Accused ‘rubbished drug in sms’

ACCUSED drug dealer Matthew Barsley was allegedly caught sending a text message complaining about the quality of a previous batch of cocaine, a court has heard.

The Southport man is one of three people charged in relation to an alleged cocaine syndicate at the centre of a covert police sting, which concluded dramatically on the Gold Coast yesterday.

Barsley, 37, is charged with trafficking dangerous drugs and producing dangerous drugs.

The Southport Magistrates Court heard on Saturday Barsley was allegedly a low level “street dealer” who had given up drugs in August last year.

The steelworker also has a suspended sentence hanging over his head after he was convicted in February in the Supreme Court of supplying dangerous drugs.

Police spent five months tapping phones and collecting text messages between members of the alleged syndicate.

In an exchange read out to the court Barsley allegedly complained he was having trouble finding customers because of the quality of a previous batch of cocaine.

“People think your stuff is s***,” Barsley said.

Defence lawyer Corey Cullen said the alleged offending related to August last year.

He said Barsley had since turned over a new leaf, attending Narcotics Anonymous, and was the main breadwinner for his partner and two children aged nine and six.

Magistrate Andrew Sinclair denied Barsley bail and said he was an unacceptable risk of reoffending. Mr Cullen said Barsley would be applying for bail in the Supreme Court.

The matter will return to Southport Magistrates Court on March 20.