Townsville estate manhunt after drug importation trial

A manhunt is under way for a Townsville real estate agent who has been found guilty of importing almost a kilogram of methamphetamine from Malaysia.

John Edward Brown, 39, was on trial in the Supreme Court in Brisbane on drugs charges, including the importation of 1kg of powder found to contain 629g of pure methamphetamine in 2012.

He moved to and became a Townsville estate agent shortly after he was charged.

During the five-day trial, the court was told Brown had imported the drugs in late 2012, via an air courier from Malaysia.

The Townsville Bulletin advised on its front page splash that, after Brown was cross-examined by prosecutors on Wednesday, June 15, the jury was sent to deliberate, but when they returned with their verdict last Thursday, Brown was a no show.

Brown was a contract estate agent most recently, with the firm not aware he had been charged awaiting trial.