[EDIT: Threads merged. hoptis]
A Sunshine Coast grandfather faced court yesterday for trafficking up to $8 million in drugs over the past decade.
The court also heard of witness abduction, liaisons with outlaw motorcycle gangs and millions of dollars of tainted cash during the hearing.
It was the second time William Fredericis Barker, 45, had faced Maroochydore Magistrates Court since police swooped on his property on April 22 after a six-month south-east Queensland drug investigation.
He was initially charged with dealing with money or other property over $100,000 that is proceeds of crime and possessing a substance, equipment or documents for manufacturing a controlled drug with intention to sell.
Yesterday, after meeting police at the Maroochydore station, he was charged with trafficking drugs between January 1, 2000, and April 23, 2009.
His defacto wife Teena Louise Cotter, 37, was also charged for drug trafficking.
They were both released on bail.
Police prosecutor Stephen Winstanley said police had found a million dollars at the property during their search.
He said although his passport had been surrendered, Mr Barker was a flight risk and had the potential to interfere with witnesses.
"It's a classic example of someone who would be capable of causing harm to witnesses for his own gain to stifle the investigation," he said.
"Mr Barker certainly has the ways and the means of interfering with witnesses."
Barrister Steve Courtney said his client denied any involvement in witness interference on May 7 which was inferred in the police bail objection.
He said the suggestion was very cryptic and his client would have been under surveillance in that time.
Mr Courtney said while Mr Barker had a gun, it appeared to have packed for long-term storage.
He said his client also denied he was associating with members of the Rebels motorcycle gang at Sunshine Plaza on Saturday.
"He was at the plaza but he was helping his stepchildren buy mother's day gifts," he said.
Mr Courtney also said if his client had wanted to leave the country, he would have gone by now.
Magistrate Bernadette Callaghan said Mr Barker's criminal history did not indicate a propensity for violence and his last conviction was in 1993, though it was also drug related.
She said she was not convinced he was a flight risk and was not persuaded by reference to witness interference in the objection.
"These offences you are facing are very serious, and the evidence seems to be substantial against you," she said.
"However this court doesn't sit in judgment of you. Every person is innocent until proven guilty.
"There's information about some associate being abducted at gunpoint but no-one has been charged.
"Although it does read bad, it's hard to get a handle on what has actually (happened). It's too uncertain."
Mr Barker must live at his Mooloolah property, not approach within 500m of an international departure point and report to police three times a week.
![:\](https://bluelight.org/xf/BL_Images/Orig_Emoji/wrygrin.gif "wry grin :\")
. Either that or they will when she gets out of course.
