A teenage drug dealer who ran a sophisticated distribution system, recruiting others to sell for her, has pleaded guilty to five charges in the ACT Supreme Court. The now-20-year-old admitted to illegally supplying Xanax and trafficking ketamine, MDMA, and cannabis. She also pleaded guilty to attempting to possess a marketable quantity of cocaine, which carries a maximum sentence of 25 years in jail, and possessing a replica firearm.
The operation began to unravel when Australian Border Force officers intercepted a parcel from the United States containing vehicle components labeled as 'Aluminium Gear, Torque Converter Spare/ Part…' addressed to the defendant. AFP forensic officers found 482 grams of white powder in plastic bags hidden within the gears.
An AFP officer disguised as a deliveryman delivered the parcel to the young woman's home, where she was arrested. Investigators then uncovered a well-organized distribution system. She communicated with customers via the encrypted messaging app Signal, notifying them when drugs were available and sometimes sending pictures. Some deals occurred at her house, while others were delivered. She recruited people to sell for her, supplying them with drugs and instructing them on pricing, including break-even points.
Court documents reveal that after the cocaine delivery, police found messages on her phone discussing the package's arrival and the need for someone to collect it. She mentioned needing more money because 'mum brought the last package back from the old house n it got a bit sus bananas yk.' Police also discovered meticulous records in her notes app detailing sales.
Communications with customers included discussions about various drug qualities. In December 2021, a customer asked about cannabis types, and she offered 'wag 1 sir,' 'cheeky mango,' and 'pre busin…bussin.' Prices listed in court documents include an '8 ball' (3 to 3.5 grams) of ketamine for $600, a 'stick' (1 to 1.2 grams) of cannabis for $20, and Xanax tablets ranging from $10 each for 10 to 50 tablets to $4.50 each for 300 to 400 tablets.
Police found 374 grams of cannabis in bags in her bedside drawers, along with scales, money, a cocaine kit, and deal bags. The young woman will be sentenced in the ACT Supreme Court in November.
