A WANGARATTA woman accused of trafficking three times the commercial quantity of 1.4 Butanediol was brought to tears as she was refused bail.
Appearing at Myrtleford Magistrates’ Court via video link from Wangaratta custody on Friday, the 28-year-old was visibly shaken after Magistrate Megan Casey found no exceptional circumstances for her release.
Informant Detective Senior Constable Neal Thompson of Wangaratta Crime Investigation Unit told the court of two major alleged drug busts of the defendant’s Wangaratta homes while she was on bail.
On October 3 last year detectives searched a Wangaratta address where they located black wrapping packages for an alleged six litres of 1.4 Butanediol underneath the floor of a linen closet.
Police seized three litres of the alleged drug from the premises and alleged a further three litres of 1.4 Butanediol had already been distributed.
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Multiple ID cards of an unknown party and the defendant’s mobile phone were also seized and analysed.
Det Sen Const Thompson said phone analysis showed the 28-year-old in talks with a seller from online Chinese marketplace Alibaba, making the order of the drugs over a WhatsApp conversation.
It is alleged in the messages the defendant discussed labelling the packages different to the 1.4 Butanediol purchased.
Det Sen Const Thompson said the parcel was allegedly collected from Australia Post by a co-offender who was messaged by the 28-year-old to collect the package.
The defendant gave a no comment interview when arrested and was released, only to be taken back into custody on January 9.
Det Sen Const Thompson said days earlier police intercepted a man carrying a package from a Australia Post Office on Vincent Road and attempted to flee officers.
The court heard he was caught at the alleged offender’s new address with the package in his bag, which allegedly contained two litres of 1.4 Butanediol, purchased from the same alleged marketplace.
Det Sen Const Thompson said detectives searched the address on January 9 to allegedly find two litres of 1.4 Butanediol along with smaller amounts of methamphetamine, Diazepam and other prescribed medication disguised as 1.4 Butanediol.
Det Sen Const Thompson said there was “clearly a criminal element of deceit” in alleged behaviours including the ordering of the packages containing the illicit substances, and making small changes to her address or phone number on the orders to avoid detection.
“I would regard this your more sophisticated offending than your simple street dealing,” he said.
“She clearly has a drug addiction problem.
“My concerns are she’ll continue to commit drug offences if she makes bail and given the seriousness of the current charges and the pending investigation, I’m concerned she would not appear at a later court date.”
Det Sen Const Thompson said police investigations into the transactions between the defendant and the alleged supplier of the drugs were ongoing and it was possible more packages could be on their way to the address.
Defence counsel Nancy Battiato conceded a strong case was made on the serious allegations, but she said it was “not a forgone conclusion” it would result in jail time.
Police prosecutor Senior Constable Victoria Lennon said 94.4 per cent of drug trafficking charges of a similar manner resulted in imprisonment.
“The sheer quantity of drugs and the fact she was on bail at the time makes a custodial sentence firmly within range,” she said.
“Police are concerned bailing her back to her home would be like bailing her back to her shopfront.
“Trafficking, possessing and using drugs of dependence has an impact on the community.”
The court heard the 28-year-old had limited but relevant prior charges of drug possession and non-compliance while on bail.
Ms Battiato said her client had strong family support and had agreed to seek drug and alcohol counselling to address her drug use and mental health.
Magistrate Megan Casey refused bail and said it would be “almost inevitable” she would be jailed if found guilty.
“Trafficking a commercial quantity of any drugs of dependence is a serious matter,” she said.
“I’m not satisfied there are bail conditions that could stop this behaviour.”
The matter will return to Wangaratta Magistrates’ Court on April 3 for committal mention.
