessing drugs over the schedule and producing dangerous drugs.

Chief Justice Helen Bowskill said a search of the 37-year-old’s property found 61.346g of cocaine, however only 5.498g was pure cocaine.

Justice Bowskill said it was “very low purity” which was divided into three bags.

McNeill was sentenced in the Brisbane Supreme Court in late October.

As detectives combed through the property, they also uncovered 40 marijuana plants along with items associated with growing, using and possessing drugs.

The court was told in McNeill’s property they discovered a loaded black shotgun, a loaded silver handgun, other ammunition, a gel blaster and $35,600 in cash.

Justice Bowskill said that McNeill was being sentenced on the basis he possessed the cocaine for a commercial purpose, while marijuana was for mixed commercial and personal use.

Court documents state the chief justice took into account how McNeill was taken into custody in November last year for other offences before he was granted parole months later.

Justice Bowskill said this was a “turning point” for the 37-year-old as he was away from his family, but undertook drug courses and was now working.

The chief justice took into account his prejudicial upbringing and the steps he has taken since being released from custody in January.

McNeill was jailed for three years but granted immediate parole. Convictions were recorded.

Originally published as Samuel McNeill pleads guilty to major cocaine, marijuana growing bust at Doonan