‘V’ given three months’ jail for posting $1300 of dope

A GOLD Coast man was trying to do a mate a favour when he posted more than $1300 of cannabis through express post.

Wesley Thomas Vuurman did not cover his tracks, marking the package as from “V” and sending the recipient text messages which included a photo of the parcel-tracking number.

The 25-year-old was also in the car when a friend sold cannabis to another person outside the Star Casino in Broadbeach.

That deal was spotted by a police officer who works at the casino.

In the Southport Magistrates Court on Friday, Vuurman pleaded guilty to two counts of supplying dangerous drugs and one count each of possessing something used in a crime and possessing a utensil related to drugs.

Magistrate Pam Dowse sentenced him to three months’ prison, to be wholly suspended.

“It is simply not alright,” she said.

Police prosecutor Bob Falconer said Australia Post in Rockhampton alerted police to the suspicious express post package on June 1 last year.

A search warrant for the package found 140.6g of cannabis wrapped in plastic with the sender’s address simply as “V”.

When police searched the recipient’s home they found text messages discussing the delivery and why it had not arrived on time.

Vuurman was caught on CCTV sending the package.

Mr Falconer said that on March 3 a casino police officer noticed men in a ute outside the casino behaving suspiciously, and saw another person pick up a package.

Vuurman was in the car when that cannabis deal went ahead.

A search of Vuurman’s home on June 24 last year found a water pipe and a phone.

Defence lawyer Mollie Roper, of Cooper Roper Legal, said the posting of the drug was not sophisticated.

“He sold it at cost price as a favour to a friend and accepts it was a stupid idea,” she said.

Ms Roper said Vuurman had arthritis and had been selfmedicating with cannabis.

He now has a prescription for the drug.