Jeremy John Woods: Gold Coast drug trafficker narrowly avoids jail thanks to new job, family support
A 29-year-old Gold Coast man’s illicit business trafficking meth, coke, and cannabis spanned from the border right up to Townsville, a court has been told. Here’s what happened in court.
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A young Gold Coast polysubstance drug dealer and cocaine addict whose operation spanned nearly the length of Queensland has narrowly avoided jail.
Pacific Pines man Jeremy John Woods, 29, appeared in Brisbane Supreme Court on February 7, where he pleaded guilty to a three-count indictment charging him with trafficking in dangerous drugs, possessing cannabis in excess of 500g, and contravening an order to provide police access to a device.
His offending was detected on May 27, 2023, when Woods was pulled over on the Bruce Hwy en route to Townsville, Justice Lincoln Crowley said in his sentencing remarks, which were only made publicly available on June 16.
When police searched Woods’ vehicle, they discovered 15 bags of cannabis, totalling 6.72kg, as well as two mobile phones and $655 cash.
Woods provided access to one of his phones but then got second thoughts, snatching the device back from police and attempting to break it, Justice Crowley said.
However, police were still able to review his messages, and they revealed he had been trafficking in cocaine, MDMA, and cannabis between August 26, 2022, and the date of his arrest.
He spent 13 days on remand before being released on bail.
Justice Crowley said Woods had at least 10 customers – although the true scope of the operation was unable to be determined – and that his illicit sideline was profitable, with at least $45,148.73 in unexplained revenue during the trafficking period.
“The business that you operated was conducted throughout Queensland,” Justice Crowley said.
“You would frequently travel from Townsville to conduct the operation.
“Travel arrangements involved mainly routine flights, but also you driving, and in an effort to conceal your movements, you would tell your associates not to disclose your location when you were driving to different places.”
Woods would also occasionally rope associates into conducting deals on his behalf, and he offered drugs on credit.
Justice Crowley said Woods, a Tweed Heads native who grew up in public housing, left school in year 10 and suffered from a learning disability.
He worked a number of menial jobs post-school, and during the Covid-19 years became horribly addicted to cocaine after “associating with the wrong crowd,” Justice Crowley said.
However more recently Woods had turned his life around after obtaining a truck licence and finding work at a concrete pumping outfit, where he works six days a week and has become a valuable team member.
He was also in sustained remission from his cocaine addiction.
Justice Crowley said if Woods – who was represented by defence counsel Matthew Hynes, instructed by SANS Law – were to be jailed, it would most likely result in his partner and children becoming homeless.
As such, he sentenced Woods to five years’ imprisonment, wholly suspended for an operational period of five years, and also two years’ imprisonment with immediate release on court-ordered parole.
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Originally published as Jeremy John Woods: Gold Coast drug trafficker narrowly avoids jail thanks to new job, family support
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