Coded texts led to bust

AN unemployed mechanic, who used codewords such as “tread” and “oil” for his drug deals and was found with $15,000 of ice in a toolbox, has been handed immediate parole.

Luke Damien Ellis, 31, had his house raided twice by police in less than a month late last year, after coming to their attention as the customer of a key target of a drug operation.

The Cairns Supreme Court heard in Ellis’s text messages police deduced the term “timber” was also used for methylamphetamines, along with various “car parts”.

Crown prosecutor Rachel Boivin said most of the texts were sent late at night or in the early hours of the morning and included telling people where to park at his house, leading police to realise he was selling drugs, not vehicle parts.

The court heard he had completed three years of a mechanic apprenticeship but was unemployed at the time of his late night deals.

Police from the Major and Organised Crime Squad initially raided his house on November 16 last year, finding just over 22g pure of meth, most in the toolbox, which had a potential

$15,000.

More than $6500 cash was also found in the house, along with drug utensils and three mobile phones.

The house was raided again on December 12 where a small quantity of cannabis and three pipes were found.

He was one of 19 people charged as part of police operation Romeo Aphis which targeted street value of the distribution of meth and heroin in Cairns last year.

He was remanded in custody following the second raid and the court heard he had already spent more than nine months behind bars.

Defence barrister Michael Dalton argued his prison time had been particularly onerous as the jail had been in various stages of lockdown during the COVID crisis and his family had been unable to visit. He said Ellis had been the “linchpin” of his family, caring for his unwell father, but became addicted to meth which forced him out of his job.

He was selling the drug to fund his habit.

“His possession was plainly commercial,” he said.

Justice Peter Applegarth sentenced him to three years jail with immediate parole.