Drug ‘ wholesaler’ bailed Court told cannabis, MDMA suspect charged twice

A MAN who allegedly trafficked wholesale quantities of drugs while on bail has again been released into the community.

Douglas Gleeson, 25, was arrested at Townsville Airport on June 28 with more than $ 100,000 cash that he allegedly obtained through drug offending and was granted bail.

Police continued to monitor Gleeson’s phone and charged him again in August.

Gleeson had allegedly been trafficking marijuana and MDMA for the preceding four and a half months.

He had spent 114 days in custody when defence barrister David James applied for bail in the Supreme Court in Townsville yesterday.

Mr James conceded that it was a strong Crown case, but said Gleeson could live with his parents in Bundaberg.

“The question becomes whether in all the circumstances it would be appropriate to admit him to bail for an opportunity to address rehabilitation issues,” he said. “The offending seemed to have a genesis of some immaturity and a desire to impress and ingratiate himself with friends.”

Mr James said Gleeson was likely to be sentenced to five years in jail, with release after 20 months.

Crown prosecutor Dane Marley opposed bail. “The trafficking is significant, his role is significant,” he said.

“The significant concern, in my submission, is the defendant’s risk of reoffending while on bail. The defendant has demonstrated that he is a risk in this regard as he did in fact reoffend on bail and continued trafficking.”

Mr Marley said Gleeson was not addicted to drugs and had trafficked for financial gain. He said if Gleeson was granted bail, he would likely be returned to custody when he is sentenced.

Justice David North said it was alleged Gleeson had been a “fairly busy trafficker”, a “runner” in the Townsville region.

“What it means by being a runner is that he sourced and purchased significant quanti- ties of cannabis from suppliers higher up the chain,” he said.

Gleeson allegedly sold up to a pound of marijuana per week.

“The applicant would not be described as a street- level trafficker, but operating in a wholesale environment,” Justice North said.

Justice North said the risks of reoffending could be addressed with bail conditions.

Gleeson was bailed on the condition he live with his parents, report to police frequently, not have contact with witnesses and not apply for a passport.