Ex-bikie oil arrest

POLICE allege a former Bandidos sergeant-at-arms is behind a Gold Coast company allegedly selling cannabis oil over the internet.

Brent Simpson was arrested on Thursday after police netted $373,000 in cash, cocaine, a drug press, 60 vials of cannabis oil, an air rifle and an encrypted mobile phone in seven raids across the Gold Coast.

The cash was allegedly found at the workplace of Simpson’s business partner, Eden Christopher Gall.

The Southport Magistrates Court was told on Friday that Gall was the director of Releaf Therapies, the business selling the alleged drugs.

However, Gall’s lawyer questioned whether the drug being sold contained the alleged cannabis oil and if Gall knew.

Simpson, from Palm Beach, was charged with trafficking dangerous drugs, two counts of supply dangerous drugs, possession (major) of dangerous drugs and two counts of possession (minor) of dangerous drugs.

He did not apply for bail on Friday and the matter was adjourned to Monday. Gall was charged with trafficking dangerous drugs.

Prosecutor Jade Goodburn told the Southport Magistrates Court on Friday that due to the large amount of cash found there “would be concerns about the risk of him fleeing the jurisdiction”.

Defence lawyer Michael Gatenby, of Gatenby Criminal Lawyers, said there was no risk of Gall fleeing overseas due to closed borders and “difficulty leaving the front door” due to the lockdown.

Mr Gatenby said it was not clear if the drug sold was listed as an illegal drug.

He also said there was also no evidence that the cash was not from legitimate purposes.

Gall has an earthmoving business that employed five people.

Mr Gatenby said Gall’s wife died of cancer in 2016 and Gall now lives with his son, his new partner and their children.

Magistrate Pamela Dowse granted Gall bail with conditions including he report to police twice a week, surrender his passport and live in his residential address. The matter was adjourned to August 31.