Michael Gordon stood down by Gold Coast Titans after drug arrest
The Gold Coast Titans have ended a coaching consultancy arrangement with Michael Gordon after the former player was arrested on drug charges.
The Titans released a statement on Sunday saying Gordon had been stood down after he was charged over an investigation into a drugs operation in south-east Queensland and northern NSW.
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“Michael has been working on a contract basis, providing specialist coaching services to the club over the past season,” the Titans said.
“He will not be providing services to the club until further notice.
“The club will make no further comment as the issue is now with police.”
Gold Coast Titans assistant coach Michael Gordon charged after raids targeting drug supply to 'schoolies areas' https://t.co/bA6J0kZMHB
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Seven people charged in drug investigation
Police said seven people have been charged.
A police press release said a 37-year-old man was arrested at a Casuarina home and taken to Tweed Heads Police Station.
He was charged with two counts of supply prohibited drug and two counts of possess prohibited drug.
Detectives reportedly established a Strike Force in May to investigate the distribution of illicit drugs in areas on the Far North Coast of NSW and south-east Queensland.
Five search warrants were executed at Casuarina and Terranora in NSW, and four in Robina, Burleigh Waters and Miami in Queensland on Saturday.
Investigators reportedly seized cocaine, MDMA, steroids, more than $60,000 in cash, mobile phones and drug paraphernalia.
Tweed and Byron Police District Crime Manager Detective Chief Inspector Brendon Cullen said school leavers could have got their hands on the drugs.
“Byron Bay is one of the busiest places on the east coast of Australia right now, with thousands of schoolies expected to fill coastal towns during the coming weeks,” he said.
“These drugs were bound for our streets, and these arrests will have significantly disrupted the supply chain into the schoolies areas.
“We are extremely pleased to be able to put these people before the courts.”
Gordon played 261 NRL games across a 14-year career with Penrith, Cronulla, Parramatta, the Roosters and Titans.
He spent two years on the Gold Coast before retiring at the end of the 2019 season.
The winger and fullback played one game for NSW in State of Origin in 2010.
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