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A GOLD Coast crane operator allegedly trafficking drugs and firearms in an alleged Brisbane crime syndicate has been charged in the Australian Federal Police’s “sting of the century” crackdown.
Benjamin Joseph Haylock, 42, of Mermaid Waters, faces charges of trafficking in dangerous drugs (serious organised crime), unlawful trafficking in weapons, possessing property suspected of being proceeds of a drug offence, possessing dangerous drugs and contravening an order necessary to access information stored electronically.
He appeared in Brisbane Magistrates Court after being arrested Monday as part of the nationwide Operation Ironside which used AFP-hacked phones distributed to alleged criminals.
The court has heard police alleged information from encrypted devices suggesting Haylock sent “a list of available firearms” and sourcing a kilo of MDMA.
Magistrate Judith Daley said they were “significant charges”: “He’s been an alleged facilitator in providing quite significant quantities of drugs, facilitating and receiving large quantities of cash, he was found with the encryption phones, he refused to give over a password.”
In court documents he is accused of trafficking cannabis and methamphetamine in an alleged criminal syndicate involving Christopher James Spurling, 33, Cody John Albert Kirby, 33 and Ernesto Antonio Silva, 33. Those men appeared in court earlier this week.
Police allege Haylock was also trafficking category H, C and D firearms in Brisbane from April to June, 2021. When police raided his waterfront home they allegedly discovered a small amount of testosterone, an encrypted device and a watch and luxury items suspected of being the proceeds of a drug offence.
Ms Daley said Haylock was allegedly also found with fake NSW identification and Medicare card.
His lawyer Michael Bosscher said the allegations relating to his client were not as serious as some of the others swept up by Operation Ironside.
Mr Bosscher said one objection to bail affidavit by police referred to Haylock in relation to “a couple of proposed transactions involving firearms and a couple of transactions involving dangerous drugs.”: “But nowhere near to the extent the other persons are referred.” Another affidavit said “at its absolute highest a transaction of delivery of monies. It doesn’t refer in any way to drugs”.
Until March, Haylock was at a crane company for the last six years, he said.
Mr Bosscher said strict conditions including drug testing and a ban on having encrypted devices would reduce his client’s bail risk. Police had his passport.
“Given the seriousness of these, if convicted he will face a significant term of imprisonment,” Ms Daley said. Bail was refused. It was adjourned to July 5.