Accused coke courier granted bail for rehab

A MERMAID Waters man accused of being a courier in a cross-border cocaine ring has been granted bail to attend rehab after his father provided a $10,000 surety.

Mitchell Craig Barrow, 38, is alleged to be one of five men targeted by police raids that seized millions in cash, kilograms of cocaine, encrypted mobile phones, designer watches worth more than $800,000, luxury cars, including a Lamborghini 724 Huracan (inset), a jet ski and a cashcounting machine.

Australian Federal Police conducted the raids in November.

Barrow has been charged with drug trafficking, possessing dangerous drugs, possessing dangerous drugs schedule 1, possessing anything used in the commission of a crime and possessing property suspected of being the proceeds of an offence.

He has been in custody for eight months.

He appeared in the Southport Magistrates Court on Tuesday via videolink from Arthur Gorrie Correctional Centre to apply for bail.

He remained largely silent as Magistrate Ron Kilner considered his bail application.

Barrow’s legal representative said her client had sought bail to attend a 12-week rehabilitation course in Brisbane, described as a “rare opportunity to turn his life around”. She said it was alleged Barrow was not a “primary offender”, but described as a “courier”.

Magistrate Kilner requested confirmation Barrow could provide a $10,000 surety before his bail request was approved.

“The main concern is that he is a flight risk and his father lives in NSW,” Magistrate Kilner said. “The facts, as alleged by police, is he was travelling on a regular basis between Queensland and NSW.”

A surety is a person who offers financial security to ensure the person charged complies with their bail undertaking and appears in court.

It is usually offered to the court if there is a concern that a person may fail to appear before the court again after being released on bail.

The court was told Barrow’s father, an unemployed Centrelink recipient, had offered a $10,000 surety.

Magistrate Kilner approved Barrow’s bail application under strict conditions.

Among these were that the 38-year-old must reside at the rehabilitation centre in Brisbane, abide by a curfew, not contact or approach his alleged co-offenders and does not leave Brisbane.

Barrow is due to appear back in court on a date to be advised.