OFF THE WIRE
TWO men who allegedly headed a drug trafficking ring between Hervey Bay and the Gold Coast and their four accused "mules" have been committed to the Maryborough Supreme Court.
The group, which has ties to the Rebels Motorcycle Gxxg, have been awaiting their fate since the original committal was left part heard in October last year.
Yesterday morning all six fronted the Hervey Bay Magistrates Court on cocaine trafficking charges.
The prosecution alleges Adam Warwick McCrea and Bradley James Cameron orchestrated the movement of drugs between Hervey Bay and the Gold Coast and that Joshua Shane Carew, Kylee Heather Anderson, Steven Michael Smith and Lisa Joan Thomas acted as "mules" or "couriers" .
Magistrate Graeme Tatnell was satisfied there was enough evidence to commit Cameron and McCrea on the trafficking charges but the defence team for the remaining four successfully managed to have their charges downgraded.
In the past decade Adam Warwick McCrea has had to swap his bikie leathers for prison colours many times but in recent years police have had little luck prosecuting him.
While he has been repeatedly arrested and targeted for a range of serious offences, McCrea is yet to be convicted of any of the high profile charges he has been faced with since 2009.
Yesterday, dressed in a suit and tie he fronted court with his five co-accused ready for the next round of accusations the police had in store.
The prosecution's case against McCrea is that in the space of four months he allegedly used seven people to move 24 ounces ($201,600) of cocaine between the Gold Coast and Hervey Bay.
It is also alleged that 168 grams ($50,000) street value was intercepted during a police operation entitled "Hotel Formation" and that all of the drugs were purchased by McCrea while he was on a disability pension.
At first it seemed the legal team instructed by McCrea's faithful local lawyer Justin Geldard were going to win over Magistrate Graeme Tatnell once again.
Defence barrister Rick Taylor argued that the long list of phone intercepts detailing McCrea's sourcing of cocaine were simply to support his "expensive" personal habit.
He successfully managed to have his other client Joshua Carew's charges downgraded to supplying dangerous drugs but police prosecutor Senior Constable Jeanette Grigoris successfully managed to cocaine Mr Tatnell there was enough evidence against McCrea for the trafficking charge to stand.
She was able to the same for Cameron who she claimed played a key role in organising thousands of dollars worth of drugs to be sent to Hervey Bay.
All six accused will front the Maryborough Supreme Court on a date to be set.
http://www.frasercoastchronicle.com.au/story/2011/09/27/alleged-cocaine-kingpins-big-day/
