The brother of Brisbane Broncos star Payne Haas has been charged with drug trafficking after NSW Police seized a quantity of methamphetamine with a street value of $1 million.
Zeda Haas, 19, was charged alongside Kaharau Beer, 20, after a vehicle stop near Newcastle on Tuesday.
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At about 11.45am, officers stopped a utility in Beresfield, and spoke with the driver and passenger.
During a search of the vehicle, officers allegedly found and seized 1.8kg of methamphetamine, with an estimated street value of $1 million.
Both men were arrested and have been charged with traffic in commercial quantity of controlled drug, and take part supply prohibited drug (large commercial quantity).
The men were refused bail to appear before Maitland Local Court on Wednesday.
It comes just months after the teenager was discharged from the Gold Coast University Hospital after a suspected drug overdose.
Zeda Haas was in a critical condition after the incident, which also claimed the life of a 19-year-old Arundel man.
Credit: Getty Images/Facebook
The incident is believed to have started at a house in Gaven, reportedly owned by Haas’ parents, where Zeda was found unconscious. His friend was found in a nearby house in Arundel. A third man was involved as well.
Gold Coast police superintendent Rhys Wildman told ABC radio at the time that police believed “they were at the one location before one of the males has left and went to a second location”.
They were rushed to hospital but the 19-year-old man — identified as Jeremiah Lolohea — could not be saved. He died shortly after arriving at the hospital.
“Obviously this is a tragic outcome for the (Lolohea) family and obviously there’s other families involved with the other two males,” Wildman said.
Lolohea’s sister confirmed the news on Facebook with an emotional message.
“We are completely devastated and are trying to navigate our way through this news,” she said.
“We ask that you all please be patient, as we confirm funeral details which will be posted once finalised.
“Jeremiah Lolohea — We love you so much, to the heavens and back. Please watch over us and guide us through this extremely difficult time.”
It is more turmoil for the Haas family.
In March this year Haas’s mother was charged over allegations she killed three people in a car crash in the Gold Coast hinterland at the end of December last year.
Uiatu ‘Joan’ Taufua was accused of the manslaughters of Susan Zimmer, 70, her partner Chris Fawcett, 79, and her daughter Steffanie Zimmer, 35,
She was also charged with dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, evading police and driving without a driver’s licence.
The 46-year-old Taufua was also seriously injured in the crash.
Haas lost his older brother Chace, in 2020. He was just 21 at the time but had lived a life as a ventilated quadriplegic after a car accident when he was just a five-month-old.
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