A Cairns man has experienced a dramatic reversal of fortune, arrested for allegedly trafficking a commercial quantity of meth just hours after walking free from court on separate charges.
Freedom Short-Lived as Police Move In
On Thursday, 25 April 2024, a 36-year-old Manoora man appeared in the Cairns Supreme Court. He was sentenced for a range of offences, including dangerous driving and drug possession. In a decision that would soon be rendered ironic, Justice James Henry imposed a three-year prison sentence, wholly suspended. This meant the man was released from court that day, avoiding immediate incarceration.
However, his freedom was exceptionally brief. The Queensland Police Service had been conducting a parallel investigation into the man's activities. Just hours after his court appearance, detectives from the Cairns Major Organised Crime Squad (MOCS) executed a search warrant at a Manoora residence linked to the man.
Major Drug Haul Uncovered in Police Raid
The police operation yielded a significant haul of illicit substances. During the search, officers allegedly located and seized approximately 400 grams of methylamphetamine (ice), a quantity that falls within the legal definition of a commercial amount under Queensland law.
In addition to the meth, police also claim to have found quantities of other drugs, including cocaine and cannabis, along with a sum of cash suspected to be the proceeds of crime. The street value of the seized methylamphetamine alone is estimated to be in the tens of thousands of dollars.
Facing Serious New Trafficking Charges
As a direct result of the raid, the 36-year-old was arrested and charged with one count of possessing a dangerous drug (methylamphetamine) for the purpose of trafficking. This is a far more serious allegation than the possession charges he faced in court earlier that same day.
The man was denied police bail and was scheduled to face the Cairns Magistrates Court on Friday, 26 April. The stark contrast between his court outcomes within a 24-hour period highlights the ongoing efforts of specialist police units targeting the supply of dangerous drugs in the Far North.
A Queensland Police spokesperson confirmed the arrest, stating the operation was part of ongoing efforts to disrupt the distribution of methamphetamine in the Cairns community. The investigation remains active.
