The man who flooded Mount Isa with deadly drugs is now behind bars.
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Lee James Freeston, 39, was sentenced to eight years hard time in the Cairns Supreme Court on Thursday.
But he will be eligible for parole in March next year.
Freestone was charged with trafficking dangerous drugs, two counts of supplying dangerous drugs, and possessing property used in the connection of a crime.
Freestone would transport the drug ice from Cairns to Mount Isa and distribute it to local dealers, the ABC reported.
One of the accused dealers is Shane Parkes, 35, who is also charged with the death of his son after allegedly running over him with a jet ski while high on drugs and on parole.
Mr Parkes will face court again on May 31 in relation to the death.
In July 2016, police arrested more than two dozen people in Mount Isa and Cairns in the large scale drug bust.
Four members of the syndicate pleaded guilty in the Supreme Court in February.
Tania Nicola Teamo, 32, pleaded guilty to 10 drug charges including trafficking, supply and possession.
Supreme Court Justice James Henry sentenced her to three years imprisonment but she could be let out after just 7 months in jail.
The mother of nine used her family home as a safe house for drug deals, the court heard.
New Zealand born Teamo was identified as a member of the syndicate when an undercover police officer bought drugs at her home.
Teamo’s partner Robert Adam Cherrington, 37, was also named as a member of the syndicate by police.
He was charged with trafficking dangerous drugs, supplying dangerous drugs, possessing property used in a crime.
Kineta Tatnell, 23, pleaded guilty to trafficking and supplying ice.
She was sentenced to two years and nine months of prison but was released on parole earlier this month.
She is due to give birth in June.
Her defence team argued Tatnell was selling drugs to support her own habit.
The court was told she first took ice at a Mount Isa party when she was held down and injected against her will.
The mother of nine used her family home as a safe house for drug deals, the court heard.
Nathan Lee Carter, 23, was also convicted of drug trafficking, supply and possession.
He was sentenced to prison for two years and nine months but will be released on August 23 this year.
The Mount Isa based North Caliper operation and Cairns based Oscar Lake was co-ordinated by the Mount Isa Criminal Investigation Branch and the Protracted Operations Unit of the State Drug Squad.
It’s alleged $1.45 million in property was confiscated in the operations.
Officer in Charge of the Mount Isa Criminal Investigations Branch Dave Barron praised the diligent work of police at the time.
“Queensland Police will continue to target the distribution of dangerous drugs in the region,” Det. Sen. Sgt Barron said.
“We have been running Operation Papa Journey around the district since September, targeting the meth distribution.”
Police released the list of accused in 2016:
Shane Michael Parkes, 33, is charged with trafficking dangerous drugs, possessing property connected to a crime, and possessing proceeds.
Sirinton Subprathueng, 42, was charged with importing marketable quantities of amphetamine.
Russ Douglas Johnson, 50, was charged with trafficking dangerous drugs, two charges of supplying dangerous drugs, and possession of illegal property.
Brent Hayne, 54, was charged with trafficking dangerous drugs, and possession of illegal property.
Dane Robert Inwood, 31, was charged with trafficking dangerous drugs, three counts of supplying dangerous drugs, and possessing property used in connection of a crime.
Nathan Lee Carter, 21, was charged with trafficking dangerous drugs, two counts of supplying dangerous drugs, and possessing property used in connection to a crime.
Bradley Alan Hilton, 24, was charged with trafficking dangerous drugs, possessing dangerous drugs, and possessing property used in the connection of a crime.
Chloe Misty-Joy Oliver, 27, was charged with trafficking dangerous drugs, seven counts of supplying dangerous drugs, possessing illegal property, and receiving stolen property.
Danny John Parkes, 31, was charged with trafficking dangerous drugs.
Craig Ronald Borland, 38, was charged with trafficking dangerous drugs, and possessing illegal property.
Tania Nicola Teamo, 32, was charged with trafficking dangerous drugs, supplying dangerous drugs, and possessing illegal property.
Stacey Claire Best, 32, was charged with trafficking dangerous drugs, possessing dangerous drugs, and possessing utensils.
Rhyse Alexander Southam, 23, was charged with two counts of possessing utensil, trafficking dangerous drug, and possessing illegally connected property.
Natalie Ann Craigie, 41, was charged with possessing utensil.
Jayde Luise Jackson, 25, was charged with trafficking dangerous drugs, possessing property in connection to a crime, and possessing utensil.
Chloe Patricia Grant, 19, was charged with trafficking dangerous drugs, and possessing property used in connection to a crime.
Kineta Tatnell, 21, was charged with trafficking dangerous drugs, and possessing property used in connection to a crime.
Lacoata Ternie Major, 20, was charged with three counts of possessing property used in connection to a crime, eight counts of possessing dangerous drugs, and possessing utensil.
Kade Michael Smith, 30, had two warrants listed against him.
Brett John Mills, 27, was charged with two counts of possessing dangerous drugs, and two counts of possessing things related to a crime.
Daniel Joseph Iles, 34, was charged with failing to dispose of a syringe.
Robert Adam Cherrington, 35, was charged with trafficking dangerous drugs, supplying dangerous drugs, possessing property used in a crime.
Melissa Jane Biondi, 38, was charged with possessing a utensil.
John James Gourley, 38, was charged with possessing dangerous drugs, possessing utensil, possessing illegal property.
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