A former rugby league player, who was recently released from prison for attempting to smuggle cocaine, has avoided a return to jail for drug offenses that occurred a decade ago. John Tobin, a 66-year-old former Sydney Roosters skipper, walked out of the Brisbane Supreme Court today after pleading guilty to multiple drug offenses in 2014. Tobin, who played 125 games for the Tri-Colours in the 1980s, was on parole from a NSW prison after serving an eight-and-a-half-year sentence for his role in multiple attempts to import 1.4 tonnes of cocaine into Australia by boat. In an interview last year, Tobin attributed his actions to desperation, stating, 'Desperate men do desperate things.' Tobin pleaded guilty to nine counts, including supplying drugs and possessing the equivalent of 134 grams of cocaine. The offenses took place in Queensland between May and October 2014, with Tobin collecting drugs at a BP service station. Police found 134 grams of cocaine at Tobin's house after intercepting his electronic communications and raiding the property. The most serious offense was in 2014 when he agreed to hold a large quantity of dangerous drugs while his co-offender was overseas. Despite being granted bail at the time, Tobin went on to participate in major cocaine smuggling attempts, including two boat trips out to sea from Sydney to pick up drugs from container ships and 'narco-submarines' from South America. The syndicate was trying to import cocaine in quantities up to 500kg along with 28kg of heroin. However, Tobin and his co-offenders were only able to take possession of 500 packages of cocaine on a third attempt in December 2016. Tobin was arrested on Christmas Day 2016 after police intercepted the group offloading duffel bags full of drugs at a Sydney harbour boat ramp. This incident marked the end of his involvement in the syndicate. Despite his past offenses, Tobin's case highlights the complexities of the drug trade and the challenges of rehabilitation. It also raises questions about the effectiveness of the criminal justice system in preventing recidivism and the potential for second chances.
