Ex-cop fined after 'sourcing cocaine for footy trip'

Ahead of a footy trip, former North Queensland Cowboys under 20s player Cody Jace Maughan tried to get some cocaine to share.

He was a Queensland police officer at the time.

More than 12 months later, Maughan has to "resurrect his life" after pleading guilty to drug charges in Brisbane District Court on Thursday.

At 26, Maughan has already lost two potential careers, defence barrister Greg McGuire said.

Injury ended Maughan's rugby league playing days before the drug offences cost him his job as a police officer, the court was told.

Maughan played for the Cowboys under 20s from 2015-17 before being picked for the Queensland Police Service side that was set to feature in a 2021 State of Origin curtain raiser at Suncorp Stadium.

Maughan first attracted the attention of police that year in a Toowoomba nightclub where he was found with a rolled up $50 note and a companion was in possession of cocaine.

Police then searched Maughan's home in Brisbane's north in October 2021 and found messages discussing offers to supply cocaine on his phone.

Mr McGuire said there was "no suggestion of commercial intent in any way".

"They were attempts to source drugs for a football trip that turned out to be in Toowoomba and Your Honour is aware of what happened there," he said.

The police raid of the Everton Hills home also discovered a box of oxycodone tablets that was not prescribed to Maughan.

"The aggravating feature is that he was a police officer. He has paid the ultimate price for that - that career has now been taken from him," Mr McGuire said.

"He's lost two potential careers - his rugby league career because of an injury he suffered ... and he has lost his career as a police officer.

"Now ... he has to try and resurrect his life."

Mr McGuire added: "The matter attracted significant media interest in Townsville not only because of the fact that he was a police officer at the time but because he was also a prominent young footballer in Townsville".

Maughan pleaded guilty to possessing a dangerous drug and two counts of supplying dangerous drugs.

He was fined $3000 with no convictions recorded.

"It seems that those offences were committed in the context of you intending to share drugs on a football trip which you were engaged in at the time you came to police attention," Judge John Allen said.

"The hypocrisy of a serving police officer involving himself in such offences is breathtaking."