Brett Raymond Stevens, 44, was yesterday granted bail after appearing in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on six charges, including drug trafficking.He was arrested on Tuesday as part of a wider police investigation in which high-performance street vehicles worth millions of dollars were seized at Yatala and 15 search warrants served across the Gold and Sunshine coasts, Brisbane and in NSW.Others arrested have yet to face court.Mr Stevens, known as 'The Boss', is also charged with producing ecstasy at his Narangba home north of Brisbane between August, 2007, and the day of his arrest.He also faces a charge of producing cannabis there between August and November, 2008, and supplying ecstasy to a person at Coomera in July last year.He is charged with possessing a further $99,700 suspected of being used in connection with drugs in December last year.Police opposed bail yesterday, tendering a lengthy document outlining allegations accumulated during the year-long operation by Queensland Police, Australian Crime Commission and Crime and Misconduct Commission.The court was told it included references to the money allegedly being used to pay off tax and drug debts.Defence solicitor Andrew Bale said Mr Stevens was unable to mount a surety for bail because authorities had recently secured a court order freezing his assets, including money from his race car fabrication businesses.Magistrate Sheryl Cornack noted Mr Stevens had known he was under surveillance for some time and had made no moves to flee the jurisdiction or interfere with witnesses.She also noted Mr Stevens' trademark hairdo as he entered the dock, asking: 'Did he do that voluntarily to his own hair?'Bail was granted on conditions Mr Stevens live at his Narangba home, report twice a week to police and not contact a list of people alleged to be co-accused or witnesses in the case.
The Australian Drag Racing Association yesterday released a statement saying the sport had worked hard to promote a family-friendly activity and it had drug testing for competitors at all levels.At his final race meeting at Willowbank last December, Mr Stevens was presented with a plaque in recognition of his 18 years in the sport.Raceway managing director Steve Betts said Mr Stevens had been a willing volunteer in the promotion of Willowbank and the sport before his retirement.Yatala-based drag racing legend Victor Bray said the community was dismayed by the allegations.Mr Bray said a lot of effort had gone into the image of drag racing.
"It's a very, very family-oriented sport," he said."We have a lot of fans in the younger generation and there's no longer any alcohol at the track."Mr Stevens is due to reappear in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on March 30 for a committal mention.
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