Danny Zip De Jong, 34, sentenced for possession of methylamphetamine
The son of notorious Cairns drug matriarch “Mumsy” has been sentenced after police caught him with more than two ounces of meth stuffed down his underpants at Gilligan’s.
Cairns
Don't miss out on the headlines from Cairns. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The son of notorious Cairns drug matriarch “Mumsy” has been sentenced after police caught him with more than two ounces of meth stuffed down his underpants during a night on the pokies at Gilligan’s.
Danny Zip De Jong, 34, son of convicted meth trafficker Natalie De Jong, pleaded guilty to possession of methylamphetamine and obstruction of police in Cairns Supreme Court.
De Jong was still on parole from a seven-and-a-half-year sentence for his role in his mother’s million-dollar drug syndicate, which saw her jailed for 11 years in 2017.
Crown prosecutor Christian Peters said De Jong was caught with the significant stash in December last year.
“He was found with three clip seal bags – two containing approximately an ounce each and the third with what is colloquially known as a ball,” he said.
“The pure weight of the meth was estimated at 46.9 grams.”
Mr Peters said the “significant amount” had a “partly commercial flavour” with a street value of thousands of dollars.
The court heard the drugs were uncovered in the pokies room of the well-known Cairns hotspot.
“He was also in possession of a glass pipe and paraphernalia secreted in the area of his underwear or groin,” Mr Peters said.
“During the search he became obstructive.”
Defence counsel Thomas Feeny argued the drugs were for De Jong’s personal use, though conceded the absurdity of consuming such quantities alone.
Mr Feeny said De Jong purchased the drugs amid a relationship breakdown after years of “respectable domesticity”.
“At the breakdown of the relationship he spiralled and quickly returned to drug use,” he said.
“He wanted to go on a bender, he was reckless with money and wanted to party – to smoke the drugs himself but effectively share with friends.”
Mr Feeny conceded De Jong probably would have sold some if approached, but said it wasn’t the primary purpose.
When Justice Lincoln Crowley showed little sign of being convinced, Mr Feeny eventually conceded “some amount” of the meth was for commercial purposes.
Regarding De Jong’s previous offending, Mr Feeny said he was essentially “brought in as an aid for his mother”, who also provided a letter of support to the court.
De Jong was sentenced to two and half years, which was added to his existing seven-and-a-half-year sentence.
Originally published as Danny Zip De Jong, 34, sentenced for possession of methylamphetamine
Search underway after sinking boat spotted off Far North coast
Police have made a public appeal for help to find a boat which was spotted sinking off the coast of Far North Qld on Saturday.
What will three years of Smith and Katter mean for FNQ?
The Far North’s two federal members of parliament have shared their visions, goals and apprehensions for the term ahead. This is what to expect from our elected reps for the next three years.