BIKER NEWS: Ex-Rebels bikies jailed over methamphetamine importation ring

BIKER NEWS -- TWO ex-Rebels bikies have been sentenced in Brisbane over their involvement in a drug importation ring that led to the biggest drug bust in Tasmanian history.

Justice Debra Mullins today sentenced Jyden John Kirkpatrick to 10 years behind bars, while Jed Curtis Leggett received a four-year term after they pleaded guilty to drug importation charges in the Brisbane Supreme Court.

The pair were arrested on the Gold Coast in July last year after raids across the country uncovered a drug syndicate run by the Rebels Motorcycle Club which authorities said stood to make the gang a profit of almost $20 million.

After two parcels containing methamphetamines imported from the UK failed to make it to the Tasmanian address they were sent to, Kirkpatrick arranged for two more packages to be sent to Leggett’s Gold Coast property.

But police intercepted the packages and the pair were arrested at the same time Rebels members in Tasmania were taken into custody in what was touted as the biggest drug bust ever in that state.

Justice Mullins said Kirkpatrick, 29, was responsible for importing about 2.5kg of methamphetamines in the four packages, paying about $170,000 for them.

“You were more than a mere courier,” she said.

“You orchestrated the delivery of the packages and the collection of the cash.”

She said it was significant that the failure of the first two packages to arrive did not deter Kirkpatrick from trying again.

Leggett, 27, agreed to use his Gold Coast address for those packages as a favour to his friend.

Kirkpatrick will serve 5.5 years behind bars before he is eligible for parole, and Leggett will spend two years in jail.

They were not charged under Queensland’s tough anti-bikie laws because they were Commonwealth offences.

In March this year, former Rebels bikie Nicholas Mark Stebbins was sentenced in a Tasmanian court to 12-and-a-half years in jail for his role in the syndicate.

This article was first published on NOVEMBER 03, 2015 11:36AM

Get a copy of couriermail or go to www.couriermail.com.au for more stories.