A Wollongong woman has pleaded guilty to coordinating a significant drug deal after a police investigation uncovered a trail of detailed text messages negotiating the sale of half a kilogram of methylamphetamine.
Text messages seal fate in drug case
Ly Chi Chu, 51, appeared via audio-visual link from Dillwynia women's prison in Wollongong Local Court, where she admitted to supplying a prohibited drug in a quantity not less than a large commercial amount. The court heard that police identified Chu during a 2024 investigation where she discussed prices for substantial quantities of the drug.
Court documents reveal that text messages sent between March and April 2024 showed Chu agreeing to supply a total of 500 grams of methylamphetamine across two separate transactions. In one exchange, she agreed to supply 250 grams for $24,500. Following what police described as an "extensive" text conversation, she then agreed to sell another 250-gram batch for $23,000, bringing the total deal value to $47,500.
Arrest and court proceedings
Chu was subsequently arrested at Silverwater Correctional Centre on March 13, 2025. During her recent court appearance, where she wore her hair tied with a pink scrunchie, Magistrate Geraldine Beattie committed the matter for sentence in the Wollongong District Court after Chu entered her guilty plea.
"That's it, you can now leave that room," Magistrate Beattie told Chu, to which the defendant replied, "Thank you," before the audio-visual connection was terminated. Chu remains in custody and is scheduled to return to court via audio-visual link on February 5 for sentencing proceedings.
The role of digital evidence
This case highlights the increasing reliance of law enforcement on digital communication records to prosecute serious drug offences. The detailed text message history provided prosecutors with compelling evidence of negotiation and intent, which proved crucial in securing the guilty plea.
The charges relate to supplying a prohibited drug in a large commercial quantity, which carries severe penalties under New South Wales drug trafficking laws. The matter will now proceed to the district court where a judge will determine the appropriate sentence based on the circumstances of the offence and Chu's personal background.
