Ex-bikie’s suburban home a warehouse for cash, drugs
A FORMER high-ranking Mongols bikie gang member used his Biggera Waters home as a “warehouse” for drug money, methylamphetamine, cocaine and steroids, the Supreme Court at Southport heard.
Brenton Atkinson, 29, was found with more than $106,000 cash and a cache of the drug ice, cocaine and steroids after a long-running police sting to bring down a drug syndicate in June 2015.
Atkinson, the former treasurer for a Gold Coast Mongols branch, will remain behind bars until at least October 19, 2020, after pleading guilty to trafficking dangerous drugs and possessing drugs.
He was sentenced to eight years prison.
Crown prosecutor Mark Green told the court 72.9g of methylamphetamine, 43g of cocaine and 156 vials of steroids were found in Atkinson’s Biggera Waters home.
“The defendant’s home was a central point for the Mongols,” he said.
Mr Green said police had placed Atkinson’s home under surveillance in April 2015 and tapped his phones.
He said Atkinson and those in the ring used encrypted messaging app Wickr to communicate about the drugs.
Defence barrister Anthony Kimmins said Atkinson had only started dealing steroids from about December 2014 and it was not until April 2015 that he started dealing the drug ice and cocaine.
“He was effectively the warehouse for that large quantity of the drugs and money,” Mr Kimmins said.
“He was aware that he was holding large quantities of illgotten money as well as the drugs.”
Mr Kimmins said since the bust Atkinson had tried to turn his life around and had not been charged with a criminal conviction in three years.
Justice David Boddice said references provided to the court suggested that Atkinson was on the road to rehabilitation.
Convictions were recorded.