FIFO worker caught out
A mine worker has been caught arranging drug supplies as a “middle man” during a police investigation into a trafficking ring.
Southport District Court was told Stephen Matthew Humrich caught detectives’ attention through his association with another man believed to be involved in the drug syndicate.
The 38-year-old was heard on an intercepted phone call telling his contact he had “mad MDMA” for them to sample and arranging to meet in November 2022.
Humrich organised to collect several grams of methylamphetamine – plus “a little bit” for himself on one occasion – twice more that same month, it was heard.
The court was told Humrich met the other man through his ex-partner and was no longer in contact with him.
He appeared in court with minor drug-related convictions on his criminal history.
Defence barrister Nick McGhee said the FIFO mine worker began dabbling in drugs in his mid-20s, finding the effects of meth were similar to those of ADHD medication he had previously been prescribed.
Mr McGhee said Humrich gained no financial benefit from his involvement, instead “stupidly” acting as an intermediary to score a small amount of drugs for free.
“My client is the middle man … he didn’t need the money (and) was in good employment, but he had a drug problem,” he said.
“(He) doesn’t fall into the category of somebody who has had a longstanding, crippling drug addiction such that it’s compromised his employment or anything like that, but he had discovered drugs and was using them intermittently.”
Mr McGhee told the court the father of one stopped using drugs entirely more than a year ago and was required to undergo regular drug testing at work.
Humrich pleaded guilty to three counts of supplying a schedule 1 drug and one count of possessing anything used in the commission of a crime.
He was sentenced to 12 months’ jail, wholly suspended for 18 months.