Pair arrested over ice bust

A NORTHERN NSW couple will spend at least the next two months behind bars after they were allegedly busted at the Ballina Airport with more than $80,000 worth of the drug ice.

Kaja John Feakes, 38, and Erin Joy McMaster, 40 flew into the airport from Sydney on Sunday morning.

Police from the Richmond Local Area Command were waiting for them and searched the couple’s bags, allegedly finding 317g of methamphetamine. The amount is considered “trafficable” and carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

The two were arrested and taken to the Ballina Police Station while officers executed a search warrant at their home in the small town of Larnook, west of Lismore.

Officers will allege they uncovered a stolen Commodore ute, three unregistered firearms, ammunition, ice, cannabis, jewellery, $45,700 cash and nine electric guitars.

Feakes has been charged with possess prohibited drug and supply commercial quantity of prohibited drug, while McMaster was charged with two counts of possess prohibited drug and supply commercial quantity of prohibited drug.

The pair appeared separately in the Lismore Local Court yesterday and were represented by different solicitors.

Feakes, who was also found to have an outstanding warrant in Queensland, was represented by solicitor Tom Ivey, while McMaster was represented by solicitor Kylie Anderson-Clarke.

Speaking at a media conference yesterday, Richmond crime manager Detective Cameron Lindsay said the arrests were part of an ongoing investigation into the commercial supply of methamphetamines in the Northern NSW region. Detective Lindsay said the arrest was successful in getting a large amount of drugs off the streets.

“Ice is an insidious drug and long periods of imprisonment can result,” he said.

“I’m really pleased with the outcome and taking this drug off the streets.”

Feakes and McMaster were refused bail, both are scheduled to reappear in the Lismore Local Court in July.